“I viewed Rosenstein as a white hat for awhile...”
If memory is correct, Rosenweasel wrote POTUS’ Comey-your-fired letter. Maybe that is why one could see him as a white hat in the beginning. But as things have unfolded .... That letter is either a stroke of genius by or luck for Trump. Rosenweasel can’t support prevaricator Comey if it comes to a criminal prosecution. Rosenweasel also sold-out his fellow conspirators by doing this, because Comey was part of the inner circle. If he refused to write the letter, he would have had to resigned or be dismissed. If he resigned, he would be out of the “action” and perhaps be subject to some type of “accident” that seems to happen to certain DC types when needed.
Rosenstein thought Democrats would support Comey’s firing. He calculated wrong. Spectacularly.
Yes, he did. And that was a big part of what fooled me. I think Rosenstein was in a corner there. Plus, as you allude, calculated that firing Comey would give him cover - Trump would see Rosenstein opposing Comey, and might then view Rosenstein as an ally or at least not an opponent.