Matthew Whitaker

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In Testy Hearing, Acting AG Draws Laughter

'Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up,' Matthew Whitaker informs Jerry Nadler

(Newser) - Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker appeared before the House Judiciary Committee Friday for a hearing that was as contentious as expected. Democrats repeatedly grilled him about the Robert Mueller investigation, and Whitaker insisted he has not "interfered in any way" with the inquiry, reports Politico . One of the more...

Whitaker Sets Condition for House Testimony

Committee authorizes a subpoena if necessary

(Newser) - After a House panel authorized a subpoena to summon the acting attorney general to appear Friday, Matthew Whitaker said he'll testify—as long as there's no subpoena. Whitaker said in a statement that the subpoena vote broke his agreement with the panel to appear voluntarily, the Washington Post...

Mueller Investigation Is 'Close to Being Completed'

Acting AG hopes to get final report soon

(Newser) - After an investigation that has lasted more than 20 months, it's almost Mueller Time. Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker said Monday that special counsel Robert Mueller is nearly ready to wrap up his investigation of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the New York Times reports. "The...

US Hits Huawei, CFO With Criminal Charges

How this affects the US-China trade war will remain to be seen

(Newser) - The US Department of Justice unsealed a 13-count indictment against Chinese tech giant Huawei on Monday, including against two of its affiliates and its chief financial officer, the AP and Fox News report. The felony charges, which came in the form of two separate indictments—one a 10-count grand jury...

Acting AG Incorrectly Claims Honor on Resume

Matthew Whitaker was not an Academic All-Star

(Newser) - Matthew Whitaker’s resume states that he had been selected as an Academic All-Star during his time as a football player at the University of Iowa in the early 90s. But, the Wall Street Journa l reports, the acting attorney general never actually got the honor. The claim reportedly has...

Report: Trump Wants to Hire George HW Bush's AG

Sources say William Barr is leading contender

(Newser) - After criticism that his acting attorney general wasn't confirmed by the Senate, President Trump is considering a permanent replacement who was confirmed in the role decades ago, insiders say. Sources tell the Washington Post that Matthew Barr, a 68-year-old Republican lawyer who served as attorney general under George HW...

400 Ex-Justice Dept. Officials to Trump: Dump Whitaker

They say they're 'disturbed' by Trump appointment

(Newser) - Hundreds of former Justice Department officials have signed a letter saying they are "disturbed" by President Trump's appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general. In the letter , circulated by the Protect Democracy watchdog group, more than 400 Justice alumni urge the president to "follow the constitutional...

AG Whitaker's Financial Disclosures Spur Questions

He was paid $1.15M over a 3-year period by FACT

(Newser) - The Justice Department on Tuesday released financial disclosure statements related to Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, and they reveal one major source of income since 2015: some $1.15 million paid to him over the 2015-2017 period by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, or FACT, reports USA Today ...

3 Senate Democrats Sue to Have Whitaker Removed

They argue Matthew Whitaker's appointment violates the Constitution

(Newser) - Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitaker's appointment...

Trump Grades Himself: 'A+ ... Can I Go Higher Than That?'
Trump Grades Himself: 'A+ ...
Can I Go Higher Than That?'
SUNDAY TALK SHOWS
Nov 18, 2018 9:48 AM CST

Trump Grades Himself: 'A+ ... Can I Go Higher Than That?'

President tells Fox 'I don't want to hear' Khashoggi tape

(Newser) - President Trump sat down with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday for an interview that ranged from CNN reporter Jim Acosta to the midterms and his own job performance. With regard to the latter, "I think I’m doing a great job. We have the best economy we’ve...

DOJ: No Senate Confirmation, No Problem for Whitaker

Memo citing past precedent notes he's 'unquestionably' authorized to lead

(Newser) - Matthew Whitaker is "unquestionably" authorized to lead the Justice Department despite his lack of Senate confirmation. That's the opinion of Steven Engel, assistant attorney general for the department's Office of Legal Counsel, who's penned a 20-page memo in support of Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney...

Trump Warned Democrats of War. They're Digging In
Trump Warned Democrats
of War. They're Digging In
the rundown
Nov 12, 2018 11:54 AM CST

Trump Warned Democrats of War. They're Digging In

Axios cites a 'subpoena cannon' is ready to fire

(Newser) - A day after the midterms, President Trump warned that he would assume a "warlike posture" if Democrats used their new control of the House to aggressively investigate him. A slew of new stories suggests that Trump will have to assume that posture quickly. One of the phrases in circulation...

Why Whitaker's Future Looks Iffy as AG
Whitaker: No
Jews, Atheists
as Federal
Judges
the rundown
Nov 10, 2018 4:30 PM CST

Whitaker: No Jews, Atheists as Federal Judges

Acting AG is also accused of persecuting a gay legislator

(Newser) - Matthew Whitaker's role as acting attorney general may be short-lived, and that's not just Democrats talking. "I don't know Matt Whitaker," Trump said Friday before flying off to France—a noticeable change from his October statement on Fox News that Whitaker is "a great...

With Sessions Out, Dems Fear for Future of Mueller Probe

New acting AG Matthew Whitaker has been a leading critic of the investigation

(Newser) - President Trump's forcing out of Jeff Sessions has cast doubt on the future of Robert Mueller's investigation—especially since Sessions' replacement, Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, has long been a critic of the probe. Whitaker, who served as Sessions' chief of staff, has repeatedly accused the Mueller investigation...

Jeff Sessions Submits His Resignation
Jeff Sessions
Submits His Resignation
the rundown
Nov 7, 2018 3:54 PM CST

Jeff Sessions Submits His Resignation

He's out as attorney general at White House's request

(Newser) - Jeff Sessions is out as attorney general, report CNN and the AP . White House chief of staff John Kelly reportedly asked him to resign Wednesday, and Sessions' resignation letter was subsequently delivered to the White House. The speed of the move, coming so soon after polls closed, "suggested how...

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