(The Hill)
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was grilled by House Judiciary Committee lawmakers for close to six hours on Friday in an explosive hearing dominated by partisan clashes.
During the hearing Whitaker fielded a slew of questions on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which he repeatedly declined to answer directly, infuriating House Democrats in their first crack at a top Trump administration official since recapturing the chamber in last year’s midterm elections.
The conclusion of the tense and highly dramatic hearing left Democrats unsatisfied and pledging that they will request a return appearance from Whitaker — even as his days as the top law enforcement official are numbered with the impending confirmation of William Barr.
Here are five takeaways from Whitaker’s contentious appearance before the committee Friday.
Whitaker denies interfering in Mueller probe — but reveals little else
Mueller’s investigation dominated much of the questioning, forcing Whitaker to repeatedly deny that he has “interfered” with the ongoing probe into Russian election inference and potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
Whitaker, who said he has not yet received Mueller’s final report, denied talking to Trump or senior other White House officials about the Mueller probe. He said he had not made any “promises” to Trump with respect to the special counsel or other investigations, and that the president had not asked him to make any commitments. Read more
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