P.S. — If Sessions orders Rosenstein to take action against Mueller in any way, how is that any different than Sessions dealing with Mueller directly?
In theory, Mueller is unaware that Sessions is involved. And in fact, it could be true that Mueller is unaware. Mueller is required, by regulation, to engage the fellow who appointed him, Rosenstein. He is required to apprise Rosenstrin of mission creep, and get Rosenstein to agree to it; and Rosenstien is allowed to inquire about Mueller's activities.
Sessions' justification for asking Rosenstein to account is as you set out. Rosenstein can;t be giving away parts of Sessions portfolio that Sessions has not recused from. Rosenstein is obliged to answer to Sessions for that.
That’s because every Trump employee has to sign an extremely restrictive non-disclosure agreement, which prohibits any disparaging comments on Trump.
I also don’t think that all that many people in the Trump Organization actually dealt with him very closely.