why is there no oversight by a congressional committee on these random presidential picks? certainly there has been no vetting, or this background would have come out before the fact. these choices are uninformed and damaging to government and our people at best, and obviously chosen only to bolster trump and his "base". no surprises there. the choice of kavanaugh for the supreme court was put forth by the heritage foundation. it's all about preserving and increasing the wealth and power of certain dark right wing forces.
25
An out and out crook as Attorney General?
Chosen by Trump because he is good on TV...
and because he will do as he's told.
Revisit, readers, the Stalin show trials for a reminder of what a cowed legal system, headed by cronies, can do.
30
Whitaker is a fraudster. When are the Republicans going to stand up? Bring on 2020 when we can totally clean their clocks and get McConnell, Trump and the rest of the GOP out of office.
31
Let's be real. A history of scamming people makes Whittaker more, not less, attractive to Trump. There are winners and losers and only losers bother with ethics.
Sessions immediately discovered Trump's ire, when he put ethics above protecting Trump. Clearly this will not be Whittaker's style.
22
If it is true that this so-called appointment is illegal and unconstitutional, why is everyone calling Whitaker the “Acting Attorney General?” This is the normalization if an illegal act by the President who seems, forever, to be handed whatever he wants by the news media, the opposition, pretty much everyone involved except us powerless citizens out here. Is our Democracy already gone? Personally, I think “Fake Acting Attorney General” is appropriate and I encourage the NY Times to show some guts and start using this more accurate title.
17
I wonder what happened to all that talk about "extreme vetting". Seems like somebody doesn't know what that phrase means.
18
Sounds exactly like the kind of guy Trump would pick. A real Dolores Umbridge for the AG's office.
12
The Trump administration is loaded with grifters from top to bottom. Good lord what have we become as a nation.
22
Doesn't our president ever listen to any advice in nomination? Before obsoleting the former AG, did he have any ethical choice for nominee? It appears to be doomed if this practice continues. The commercial which is mentioned might be watched by millions of audiences. In vague memory, a television commercial advertising a razor without a dangerous blade and a 'figure' shown afterwards in between the CNN shows existed some years ago. Another one which was a CM which targeting inventors with an African man playing a role and reading a script seemed to be broadcasting back then. Though I didn't pay attention to the contents, never imagine they can be on spotlight now. If Whitaker would become AG, the world tends to crumble.
1
With Trump's tendency to flaunt the rules, and with a compliant Republican Party that so far let him get away with anything and everything, it would not surprise me that Trump will allow Whitaker to run the Dept. of Justice as long as he feel likes approval or not. The Republican Party has chosen not to interfere with Trump's will.
8
Keep digging. But up until now it looks like everything uncovered about Matthew G. Whitaker makes him a prime candidate for Donald Trump's choice of acting Attorney General--even though he says he doesn't know who he is.
8
Someone of integrity to oversee the investigation? Sorry, Mueller's busy.
4
Is it too much to ask that our standard for an "acting" Attorney General at least be someone who has never been on the board of a criminal enterprise?
22
Trump's picks show just how little respect (which is none) Trump has for this country. His picks, just like everything, are about HIM personally.
5
It makes more sense why President Trump chose Mr. Whitaker now that we know he was part of a Trump University level fraud.
12
The fact that Whitaker oversaw a company committing fraud against consumers was one reason Trump wanted him. After all, Trump was fined $25 Million just one week before his inauguration! The company Whitaker oversaw also was fined $25 Million!! It's as if Trump and Whitaker are soulless mates.
12
Multiple thoughts come to mind. First Trump always brags about getting someone from Central Casting, which makes me recall the SNL Billy Crystal skits of: Quien es mas macho? Trump seems to do no vetting when hiring people to positions of trust that require integrity and competence. Instead he uses a simplistic litmus test of Quien es mas macho? However, in Trump's misunderstanding of the Spanish language, he believes that "mas macho" means the ability to lie, cheat, and steal. Thus, we have the likes of Whitaker.
If Whitaker were to say he had no knowledge he was representing thieves, then it speaks volumes about his lack of competence to oversee the Mueller investigation. Unless of course "competence" is an English word Trump also mistakenly believes means to lie, cheat, and steal.
6
Sure, this is a disgraceful appointment, but let us not forget that Rick Scot, before his run for the Senate, and before he was elected as Gov of FL was CEO of a company that was fined over a billion dollars for Medicare fraud. Largest such fraud in history.
Fraud seems to be SOP for GOP politicians and political appointees.
And acceptable to GOP voters!
17
Whitaker and Trump belong together. Both are con men. Both bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars through hallow promises in marketing schemes. Both were faced with complaints and lawsuits in the State of Florida for deceptive practices, Whitaker and his World Patent Marketing company and Trump and his fraudulent Trump University.
Just for good measure, let's throw in another con woman from Florida named as a possible consideration for U.S. Attorney General-Pam Bondi who is currently the Attorney General of the state. Florida’s ethics commission investigated Bondi whose office decided not to pursue complaints against Trump University after Donald Trump gave her $25,000 in campaign cash through his personal foundation.
It seems Trump likes to surround himself with questionable characters who mirror his own proclivities to skirt the law in their insatiable thirst for money and power.
15
I'm shocked! A Trump appointee with ethical problems.
What would be a real shock is a Trump appointee who was upstanding, ethical, credible, honorable, and principled. That would be a shock.
This was once termed "draining the swamp" by the chief swamp creature. Now we have the great dismal swamp in D.C. with the White House at it center populated by unethical and unprincipled relatives, grifters, frauds, and con men. Whitaker is just one more in a cast of hundreds in the Trump administration.
10
Where is the Iowa Bar in all this?
His threatening emails to these customers are clear ethics rules violations.
105
@Joan Brett Kavanaugh broke the Rules of Judicial conduct too. Where was the ABA, and why does it seem like Republicans, who can't let a democrat get away with sneezing the wrong way, get away with all of this corruption?
18
Is anyone else alarmed (a lot!) by Whitaker’s transformation from what looks like a regular old dude to a menacing super villain? In all this coverage, I don’t think I’ve seen a photo of him smiling.
13
@Baby CobraBlofeld meets mini-me.
1
Yup Whitaker will fit in nicely although temporarily.
12
Trump, 'Those were the good old days, you know, when a guy could show a little muscle, scam a few marks and nobody would notice. I mean you guys were just sitting around enjoying a little quiet without campaign ads so why couldn't do a little business, clean house. i hated that guy Sessions. He wouldn't protect my back. So here's a guy, a Mike somebody or is it Matt, who looks the part, muscles all over. That guy Mueller will crumble like a stale potato chip. And who cares anyway.
Wow, I've got to take a nap. All this talk makes a guy tired. So you guys at FOX can do without me for a few minutes. Snore.' Fade out
26
Where does trumpf manage to find this cast of oddballs? What’t the staff of the trumpf organization like? Oh yeah, Eric and don jr. Really wonder how they stay solvent; oligarch money, I guess.
16
In a 2014 Iowa Senate debate Whitaker stated that it was important for a judge to have "a biblical view of justice."
Wow! I think I know a little about Biblical justice. He must have a different Bible.
15
Thug, just like Trump.
22
Little known fact regarding Whitaker's career ... he was a secret body double for Lurch from the Addams family ....
10
Whitaker seems to be a Trump sort of guy. No scruples at all.
