Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was questioned at a Friday House Judiciary Committee hearing about claims he made at a January press conference about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, including that he believed that the probe was “close to being completed.”
“I really don’t have anything to add,” Whitaker told Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) about the comment.
Lofgren also asked Whitaker about his comment at the press conference that Mueller’s decisions would be reviewed “through the various means we have.”
He pointed to the Justice Department special counsel regulations and, under them, the report that Mueller will submit to the attorney general about his investigation.
“I have noting to add to that,” Whitaker said.
In dodging Lofgren’s question, Whitaker cited the DOJ policy to not comment on ongoing investigations.
Lofgren noted that he had commented on the Roger Stone indictment earlier in the hearing, and said the no comment standard was not being applied “evenly.”
Lofgren also asked if Whitaker share his feelings about Mueller’s probe, which he criticized publicly as a pundit before joining the Justice Department, with the President or his inner circle while he was a private citizen.
“No, I did not,” Whitaker said.
They really ought to beat he up over this. If he spoke about it in public, then he already violated the DOJ regulations. He can’t pick and chose what to disclose, and they have oversight responsibilities that allow them to ask follow up questions once he broached a topic.
Given his bogus “executive privilege” claims, I think they will have to subpoena him and compel answers. They really need to make an example early for everyone in Trump world that they mean business, and Whitaker makes a particularly venial/stupid target that is good to go after. Better to make him the test subject than e.g. Pompeo.
All Whitaker can do is stonewall.
Clever clever.
Blofeld would be proud.
Lofgren also asked if Whitaker share his feelings about Mueller’s probe, which he criticized publicly as a pundit before joining the Justice Department, with the President or his inner circle while he was a private citizen.
“No, I did not,” Whitaker said.
I’m having a really hard time with the fact that Whitaker refuses to answer if he thinks that the Mueller investigation is a Witch Hunt or not.