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.