9
@USMC1954 But he thinks all judges should be god-fearing Christians, while at the same convinced that the courts are the inferior branch of government.
2
Without knowing much about him I see an arrogant bully -the perfect Trump ally.
12
Whittaker has all the Trump bonafides...
Yes Man: check
Con Man: check
Indicted Man: we'll see
17
One customer is a Trump supporter!!!Her invention was to prevent you from forgetting you were leaving a baby in your car!!!!! She paid $11,000!!! This tells you everything you need to know about the type of customer that used this suspect business.
You can file a patent yourself without paying scammers.
13
Just another crook in a crooked administration.
Trump's hoodlum empire grows apace.
14
"Another customer, Brenda Wilcox, 49, a Trump supporter who lives in Broward County, Fla., said in an interview on Thursday that World Patent Marketing scammed $11,000 from her."
Oh, P.T. Barnum! Yes, there is a sucker born every minute, and no, H.L. Mencken, nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. And yes, Mama Gump, stupid is as stupid does.
12
This guy is done....next!
5
So the top law enforcement officer in the country is a scam artist? Isn't that special? Don't know why I'm surprised. Did we really expect Trump to be acquainted with any non-grifters?
22
Well, scamming people was also our president's forte.
It's nice that they have a bond.
59
The headline of this article underplays the hands-on role that Mr. Whitaker had in the scam! As the article details — and as the Federal Trade Commission alleged — both Whitaker and the company’s president “threatened” covil and even criminal legal actiond against consumers who complained after being ripped off. They used Whitaker’s position as a former federal prosecitor as the linchpin in this intimidation.
33
Matt W is there to get the scoop on the Mueller investigation and feed it to Donnys lawyer. Anything else he might "accomplish" is pure gravy.
15
its almost like someone who would start a fake real estate university and charge people for worthless courses and pie in the sky promises.
Birds of a feather.
45
This guy ran his head into a blocking sled a few thousand too many times.
20
It's kind of hard to believe that a person who is of good character, professional, morally upstanding, and honest, would hitch his wagon to Trump's. And so far, we have seen that in fact, most who have have shown a stunning amount of depravity, poor character, even criminality. People with any depth of character I would imagine would stay as far away from Trump as possible.
28
This is the man of Trump's dreams. Live from Washington. Welcome to Smackdown, now on Judicial TV1, host Knut Whitaker.
6
Perhaps I should give him a break since he is obviously handicapped: he is ethically challenged.
6
And, we are supposed to be surprised? Considering the widespread corruption within the ranks of the Trump administration, it was probably one of the factors that put Whitaker over the top to be selected.
14
What?! The president associated with a scamming con man? I am shocked! Shocked!
23
So? Trump was ordered to pay $25 million during the presidential campaign for defrauding thousands of Americans. As usual, hi followers just yawned, and as usual, yawned at something that, were it Hillary Clinton, there would have been a mass head explosion of Trumpian heads due to the outrage. In the Trump Cult, it seems they are fine with corruption....so long as the leader approves of him. Otherwise, they want investigations and jail time!
15
Whitaker is a perfect fit for the Trump White House.
Taken as a group, current and former cabinet members and staffers make a true rogue's gallery.
They include the ethically challenged, inept, criminally inclined and morally bankrupt.
Trump, with his outlandish Trump University, is a master scam artist and liar. He, of course, sets the tone.
These days pretty much anyone, no matter how unfit, can work in the Trump Administration so long as the president likes them. Amazing and tragic.
17
Attorney representing a Hot Tub company:
“Whitaker! See you in court Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!”
1
A new all-time low when a person with such an obvious and non-secret chequered past is appointed AG for the entire USA. Makes a mockery of rule of law.
It strikes me that Whttiker is so not the typical looking AG. He's a beefy bald football type 6feet-4 with a very deep voice. And he's not wealthy. Trump must _really_ like him.
5
@K Henderson
Trump likes Whitaker because he looks tough. You know Trump, he likes intimidation. Whitaker looks like the executioner from Central Casting, to use a favorite Trump phrase.
Intimidation did not work on Jim Acosta, so he just banished him from from the realm. Isn't that what evil kings do?
7
Not wealthy yet. The Trumpists are using their cabinet-level positions to bilk the taxpayers ( looking at you Zinke and Pruitt).
5
This is a good post. But does it surprise you? He places and anti-environmentalist at the head of the EPA, he places and industry hack in charge of the interior department, the sister of a black ops operator ahead of education, an ex-Texas governor at the head of the energy department, ironically the very department he had wanted to eliminate as a presidential candidate. It is as if he is purposefully making a mockery of our government institutions. Why shouldn’t the justice department be lead by a sycophantic grifter? Par for his course.
7
It is an ethical violation, subject to disciplinary action, for a lawyer to threaten criminal action to gain advantage in a civil matter.
“You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear World Patent Marketing’s reputation online. I am assuming you understand that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you.”
9
It is my understanding that an acting Attorney General cannot be nominated to be the Attorney General.
3
Ah! I wondered what qualified him to be 'acting' attorney general. This explains it---he follows the trump business model.
16
$10,000 bill from an attorney to a business client is not huge, it could be from just one case. Unless a board member is experienced or very involved in a corporation it is not unusual to be mislead by company executives. So this could indicate that Whitaker is either a corrupt individual or not a very curious one.
3
Here is all you need to know about Whitaker.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/acting-ag-faced-criticism-for-case-against-gay-iowa-democrat/2018/11/08/0beeb838-e3bf-11e8-ba30-a7ded04d8fac_story.html?utm_term=.a46b24f3c2ef
9
Whitaker’s intimate association with the scam patent business is made all the more ironic by his persecution/prosecution when he was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in Iowa of my state senator, Matt McCoy, on phony, ginned-up charges of extortion relating to a business endeavor of McCoy’s. McCoy was then the only openly gay person in the Iowa General Assembly, which, of course, offended Whitaker’s fundamentalist Christian sensibilities. It took the jury less than two hours to find McCoy innocent of all charges. It was later revealed that Whitaker’s office had paid McCoy’s former business associate—a pathological liar and the only witness the prosecution put on the stand—thousands of dollars in exchange for his testimony. The Times could do worse than to look back into that little legal debacle to get a good picture of Mr. Whitaker’s ethics and incompetence.
17
@Dennis Smith Is Michael Cohen in the news again? I get this cast confused.
3
Mr. Whitaker looks and acts like a professional wrestler.
President Trump has long been an admirer of professional wrestling.
This is perhaps the reason why this country is now being run as if it were an offshoot of the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
But unfortunately not nearly as efficiently.
6
Why are you picking on poor Matt?
It beggars belief that Trump would not know of Whitaker’s involvement in this cheesy scam. What is more likely is that one film flam man recognized another and approves of his world view wholeheartedly.
6
Mr. Whitaker sounds like a swamp creature of the first order, the type Trump lyingly promised to get rid of. He has no business being acting AG, especially without Senate approval.
12
That Mr. Whitaker sat on the board of a company that bilked investors is not only in and of itself disqualifying, but it highlights the genius of the constitutional requirement that presidential appointments of heads of departments be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. The purpose of that requirement was to prevent the appointment of unqualified presidential cronies. That, of course, did not occur here. And, it did not occur in spite of the fact that there were qualified candidates within the Department of Justice (Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Solicitor General Noel Francisco among them) who were previously confirmed by the Senate and who could have been legally appointed Acting Attorney General upon the forced resignation of Jeff Sessions. The temporary appointment of one of these individuals would have been in keeping with presidential tradition and also satisfied the Constitution’s advice and consent requirement. There was no emergency warranting the appointment of Whitaker even on a temporary basis, and his appointment was nothing more than a pretext designed to undermine Mueller and protect Trump. It is clearly further evidence of obstruction of justice.
