@Sanguine I saw no mention of the DOJ and/or FBI having any basis for initiating the consideration, period.
If McCabe and/or Rosenstein was very concerned, the proper thing would have been to contact VP Pence and make their case. Or for them to contact membersof the Cabinet, or other high ranking appointees.
Todate there has been no mention publicly of any of those avenues having been pursued.
Of course it could simply be they chatted, conspired, decided to halt.
I cannot recaall a carry-over senior appointee group like this. Not for Nixon,, Reagan, Bush II, etc.
Reagan did not use the term Deep State, but he alluded to the idea. After 8 years serving Governor of the largest state, then as President, he noted that the President appointed a very small numbe of political appointees. He noted the permanent power lay in hands of career government empoyees.