breaking stories, including the surprise exit of the third-ranking official at the justice department, rachel brand. we're learning more about her departure and what it could potentially mean for the russia investigation. also this hour, i'll get reaction from democratic congressman ruben gallega, our correspondents and analysts are standing by. but first let's go to our justice correspondent evan perez. evan, what is the latest on rachel brand stepping down? >> wolf, we're told rachel brand is planning to step down as the number three official at the justice department. normally we don't pay a lot of attention to the associate attorney general but there's been speculation about her role because of the focus on rod rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who oversees the mueller investigation, the russia and whether or not president trump decides to either fire or forces him out from office so if rosenstein were out, the person next in line to oversee the investigation would be the associate attorney general and that was rachel brand. now we're told she's stepping