21
"the commission said, the Miami Beach company failed to make good on almost every promise it made to consumers, and strung them along for months or years after taking their money." - looks a lot like Trump University!
14
When watching Nicolle Wallace's (and others') show on MSNBC, I often think to myself that if Frank Figliuzzi, Chuck Rosenberg, Clint Watts, Joyce Vance, Barbara McQuade et al are representative of the DoJ, we are in good hands indeed.
It is distressing that we have discovered a rotten egg in that basket by the name of Whitaker, who brings shame on the justice system with his gangsterish behavior.
It is also exceedingly ironic that the president who routinely accuses Comey, Strzok, Mueller and others for alleged bias against him, has nominated a known extreme partisan hack to run the department in which those people have served honorably.
I'm guessing that many others have noticed that the people calling the shots in the administration are virtually all fringe, ideologically extreme, social outcasts (Miller, Bannon, Sanders, etc.), and I laugh to think how poorly these people would fail and be ridiculed if they hired on to a normal company with standards, ethics, and skill requirements.
When will this nightmare be over ?
19
“It is not clear if Mr. Trump was aware of Mr. Whitaker’s involvement with the patent marketing company ...”
Well Donald says he doesn’t even know the guy. (Like he never met Stormy Daniels?). Still, this fellow seems like a perfect fit, ethics and character-wise, for Donald’s club.
15
Another face on Mt. Trashmore to go along with Tom Price, Ryan Zinke, Wilbur Ross, and Scott Pruitt. And those are just the cabinet members that are known to have acted unethically and corruptly during the first two years of this swamp-free administration.
11
There is organized crime and then there is Trump’s version we call Disorganized Crime Family. It is time that everyone read 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell. With so much Trump lying, almost everything is a lie, the truth becomes a lie, the lie becomes truth. This distortion of reality has negative consequences as is proven by historical examples. Pretending that lies are acceptable, that they are normal human behavior is the malignancy that methodically undermines humanity and civilization
11
This guy is a Lawyer? From the U of Iowa? The Law School must be hiding it's head in sham after granting him a degree! This really makes lawyers the very, very bottom of the food chain. Ah, where's Shakespeare's quote about lawyers when you need it? It goes something like this "k--- all the lawyers"! Perfect at this time.
7
Why am I not surprised by this? And by Trump's saying he doesn't "know" him. Crazy is the new normal, apparently.
3
Where have you gone, Richard Nixon ???
Sad.
2
Matthew Whitaker is not fit to be Attorney General. Whitaker is on the board of World Patent Marketing; which scams consumers. Whitaker is a scam artist. Whitaker is not fit to be Attorney General. Ray Sipe
4
Not new news about Whittaker;just a typical staunch Drumpf supporter.
It is resonable to assume and is probabky correct that most of Drumpf's position assignments and cabinet members backgrounds are loaded with scam artist activities just like their quarter-wit leader.
2
I don’t know why my comment yesterday illuminating Whitaker’s dangerous religious views was refused while another comment of mine in the same column was posted but I’m trying again because you can’t cover up his theocratic radicalism. It is far more dangerous than his scams.
He’s a Christian dominionist who is working to turn the US into a Christian theocracy. The evidence is all over the web yet the NYTimes is ignoring this fact. He believes, completely contrary to the First Amendment, that judges should be subjected to a religious test before being appointed.
“Whitaker...at a conservative forum in April 2014, where he appeared as a candidate for the Republican US Senate nomination in Iowa...said he wanted to know about a judge’s judicial philosophy, along with their views on natural law, natural rights...’Because natural law is often used from the eye of the beholder...I’d like to see things like their world view...How have they lived their life? Are they people of faith? Do they have a biblical view of justice? Which I think is very important.’
“Whitaker went on: ‘What I know is that as long as they have that worldview, that they’ll be a good judge. And if they have a secular worldview, that ‘this is all we have here on Earth’, then I’m going to be very concerned about how they judge’.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/08/matthew-whitaker-acting-attorney-general-judges-christian
This presents a grave danger to our democracy. Report it ASAP!
12
Vultures of a Feather.
Seriously.
3
So, on the Board of a company scamming millions?
That’s your basic qualification for working for trump.
7
This administration, if one can even call it that, is being run with all the subtlety of the Gambino mob, only vastly more powerful. While the Gambinos employed street thugs to impose their will, Trump and his fellow made men have the full weight of the United States government, its military, and a stockpile of nuclear weapons at their disposal.
All that stands between them and imposing a Putin-style dictatorship is our free press, our shaky voting system, a Senate filled with Trump sycophants, a newly elected Democratic House of Representatives, and the voice of the people.
I strongly urge my fellow citizens to use the latter, you are all that stands in the way of a darkness this world has not seen in over a thousand years.
5
Looks like the president is working his way through the Grifters Anonymous membership list in making his appointments
6
trump is running an Organized Crime Syndicate.
4
Mr. Whitaker's being accused of threatening customers while serving on the board of a Florida Company a federal judge shut down?
Sounds like he'll be a perfect fit working for the Trump Administration.
And mind you, this as a practicing Evangelica? What is it with that religion?
These same Evangelicals have embraced Trump since he ran for president and to this day, no matter the particulars of his seedy past, one of sexually assaulting women and bilking contractors of their rightful reimbursement for supplying materials and work rendered while building his Casinos.
Bottom line? And make no mistake about it, Evangelicals will support anyone who is in favor of ending A Woman's Right to Chose.
33
Because protecting a cluster of cells in utero is more important than ANYTHING else - including 5 year olds in kindergarten to a 97 year olds in a house of worship (and everyone is between) being indiscriminately slaughtered by gunfire.
1
In related news Trump says reporters should treat the White House with respect.
When will Trump treat the White House with respect?
21
Birds of a feather ... flock together.
7
In other news ....
"President of Country Ran Company Found to Have Bilked Customers"
13
And I thought the Mafia was really bad. They pale in comparison to our present government.
11
Kindred souls. The patent hustle and Trump University.
Next up Chapo Guzman for the Director of the DEA.
23
Must be a requirement with the Trumpster and the right wing.
The only one I have any faith in is General Mattis. I'm sure he'll be gone soon.
@Lawrence I’m with you on everything but the “souls” part. These ghouls are soulless, and are in the process of gutting the country’s.
1
Mr. Whitaker reminds me of Ambassador John Bolton, san hair and mustache.
3
@Walter McCarthy You mean, he’s a bald faced liar?
3
"If Jeff Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay."
Where are you, Senator Graham?
23
Well, this fits well, given that Trump himself had his own "university". I can't envy the Federal Trade Commission staff these days, working for the biggest conman in modern times.
9
Sounds eminently qualified for a position in the Trump administration.
5
Isn't watching over a scam practically a requirement for serving in Trump's cabinet?
21
Why do we have to used "accused" for companies and the people who planned and executed fraud? This company and trump university deliberately set out to steal money from their victims.
Part of any "settlement" should include an admission of guilt to warn off future voters/victims.
