Acting U.S. attorney general snaps at Democrats over Russia probe

By Andy Sullivan, Sarah N. Lynch and Susan Heavey

 

Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker snapped back on Friday at newly emboldened Democrats in Congress who are pushing for information on the special counsel's Russia probe as they try to put President Donald Trump's administration under greater scrutiny.

 

In a combative congressional hearing, Whitaker said he had not talked to Trump about the probe into whether Moscow tried to tip the 2016 presidential election, or "interfered in any way" in the investigation since taking his role in November.

 

Democrats, who took over the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee after last year's midterm elections, accused Whitaker of being evasive in front of the panel and frequently clashed with him.

 

The hearing room erupted in gasps when Whitaker pushed back strongly against a question from Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, about whether he had ever been asked to approve any action requested by Mueller.

 

"Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up," Whitaker said, in a bold challenge to the head of the committee. "I am here voluntarily. We have agreed to five-minute rounds," he added.

 

"Answer the question please," Nadler replied.

 

"How the heck did you become the head of the Department of Justice?" Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries later railed at Whitaker.

 

'NOT JOKING'

 

Trump's naming of Whitaker as acting attorney general caused controversy in part because it meant that the president's appointee oversees the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into whether Moscow meddled in the election and colluded with Trump's campaign.

 

Whitaker had publicly criticized the investigation before joining the Justice Department in 2017 but said on Friday he had not discussed it with Trump.

 

"I have not talked to the president of the United States about the special counsel's investigation," Whitaker said.

 

Democrats repeatedly accused Whitaker of running out the clock by giving them evasive or rambling answers in the hearing.

 

In one case, he refused to answer Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's questions with a yes or no, and made a flippant remark about whether the time she had lost on the clock had been restored before he answered her questions.

 

"Mr. Attorney General, we are not joking here and your humour is not acceptable," she said.

 

Whitaker testified he had never spoken with members of Trump's inner circle about his views on the probe as a private citizen before he joined the Justice Department.

 

Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia and has called Mueller’s investigation a witch hunt.

 

Political drama erupted on Thursday when Democrats threatened to serve Whitaker a subpoena if he failed to answer certain questions at the hearing.

 

Nadler later agreed to drop the threat, after Whitaker said he would back out from testifying if the subpoena was served.

 

During the hearing on Friday, Nadler threatened to force Whitaker to go back in front of the committee for a deposition.

 

Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the committee, accused Democrats of staging political drama.

 

"Bring your popcorn," he said. Collins repeatedly tried to cut Democrats off from asking questions unrelated to Whitaker's current role at the department.

 

Justice Department ethics officials had recommended Whitaker recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, a step he chose not to take.

 

"When career officials at the department recommended that you take steps to mitigate your apparent conflicts of interest, ... you ignored them," Nadler said.

 

Whitaker defended his decision.

 

"I had no conflict of interest," he insisted.

 

"Ultimately, the decision whether or not to recuse was my decision."

 

When pressed on whether he trusted Mueller, he told lawmakers he has respect for the former FBI Director.

 

"I have been on the record about my respect for Bob Mueller," Whitaker said. "I have no reason to believe he is not honest."

 

Whitaker also denied media reports that Trump lashed out at him after learning his former lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen was pleading guilty for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow.

 

Friday was likely the first and last time that Whitaker will testify as acting attorney general.

 

Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr, is expected to face a Senate confirmation vote next week.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-09

 

 

39 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Acting U.S. attorney general

The important word here, of course, is ACTING.  When you cant find the real item and throw in an actor anything can happen.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Democrats repeatedly accused Whitaker of running out the clock by giving them evasive or rambling answers in the hearing.

 

In one case, he refused to answer Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's questions with a yes or no, and made a flippant remark about whether the time she had lost on the clock had been restored before he answered her questions.

 

Looks like Whitaker was vying for a talking head spot at Fox News. Whitaker can now join Hannity and Tucker as angry white men that are outraged at House Democrats that actually doing their job of oversight.

 

There is nothing like showing off to the Reality TV president to get attention.

