Zippyjuan
11-09-2018, 06:27 PM
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/09/666235157/trump-falsely-claims-not-to-know-the-man-he-hand-picked-as-acting-attorney-gener
President Trump defended his selection of acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker on Friday as new questions arose about Whitaker's fitness for the post and whether his appointment is legal.
Trump named Whitaker to the acting position on Wednesday after abruptly forcing out Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In doing so, the president passed over Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, installing a political appointee with a record of criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Trump, who has frequently dismissed that probe as a "witch hunt," feigned ignorance of Whitaker's background.
"I don't know Matt Whitaker," Trump told reporters on Friday as he left the White House for a trip to Paris. "Matt Whitaker worked for Jeff Sessions. And he was always extremely highly thought of and he still is. But I didn't know Matt Whitaker."
In fact, Trump has met with his hand-picked appointee more than a dozen times. As Sessions' chief of staff, Whitaker reportedly accompanied his boss to the Oval Office on multiple occasions.
"Matt Whitaker is a great guy. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker," Trump told Fox News last month. At the time, Trump also sidestepped questions about whether he was preparing to get rid of Sessions.
"I'm not doing anything," he said. "I want to get the elections over. We'll see what happens."
Sessions' dismissal came one day after the midterm votes were tallied.
Trump is said to be a fan of Whitaker's appearances on cable television before he joined the Justice Department. Whitaker voiced doubts about the scope and direction of the Russia probe and suggested a future attorney general might put the brakes on Mueller by cutting off funding for the investigation.
Trump has tapped a number of cable TV veterans for high-ranking posts in his administration — including communications director Bill Shine, once of Fox News; State Department press secretary Heather Nauert, also of Fox; and chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow of CNBC.
Whitaker also served on the advisory board for a patent promotion company that paid nearly $26 million to settle charges that it cheated clients.
More at link
President Trump defended his selection of acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker on Friday as new questions arose about Whitaker's fitness for the post and whether his appointment is legal.
Trump named Whitaker to the acting position on Wednesday after abruptly forcing out Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In doing so, the president passed over Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, installing a political appointee with a record of criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Trump, who has frequently dismissed that probe as a "witch hunt," feigned ignorance of Whitaker's background.
"I don't know Matt Whitaker," Trump told reporters on Friday as he left the White House for a trip to Paris. "Matt Whitaker worked for Jeff Sessions. And he was always extremely highly thought of and he still is. But I didn't know Matt Whitaker."
In fact, Trump has met with his hand-picked appointee more than a dozen times. As Sessions' chief of staff, Whitaker reportedly accompanied his boss to the Oval Office on multiple occasions.
"Matt Whitaker is a great guy. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker," Trump told Fox News last month. At the time, Trump also sidestepped questions about whether he was preparing to get rid of Sessions.
"I'm not doing anything," he said. "I want to get the elections over. We'll see what happens."
Sessions' dismissal came one day after the midterm votes were tallied.
Trump is said to be a fan of Whitaker's appearances on cable television before he joined the Justice Department. Whitaker voiced doubts about the scope and direction of the Russia probe and suggested a future attorney general might put the brakes on Mueller by cutting off funding for the investigation.
Trump has tapped a number of cable TV veterans for high-ranking posts in his administration — including communications director Bill Shine, once of Fox News; State Department press secretary Heather Nauert, also of Fox; and chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow of CNBC.
Whitaker also served on the advisory board for a patent promotion company that paid nearly $26 million to settle charges that it cheated clients.
More at link