16
@Ace
"Part of any "settlement" should include an admission of guilt to warn off future voters/victims."
That makes no sense. Nobody would evefr settle if doing required an admission of guilt. Otherwise, what would be the point/benefit of settling. Think!
1
Guys like him could never actually climb the ladder through an organization like the DoJ which is filled with people of integrity and weeds guys like Mr. Whitaker out. Of course he would be a former Chief of Staff.
9
The bar is now officially below ground.
34
Is there surprise that a Trump appointee is corrupt? Isn’t corruption pretty much a sine qua non for a job in this administration?
Further, in addition to being corrupt, the ideal official would also be:
A toady;
An incompetant and/or a mediocrity;
A ideological extremist.
Mr. Whitaker seems to fit the bill.
21
Well we can give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest that his years of playing football caused brain damage that resulted in poor judgement, bad decisions, and clouded thinking. Whatever- he still does not belong in the position of leader of the DOJ.
8
Wow. Just think of the letter that will now go to anyone who dares to complain to World Patent Marketing. "You better better watch it, Buster. The U.S. Attorney General used to be on our board!"
11
This seems like the type of the person the Justice department should be investigating, not running it.
19
Sounds like he got his business degree from Trump University.
17
Rosenstein was next in line; but he’s competent, not ethically challenged, and by all means not in Donald Trump’s pocket.
Presto! We’ve got a Fox News talking head (and certified nightclub bouncer) who doesn’t believe in judicial review of the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government; who leveraged his government position as a participant in a multi-million dollar consumer fraud; and who already has stated his firmly held belief the Mueller inquiry should be quietly ‘defunded’ out of existence - suffocated in its bed in the middle of the night, in other words. Recuse himself? You’re kidding! “I never woulda appointed him if I’d known he was gonna do that.”
Heck, let’s quit pretending. Just appoint Jeannine Pirro as the new Attorney General of the United States. And then make Paul Manafort head of the Federal Election Commission. He can phone it in from Club Fed, can’t he? Put the Fox & Friends trio in the State Department and we’re all set.
It’s an all-new season of The Apprentice - this time with the U.S. Treasury and a $700 billion a year military budget to play with! Think of the ratings! Fantastic!
13
Trump know's time is not on his side after this weeks massive loss. The longer he continues to run from the truth and dodge justice for campaign collusion, the more narrow his path will be. The game is nearing end, and he will soon no longer defraud our country; and the world.
7
Could the NYT please supplement this important and timely investigative article with a copy of the federal judge's decision. Was the Trump sycophant Whitaker referred to explicitly or implicitly in that ruling? This public service subject matter also requires additional reporting. Are there any other victims of this scam who were also intimidated by Whitaker? There probably were other people who were threatened by this legal goon. Hopefully, someone did or will report him to the appropriate bar disciplinary authorities for sanctions.
5
What's the problem? I don't see any problems. Back to MAGA!
1
@Southern Boy Your comment is the only interesting comment I have read so far on this issue. You might not understand why I say that though.
5
@Southern Boy
You don't recognize a fraud when you see one so you like both Trump and Whitaker.
2
Apparently Whitaker and Trump are cut from the same cloth. Which probably means the GOP Senate will find him to be a “good ol’ boy”.
9
Making America Great Again! Whoopie! So much winning! I guess I missed it in the fake news.
4
The only job Whitaker is fit for is bouncer at a real dive.
10
@TM
I think you just nailed the job description at Trump's ideal Justice Department.
10
Listen folks, the problem with the Republican party isn't that they lack a spine. The problem with them is that they are a party of, for and by the rich and anyone else who votes for them is little more than an "useful idiot", to borrow a famous quote (yes, even all the various rightist culrure warriors are said idiots). Don't get fooled for a moment that the more cunning Repubs like McConnell actually believe that "deregulation" is a tool for the just treatment of businesses. These amoral and immoral Repubs know that deregulation is a blank check for their rich donors to act with impunity if they wish to do so. It was only a matter of time before open lawlessness and criminality by the rich would be fully supported by the party of "law and order", as long as said criminals pour money into the GOP coffers. The Democrats aren't as far deep in this swamp as the Repubs yet , but if there's no campaign finance reform just watch ( and weep).
6
Gee, you get the sense that Whitaker is a bullying, not very bright, over-sized white man who scams and intimidates the vulnerable and exaggerates his accomplishments. Maybe he's an illegitimate son of the President?
14
Past is prologue.
2
Doesn't this information make Whitaker an "unindicted co-conspirator"?
5
Hé will fit right in with the Trumpettes.
5
January isn't far off. Keep in mind how much fun you''d have serving your obstruction of justice stint in the federal pen Mr. Whitaker........ Though you'll probably fare better in prison than Tump will.
5
Birds of a feather.
4
Mob life sanitized for government. Bag man as AG.
6
Geez, yet another Trump criminal.
4
Matt Whitaker sounds like the perfect "Trumplican" Party bloke.
4
Shocking, another phony Christian Republican running on moral high ground as they cheat and scam their way through life stealing from honest hard working people. RP - Party of liars and cheaters that never worked a hard day in their lives ripping off honest working people.
8
Let the Character assassination games begin!
It's more than all this. The company had only one patent practitioner who was not even an attorney. She is now suspended from practice, but in violation of the consent decree, still lists herself as a licensed patent agent. We'll see where this goes. Elsewhere she is identified as a "former" patent agent which is also not correct. She is a patent agent, but suspended, not former. I never thought we'd see Trumpworld in the registry of patent agents, but there you have it.
16
Given all of the honorable, smart, hardworking people out there, I'm amazed how Trump continues to find and hire people with the exact opposite set of attributes.
22
@Jeff
Well, that would be because they are just like him.
2
Just one more monumentally unqualified and ethically unsuitable Trump appointee to follow in the footsteps of Ronny Jackson, Anthony Scaramucci, Tom Price and so many others. Donald Trump had better get busy looking for somebody else he thinks looks good on TV, because with all the baggage Matthew Whittaker is he’s carrying, I don’t think he will be with us long.
25
I've lost track. Is this "all the best people" or "so much winning that I'm tired of winning"?
37
@Jayce
Jace...Its winning, winning, winning.
Like keeping control of the Senate...judges,,,and all.
You can have the House.
Trump is winning every day and that is why Liberals are in meltdown everyday.
A sad way to live for Liberals.
That I can tell you.
@Jayce
Trump losing is merely a lie away from winning.
He does it all the time.
1
Lovely
6
Not every company can be as lucky as Capital One and get a distinguished actor like Samuel Jackson made famous as a sociopathic movie hit man to endorse their brand. But Whitaker does look like he'd make a great bouncer.
6
You write: "Whitaker Sat on Board of Company Accused of Scamming Customers" It's more than an accusation.
23
@Harold Burstyn to be precise, it is an accurate description. Words. They have meanings.
So we now have a slimeball huckster as AG. How perfectly Trump.
25
If the Democrats didn't win control of the House on Tuesday this article would have sent me looking for a bridge to jump off. Not that I'm feeling optimistic. It's just nice to not feel things are totally hopeless for a change.
The possible good news here is that exposing this thug as one more scam artist might make it harder to get him legally appointed.
22
With all that stink on him, does he really need to look like Lex Luthor? Seems like overkill. We get it, you're the worst.
20
Another thug in the Trump Crime Family.
