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Rodriguez will resign effective Jan. 19 – the first day he is to begin his new post as chief of staff and deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Rodriguez, who has served as county attorney since 2007, was a member of the Department of Justice's 2008 team that helped transition from former President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama.

In his new role, Rodriguez will work to restore and transform the department's Civil Rights Division, which was sidelined and politicized in the Bush era, he said.

The number of hate crime prosecutions decreased under Bush, and there were allegations that hiring preference was given to Republicans or those with conservative views, Rodriguez said.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) will name an interim county attorney until a permanent replacement is hired.

The Deputy County Attorney is Marc Hansen.