 

6 minutes ago, Silurian said:

 

Looks like Whitaker was vying for a talking head spot at Fox News. Whitaker can now join Hannity and Tucker as angry white men that are outraged at House Democrats that actually doing their job of oversight.

 

There is nothing like showing off to the Reality TV president to get attention.

 

 

A touch of misogyny there, old boy?  Fox News has its own stable of angry white women, not to mention the angry eye-rolling white women of CNN!

Troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

I see someone acting the fool, acting the goat, and acting the clown, but can't see anyone acting like a US Attorney General.

 

And I'm not so sure whether the fool, goat and clown impressions were acting either.

Edited February 9, 20197 yr by ballpoint

Just another example in the long line of Democrat hatchet jobs on anyone associated with Trump. 

They have no shame. 

That’s Donald’s window into the muller investigation lying through his teeth and being as obstructive as possible

47 minutes ago, Tug said:

That’s Donald’s window into the muller investigation lying through his teeth and being as obstructive as possible

 

While those good old honest, trustworthy, open, only doing their job for the good of the country democrats can be trusted to always tell the truth; not be politically driven and always do what's right?

So, let's see here, they think he should have recused himself but when rosenstein who signed one of the fisa warrants and is clearly conflicted, was evasive in his testimony, he should not have to recuse himself and he wasn't dodging questions. 

 

OK. Got it. No double standard here. 

Just watched the dem's interrogate Mr. Wittaker! It's apparent they want to establish  or  insinuate that he influenced the Mueller Investigation!

Just his presence as a AAG who has access to everything ,says it all!

Edited February 9, 20197 yr by riclag

Mr. Clean, or Kingpin (from Daredevil)?

 

Maybe the next Senator from the Jayhawk state?

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, elmrfudd said:

So, let's see here, they think he should have recused himself but when rosenstein who signed one of the fisa warrants and is clearly conflicted, was evasive in his testimony, he should not have to recuse himself and he wasn't dodging questions. 

 

OK. Got it. No double standard here. 

Isn't Rosenstein on his way out? Good riddance!

I heard DT was giving the Undersecretary of Defense position to his old shoe shine boy!

8 minutes ago, Redline said:

I heard DT was giving the Undersecretary of Defense position to his old shoe shine boy!

Well, I doubt if anyone with any political ambition is going to want to be hitched to his administration...

Off-topic post and replies removed.  

9 hours ago, elmrfudd said:

So, let's see here, they think he should have recused himself but when rosenstein who signed one of the fisa warrants and is clearly conflicted, was evasive in his testimony, he should not have to recuse himself and he wasn't dodging questions. 

 

OK. Got it. No double standard here. 

Why should Rosenstein had recused himself ??

12 hours ago, Silurian said:

 

Looks like Whitaker was vying for a talking head spot at Fox News. Whitaker can now join Hannity and Tucker as angry white men that are outraged at House Democrats that actually doing their job of oversight.

 

There is nothing like showing off to the Reality TV president to get attention.

 

Yeah the guy really has a positive future ahead of him after this . Opportunities await. He is not only clever but able to "take the bull by the horns."

 

I remember Fox News was caught showing palm trees in the background about a story in Wisconsin. True.

It took Stalin for everyone to recognize what Russia was and was capable of.

It to Hitler for everyone to recognize what Germany was and was capable of.

It took Mao for everyone to recognize what China is.

It took Trump for the world to know where US is and what a trash talking country it is. Go US. Go US. ad nauseum 

2 hours ago, Prissana Pescud said:

It took Stalin for everyone to recognize what Russia was and was capable of.

It to Hitler for everyone to recognize what Germany was and was capable of.

It took Mao for everyone to recognize what China is.

It took Trump for the world to know where US is and what a trash talking country it is. Go US. Go US. ad nauseum 

Oh, c'mon man! Trump's not even a paper tiger compared to those others. Maybe gossamer.

3 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

Oh, c'mon man! Trump's not even a paper tiger compared to those others. Maybe gossamer.

He is being groomed by his lovechild. Mr Putin. 

Of course Mr Putin is disappointed with his protege. 

Mr Trump is like a computer - you have to punch the information in.