35
President Gangster now has a fully formed mob including mobsters who have left the Funny White House and those plotting crimes within it.
21
The Trump administration, including the President himself, has taken on the personna of mobsters. Within the last week Trump's media flunkies attempted to wrest a microphone away from Jim Acosta, the CNN White House reporter. This looks like a scene one would expect from a totalitarian government. Then, Trump appoints an acting Attorney General who was on the board of a company accused of defrauding customers and using Whittaker's prior history as a U.S. attorney to intimidate dissatisfied customers. Are we witnesses to the takeover of our government by thugs and con men?
25
"Mr. Whitaker, using his Iowa law firm’s email, told a man who had complained to Mr. Cooper that he was a former federal prosecutor and served on the company’s board."
“Your emails and message from today seem to be an apparent attempt at possible blackmail or extortion,” Mr. Whitaker wrote in August 2015. “You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear World Patent Marketing’s reputation online. I am assuming you understand that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you.”
Whitaker should be disbarred for Intimidating customers who have legitimate complaints against a company that is engaging in fraudulent activity.
How can this man be the acting attorney general? Can Congressional Democrats file a lawsuit?
37
I had thought that Whitaker was a hustler chosen by Trump because of his obvious law and fact free opinions about the Mueller investigation--as seen on TV.
It now feels a bit more like Trump's attempt to put the doctor who lied about Trump's weight and health and made him feel good in charge of the VA. No actual analysis of whether he could do the job, was qualified for the job, might be challenged...
Trump is a lazy crook, always taking the way out that is easiest for him. As such, he is totally vulnerable to anyone who sucks up to him--and appears a bit too eager to break the law.
Not my president.
16
So, another crook joins the 'respected' men in the White House.
12
Typical. Another moron appointed by the sitting moron.
19
He'll fit right in with the rest of the crooks of the Trump administration. He's one of the toadies hanging with the Iowa caucus candidates and made the rounds to get in the game.
11
The Sopranos were more ethical. Unbelievable that Scott Pruitt held the title of most inappropriate appointee for such a short time.
15
When do we start to drain the swamp?
14
Trump appears to get legal counsel for various positions from the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe.
19
Please. Let's not denigrate the ethics of a firm whose members are no longer able to defend themselves....
2
Do they not have background checks in DC?
16
Sean,
All they had to do was Google the guy.
Trump knows all he needs to about Matt Whitaker. Supposedly Whitaker was auditioning for a post in the Trump administration with his CNN punditry, defending Trump and slamming the Mueller investigation at every opportunity.
Matt Whitaker, like Donald Trump, seems very slippery.
16
@Sean
No, they frequently don't. USIS got paid for 650000 flawed or nonexistent background investigations. No real penalties for the monied and connected people overseeing the fraud.
His appointment isn’t legal and he is an unqualified sycophant. Someone needs to get a court to enjoin this train wreck.
13
Let's face it. The so-called president and his cohorts and minions are just a bunch of crooks.
It says a lot about the people that support and defend them at all costs.
9
"Only the best people..."
8
We have a con man as president and another con man as acting attorney general. I weep for our country.
19
His working for this company and manhandling customers who are cheated should be enough to disqualify Whitaker form the position of AAG. This person is not fit to be AG. Just exactly as to how Trump is not fit to be POTUS. I am so sick of all the criminals.
14
Come on January. Step on it!
8
Why should we be surprised that Trump appointed someone accused of bilking chumps out of their money when he settled the Trump university fraud suit. Birds of a feather.
8
How does this not surprise me?
1
The headline says quite clearly that Whitaker should be a good fit in the trump junta.
10
If Whittaker is a shady character then he is part of the fellow's inner circle of fraudulent ponds. How appropriate! Birds of a feather.
6
As expected....Trump’s picks are always “fishy”
5
Can I make a citizen arrest against Matthew Whitaker?
12
Whitaker is Trump's kind of guy ! A match made in Hades.
8
@Doug Hill - Let's hope they end up there together.
2
not surprising... look at Giuliani and the wonderful work he did defending OxyContin manufacturers Purdue Pharma...they're despicable....https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/08/exclusive-senators-are-demanding-information-about-giulianis-opioid-lobbying/
9
This is getting funnier by the minute. Trump is forced to go to the bottom of the barrel because no one with any integrity will execute his policies and do his dirty work.
Trump desperately wants to stop the Mueller investigation. Who else can he get but a hit-man?
13
Why is it that when old white men take thousands of dollars from their victims, it’s called ‘scamming’, but when black men do it, it’s called theft?
24
"Scamming customers"....right up Trump's alley.
6
It's very easy.
Trump only likes criminals and dictators.
He peoples his " administration "
With cheaters, liars and corrupt and unqualified
men. Then he claims he is draining a swamp.
I'm here to say: anyone who still supports this sorry excuse for a human being truly is deplorable.
11
It's apparent that the only people Donald Trump seems to associate with are mostly shysters, philanders, racist and downright criminals. No mystery he is incapable of finding anyone with modicum of integrity to fill his cabinet positions.
16
No surprise here. Trump only supports people who are as smarmy as he is. Just add this Attorney General to the horrid Cabinet members who are dismantling our protections.
Whittaker sounds even worse than Jeff Sessions. At least Sessions gave Mueller the space to carry on this investigation to reach a final conclusion. I fear that will not be possible with Whitaker in charge.
Doesn't the FBI do thorough background checks anymore? Would not Mr. Whittaker's past come up in that check?
What is next from this Administration, Martial Law?
10
Threatening criminal penalties in order to gain an advantage in a civil action is a violation of the rules of ethics for most attorneys.
19
Whitaker’s threatening April, 2015 letter to a complaining investor violates attorney ethical requirements. As any attorney should know it is unethical to threaten criminal charges to obtain improper advantage in a civil matter. RPC 3.4(g). His local Bar Association should file an ethics complaint against him. It violates other cannons of conduct as well ie truthfulness in statements to others. I wish I could claim to be shocked or even surprised that someone with such obviously questionable ethics has been appointed by Trump to such a position but unfortunately lack of ethics seems to be the primary requirement for obtaining a job in this Administration.
21
@KMC Trump highly values loyalty. No person of integrity could ever be loyal to such a crooked, worthless human being. He has to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find anyone willing to kowtow to him.
3
"Mr. Whitaker, using his Iowa law firm’s email, told a man who had complained to Mr. Cooper that he was a former federal prosecutor and served on the company’s board." There was extortion going on alright, but not by the customers. What next, Mr. Trump appointing Mexican drug lords to Cabinet positions?
11
@Steve Kennedy no one will work for DT..only to get a foot in the door for their own interests...I see Scaramooch
on the BBC and many talk shows this to DTrump is giving people a Break in Show Business..all sleazy characters out of a Damon Runyan Novel......users and used...…
careful the company you keep doesn't seem to mean much anymore...…..or guilt by association is really publicity shame on these people for acting so maliciously and having no conscience....but then DT has all those holly rollers out in Middle America..so what do I know...…...they like Drama and toughness..
4
Why am I not surprised by this report about Mr. Whitaker. After all he assumed the role of a hit man to threaten customers in his former scam operation and that would make him a perfect fit for our Con Man In Chief. How can a criminal operation get anything done without someone to threaten the marks. Somehow I believe that Mr. Mueller has seen many of these guys come and go and probably has put a few of them in jail. But we do need to hold Mr. Mueller's back when he confronts the knock on the door from Trump's enforcer.
