
AP
Deputy Attorney General James Cole on Capitol Hill in June.
Cole's departure is the latest in a series from top officials at the agency, including Attorney General Eric Holder who last month announced plans to leave the department.
After Holder's announcement, rumors about his replacement centered on two other officials -Labor Secretary Tom Perez and US Solicitor General Donald Verrilli. However, on Tuesday, Bloomberg reported former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler had "emerged as President Barack Obama's preferred candidate."
A Justice Department spokeswoman declined comment to Reuters.
(Reuters reporting by Aruna Viswanatha; Editing by Susan Heavey)