7
So, a Trump appointee is lacking in the ethics department? Shocking. Whitaker played football at University of Iowa. I bet some of his teammates have some interesting stories to paint a full picture of Whitaker's background, one that will probably make him fit right in with the rest of Trump's team.
7
Umm, I thought the no one was above the law?. Oh wait, this is the age of Trumpism- the anything goes Reality TV show.
1) No one has to be accountable, unless it reduces taxes and increases a company or individual's bottom line.
2) The new Ethics and Morality is Convervative Evangelical situation ethics based: As long as you gain a Supreme Court seat and work toward the greater goal to overturn Roe V Wade, then IN GOD WE TRUST and we're good.
3) We don't vette our candidates- we merely look into the Trump Guest book or verify w FOX TV
OMG- when will the leaders of both political parties wake up in this country before it's really too late?
7
thought the Pres only respected "winners." this guy lost the Rose Bowl ('91). and he lost a political prosecution of an Iowa state senator for a 2k "embezzlement" - jury took 2 hrs to acquit. the scam company affiliation says it all. and his qualifications for the Trump position were appearing on CNN (how ironic). THE APPRENTICE? wake up, America, this ain't a reality TV show. (if it is, it should be canceled.)
9
Trump prefers to hire crooked lawyers, like Roy Cohn and Michael Cohen, and the opportunity to recruit one at a high level doesn't come along everyday. To find one that benefited from a fraud on customer scheme similar to the one ran by Trump University must have felt providential to him. Law and order for the Republicans in power excludes many of the cons and media schemes run by party apparatchiks and against the supporters of the party. Doesn't care much Marbury v. Madison, or judges not committed to the New Testament as the source of our law, or investigating someone who just promoted him . Trump in his role as Nihilist-in-chief has shown us that as low as he has gone, we haven't seen bottom yet.
5
Looks to me like just another day at the White House under this administration. How can this government lecture other corrupt regimes around the world when its own house is in such a state of affairs? My father used to tell me how lucky we were to have the USA as a neighbor and friend compare to Russia where the government was in the hands of thugs and hooligans. The meaning of the rule of law seems to have been lost by the very people in this administration who are in charge of abiding by it.
5
What are our congressional “representatives” saying about Trump putting a crook in charge of the Justice Dept., bypassing the Deputy AG who was confirmed by the Senate?
Looks like Democrats are trying for a return to a functional US justice system. Republicans seem to be AWOL.
6
If Don The Con is willing to plead ignorance about this guy, he's got to be a horror show just waiting to unfold. Stay tuned....there will not be confirmation hearings.
3
You've just made Whitaker into a star for Trump.
Bullying, threatening, misuse of official position (even if after leaving office), and a distant (very) connection to truth: "that's my kind of guy" for Donny.
The Republican Senate standing up against Trump and the appointment of a crook to Attorney General of the United States? Fat chance.
7
I imagine the right wingers will have him nominated for prez in ‘24. He’s their kind of guy.
2
So now Mr. Whitaker, a one-time television personality, pro-Trumpian trumpet, intimidator and co-swindler for a defunct and fraudulent company is the acting Attorney General of the United States?
Why do I not hear each and every Republican Senator calling for this man to step down? The so-called party of law and order, high morals and original interpreters and defenders of the Constitution?
We haven't been influenced by Russia - we are becoming Russia: a corrupt state run by party hacks and oligarchs set up to protect the dishonest and corrupt enterprise at the top.
How much further into this sink-hole will Republicans let us fall? An entire generation of children and young adults are not being brought up to understand and respect the high ideals of our Constitution and democracy. Just the opposite.
5
The more unhinged Trump gets, the more dangerous he is. No matter what, Mueller must be protected to complete the investigation. Considering his deranged mental capacity, Trump is putting the country in a very undesirable situation. It feels like we are on the cusp of some very unnerving times. Whittaker will only add to the quagmire. If Whittaker and Trump opt to obstruct justice, they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Let the Mueller investigation continue without interference.
2
Another addition to the Kakistocracy, rule by the worst.
5
“Your emails and message from today seem to be an apparent attempt at possible blackmail or extortion,” Mr. Whitaker wrote in August 2015. “You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear World Patent Marketing’s reputation online. I am assuming you understand that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you.”
Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) in "The Maltese Falcon":
"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter... "
5
Regarding Whitaker's involvement with the World Patent Marketing scam, he sounds like a typical republican church-door-swinging hypocrite who while stating that Supreme Court justices should be required to have a biblical view of justice seems to have very little of that characteristic himself.
2
Why does Mr. Whittaker still have an activr law license after the fraud case?
5
@idiamond
Because the fraud case was not against him
One of the prerequisites to work and be part of this administration is to be dishonest.
They firmly believe that good people go to Heaven while crooks go everywhere.
3
Anyone surprised? It’s what we expect from Trump. It reflects the character and heart beat of the Trump and GOP tolerance of corruption and crime reflected in the people Trump thinks are “good guys”.
“I need loyalty” he said I’m sure as he said to Comey. Whitaker is horrible we already know. He fits in as Trump with Bannon in his ear saying “seize the time, this is your moment” tries to unravel the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court on his vicious path to try for 2020 and if that horror occurs the GOP and that means Pence too with his cagey act will try to undo term limits. Whitaker needs to go. Americans can’t have him.
82
I guess the quality of Trump appointees is taking a real nosedive. Although after Sessions and his quackery I'm wasn't sure it could go much lower. As usual Trump selects the worst person possible to head up an agency. We have De Vos whose entire of experience of public schools can be said in one word: none. We have a Treasury Secretary who is a nitwit. A Secretary of the Interior who hasn't seen a regulation he doesn't want to roll back. We have a vice president who is waiting to take over so he can create his own theocracy. What's one more strange character who has some minor issues in the mix?
We know Trump believes in justice for the rich and not the rest of us. This merely proves it.
13
He should have his law license revoked for using his position as a US Attorney to intimidate people who had been scammed into withdrawing complaints. There must be a line somewhere, even for lawyers.
Should he ever come under questioning about his part of his career - it should be asked whither he was too lousy and lawyer to recognize a scam, or complicit all the way.
And this is one of those sad, hopeless issues: attorneys who lie for their clients and board members who misrepresent and lie, and intimidate blameless investors or buyers, should be held accountable for damages along with the owner.
Under Trump -- this is the vile swamp creature who at this moment is representing Law and Justice in the US. A thug you could imagine in Venezuela, or serving with the Stasi. Here.
22
Trump Interview with Matthew Whitaker:
T: How are you Matthew?
M: Fine sir.
T: Is there anything I should be made aware of before I
choose you for the acting Attorney General?
M: I sat on the board of a company accused of bilking
customers.
T: Was the company found guilty?
M: Yes sir. We were fined $ 26,000,000.00
T: I like to hear that. At least that company tried!
You're hired.
17
Then Trump will say with that skill and shrug “sad you have to mention that”, kinda like an old SNL skit!
1
Stocking the swamp to make America a grifter enabled nation. This is what running government like a business means.
19
WHY is it "going too far" to investage the President's finances?
Shouldn't Americans have a right to know if the President is serving his own interests over the interests of the country?
68
Misleading headline. The patent company wasn’t just accused of fraud— it was found guilty and fined.
131
Trump only picks from the bottom of the swamp. How in God's name do his supporters think this is okay?
22
"Matthew G. Whitaker, the acting attorney general, served on the advisory board of a Florida company that a federal judge shut down last year and fined nearly $26 million after the government accused it of scamming customers."
You mean sort of like Trump University?
57
Another example of Trump installing only the 'best people' into his administration. Like Trump, Mr. Whitaker is unqualified for the position and is highly partisan. Since Republicans have refused to exercise their responsibilities to provide a check on the Executive branch, the only answer is to vote all of them out of office in 2020 including of course Trump/Pence.
We need to implement many new rules going forward to prevent another Trump nightmare. We need uniform federal election laws and eliminate state legislatures to gerrymander voting districts. My voting rights should be the same regardless of my state residence. Voting is a right granted by our U.S. Constitution and not a right a state should be allowed to restrict.
23
All the best people work in this Administration. This is terrible.
7
The presence of ‘loyalists’ in the administration should alert the public about possible cover up activities going on to support ‘shady’ activities of a ‘leader.’ Mr. Whittaker was a loyal board member of the ‘shady’ company ‘World Patent Marketing’ prosecuted for scamming customers and having been fined $26 million.
With that background, how was he approved to be appointed as the chief of staff for Jeff Sessions? How can such a person be suited for the job of the Acting Attorney General?
Mr. Whittaker seems to be a serial loyalist for shady organisations - the latest being Mr. Trump, not known to be the most honest person in the world.
Furthermore, according to Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III (NYT Nov 8, 2018), his appointment as Acting Attorney General without the consent of the Senate is illegal.
17
Seems like another example of Trump's "only the best". With so many people wanting to work with him, this is the best he can do?
8
Huh, sounds like his new boss!
Seriously, we're in the midst of a bloodless coup. Slow as molasses, but a coup - that's what it is.
The complicity of congressional Republicans - they look the other way at EVERYTHING unsavory Trump does - has emboldened him to no end.
Sad to say this: it would come as no surprise if Trump decides to suspend elections in 2020 and these Senators goes along with it.
Time's running out, people.
16
@Michael
Mueller has allowed his detractors a lot of rope to hang themselves, and has cautiously moved his chess pieces out to secure incremental improvements in position.
If Mueller was scared of Whitaker or Trump, he'd be making hasty moves right now. Time and again, Mueller has proven to be deliberate, calculating, and soberly non-partisan. It's certainly not Mueller who appears desperate. That makes me more confident as a citizen that patriots like Mueller are backstops against would-be tyrants and their enablers.
4
He's thinking about it! He's thinking about it!
Well, this sounds like another classic "only the best" who have been chosen by the Great Leader. This is his definition of winning I guess.
8
Typical Trump appointment; under qualified, quasi-criminal, blindly obedient lap dog. Just like Trump is to Putin.
30
You say it’s not clear Trump knew about Whittaker working for a scam outfit, abusively threatening bilked victims or acting as a video presenter to help the company commit fraud. I suppose it wouldn’t matter to him anyway since Trump has bilked hundreds of people with his Trump University, has lied, along with his lovely daughter, about condo sales to sucker buyers, and demonstrated a total lack of morals and honesty with his serial adulterer and thousands of lies. Half the cabinet he hired have also lacked morals and honesty and been caught with outrageous personal enrichment behaviour, so all in all Whittaker would fit right in.
17
I don’t know what everyone is so upset about. Hey, Rick Scott, our so-called governor in Florida, headed a health care company fined 1.7 billion dollars for Medicare fraud. He took the 5th 45 times at trial. The great citizens of Florida elected him governor (twice) anhyway. So, what’s your problem?
40
@Jack McDonald Holy mac! Perhaps, then, some are much more equal before the law than most others, ya think?
What a revelation!!
Now he sits in a US administration that's scamming its citizens.
12
Makes sense. All part of the same pattern.
8
This is how the media fights the damnable lies about fake news and bias by simply engaging in superlative investigative reporting like this.
The press is not the “enemy of the people,” it is the people. Its true enemy is the corrupted state that purports to represent the people.
Unfortunately, the press becomes the official opposition when the actual opposition has been ineffective. Following these midterms, Democrats might take a lead from the press and hammer home the revelations that the honourable press corps uncover. The hard work of investigation is done for them by the stout yeomanry of the journalism profession. All Democrats have to do is ask the questions that abound and never accept less than truthful clarity as a response.
In an alliance, let the people, the press, and democracy make America great again by reaffirming the tenets of the Constitution that others seek to lay waste.
9
I'd like to hear from some Trump supporters on this special selection of Matthew G. Whitaker. Seriously.
12
@former MA teacher ... If you have been paying attention you already know what most of them will say.
2
Just what we'd expect in Trump's smoking-gun America. Good work, chief!
4
Ah, the swamp! It gets wider, deeper and more populated with creepy creatures.
10
I so enjoy reading the comments section. Just a bunch of lemmings caught in the bubble.
Because of course no Democrats are ever involved in shady business dealings.
Whitaker may be a Trump lackey but in this case he took in the obscene amount of ten grand.
With the country split in two, this will not end well.
I wonder if all the new Dems in the house have been to the secret Congressional workshops. "How to Identify the Best Lobbyists and Get Rich Too."
Philosophical statements like - "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely," are used only to point the finger at the other corrupted official. However, as the saying goes, when you point your finger at me you have three pointing back at you.
No Solidarity and No Equality = the death of America.
Whataboutism isn't going to solve the Trump problem. And whether or not Dems were or will be as corrupt as Trump et al. is irrelevant. The current Republican party is infested with corruption and demagoguery.
As as a Democrat, I can tell you that I would want my party to get rid of its corrupt officials and any demagogues. For example I'm still aghast that Menendez ran in New Jersey.
Pointing fingers and saying that Democrats could be just as bad or have been just as bad is not a serious answer to the problem currently facing us.
6
@zigful26 So let me understand. Your reply to this report is "Well the other side did it so it's okay?" So- two wrongs make a right? I thought we learned better than that in primary school. It is no wonder we are in the situation we are in today.
4
@zigful26 - Interesting. So criminal activity is weighed by the amount of gain?
2
Mr. Matthew Whitaker should have had his license to practice law suspended by the Iowa Bar,
and the Washington, DC Bar,
for intimidating and threatening the victims of World Patent Marketings fraudulent schemes.
15
@Steven of the Rockies:
"Suspended"? Given the evidence from the FTC case, he should have been permanently disbarred.
1
@eric h carlson
First of all, unless you were at the trial, neither you, nor the intern-reporters who wrote this article, have any idea what the evidence was at trial.
Second, while the co was found to have done improper things (we don't know exactly what), Whitaker was not an officer, director, owner, or employee for the co; he was just their lawyer. He is not responsible for what his client did. Did Bill Clinton's lawyer's get disbarred for Bill's perjury? Of course not.
How in God's name was Whitaker allowed anywhere on Justice properties.The man is toxic!
62
@James Mac
According to the article, Trump caught sight of him when he was working as a CNN analyst. That explains pretty much everything: he was hired BECAUSE he's toxic.
9
He is an associate of El Trumpo.
2
@James Mac President Grifter wanted him there, of course.
4
So, can a US Attorney file an indictment against the acting AG? Sounds like Whitaker aided and abetted criminal fraud. That should get him arrested. Can you run the Justice Department from jail?
36
@Cfiverson
"Sounds like Whitaker aided and abetted criminal fraud. "
Actually, it sounds more like you are not a lawyer, and have no idea what you are talking about.
1
The Us has many qualified and experienced people for AG, Whitaker is not one of them. But he is corrupt, so I suppose he meets the WH requirements.
53
I am tempted to say that this is the most corrupt administration since that of Ulysses S. Grant, but that really doesn't do it justice. This is the most corrupt administration since that of Caligula.
114
Drain the swamp and you know what you'll see? Things that lived in the deepest, darkest part of the swamp. Did Whitaker also work at Trump U?
27
Are you sure that Whitaker isn't a long lost member of the Trump family? He has all of the major family traits including the failed patent scam business and his constant need to make long strings of clearly absurd statements. If Whitaker were to apply now for a starting post at Justice he would not make it past the first interview.
24
Lots going on behind closed doors at the DOJ. Mueller's inclination to indict Donald Jr. could lead to his termination.
10
In the wake of Scott Pruitt, still more proof that in the Trump Swamp, grifters of a feather flock together.
21
No, I don't get it how a person can go from being shut down because you are running a scam in 2017...
.... to being the head of the Justice Department the next year, 2018.
Someone explain that to me.
102
@rosa
Easy: Jeff Sessions.
4
@rosa
In our present day Bizarro world, people fails upward. Crime is rewarded, dumb is smart, evil is goodness, night is day, human sacrifice, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria!
15
Well, one must continue to look forward to GOP/Republican (so called conservatives) party who already sold their souls for a tax break for the 1%er and two shady appointments to the supreme court to continue to be subservient to Trump. It makes all conservative Americans proud!
12
Welcome, to the Banana Republic of North America!
20
@wlieu
Unfair to serious Banana Republics!
Good lord. Once again Trump appears to have forgotten to vet his appointees. That would be embarrassing except for the fact that his legions of followers just don't care about competence.
So the acting AG of the US is a scammer. Very disturbing - but not surprising given this administration. It might be more surprising if he wasn't.
13
@cort
Respectfully disagree. More likely Trump vetted this guy, thinking "A US attorney who is willing to lend his prestige to help a crook? Perfect!"
1
On scams, there was Trump University, money raised for charity gone to pay for paintings of Trump's portrait, "selling" real estate in Palm Beach at 2X market price to Russian oligarch, etc.
Now we have Trump's anointed acting AG engaged in the World Patent Marketing scam, along with bullying acts against victims!!
Whitaker doesn't belong in the AG position. The sooner he leaves, the better for America.
14
Is there NO vetting going on with any of these people? Or are they vetted and deemed to be EXACTLY what is wanted?
This guy used his position as a U.S. Attorney to intimidate people and sat on the board of a company ultimately fined $26 million (!) for swindling American entrepreneurs.
At first I assumed it was an oversight (no pun intended), but now I'm thinking Trump LOVED this guy because he saw so much of himself in him.
26
Jesus H. Christ! Is there nothing that DJT won't do? O.K. - that's a rhetorical question, but still. Have to wonder...
6
Drain the swamp? More like engrain the swamp.
3
@IMinIN - Trump has swamped the drain.
I hope the NYTimes also investigates Whitaker's misdeeds in Iowa. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/rekha-basu/2018/11/07/did-anti-gay-bias-make-matthew-whitaker-prosecute-matt-mccoy/1923211002/?fbclid=IwAR0hT9_Q6aakRA-6Ir-L0hiuambUUgkr-SsQjYVQ2PLc10-YvXgMcZvXoE4
11
Amazing! This administration sinks lower, and lower each and every day...the trump caravan that is circling DC is the caravan of crime, hate, and bigotry...
9
@Buzz D - What I find most disturbing is that the Republicans refuse to put a check on Trump's abuses. Trump's actions are unconstitutional yet they sit silently by. At this point Trump really could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not be held accountable. Trump is prepared to burn down the entire nation.
How did this person get a law degree? His views are lunacy. His business history would indicate that he should have been disbarred - not made acting AG. The phrase 'failing upward' comes to mind.
That said, when it comes to legal acumen, experience and justice, my bet is on Mueller (and Rosenstein), who can run circles around Mr. Whitaker without breaking a sweat.
It's going to be nasty, but the trump swamp will be drained despite the addition of yet another grossly disgusting inhabitant.
14
Birds of a feather...
9
On Whitaker's background:
see: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/07/matt-whitaker-jeff-sessions-acting-attorney-general-mueller
"Before joining the Department of Justice in September 2017, Whitaker ... led a DC-based conservative group, the Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust (Fact), that was particularly focused on scrutinizing Hillary Clinton.
In that role, he said that he suggested that Clinton should be prosecuted. Whitaker said in a May 2017 statement: “I believed there was a strong case to bring against [Clinton] and she should be extremely grateful that has not happened.”
Whitaker also wrote an op-ed for CNN in ... 2017 where he urged the department to limit the scope of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election."
4
Our hard earned tax dollars going to pay the Trump/GOP criminal enterprise that wages war against Americans. Disgusting!
11
Not only is Matt Whitaker an unqualified biased toady, he's a criminal.
He must be removed from the Justice Department immediately.
20
@L
What crime was he convicted of?
1
GMooG,
The company he worked for was fined for fraud and intimidating customers when they threatened legal action.
Unfortunately, fraudsters rarely go to jail these days. They're just fined. Look at the Trump University scam for instance.
9
@GMooG - He wasn't convicted but it's obvious that he committed fraud. He wouldn't be able to get a job as a bank teller with his background.
8
The most corrupt administration of all time...January 3rd it all needs to be exposed!
8
Birds of a feather flock together. Maybe he was educated at Trump University.
7
Another reminder about how very low the standards for character are for federal employment at the highest levels. Whether it's a married FBI senior counterintelligence official having a long-running affair or officials and Congress freely trading on inside information, the swamp is thriving -- and growing.
6
It appears that Matt Whitaker had a shady role in threatening "to harm" consumers who complained and wanted refunds. If this story is corroborated by evidence, I think Mr. Whitaker needs to step down as the "acting" attorney general.
While Donald Trump is thrilled to have a loyalist willing to pull the plug on the Mueller investigation (or break kneecaps if needed), I think it's toxic to the nation and integrity of the Justice Department. Will any GOP members in Congress raise objections? Our nation deserves better.
11
Yet another con artists joins the Trump administration. He should feel right at home.
Is this what Trump meant when he talked about "draining the swamp"?
He has certainly drained the government of ethics.
15
The only connection this guy should have with the DOJ is as a defendant in federal prosecution.
15
Why neglect to mention in this article any of Donald Trumps many scams, including Trump University, that bilked innocent people out of their hard earned money?
16
The Fox guarding the Hen house.
3
We're approaching the point where Trump is simply recruiting his cabinet members from the ranks of unemployed used car salesmen. No skills, no experience, and most critically, no ethics.
10
Would they both state under oath that they never once discussed Mueller, either one on one or indirectly through intermediaries?
I doubt it.
1
@HHenson - Being under oath makes not the slightest difference to Donald Trump. There is a video on youtube of Trump, under oath, stating the he didn't know Felix Sater, which is a bald-faced lie. Trump is a man who lies for a living.
2
World Patent whatnow? I was sure it was going to be Trump University!
6
Surprise, surprise. The reality TV show has taken an ugly turn. Anything for the ratings of the bigly con man.
7
Well it appears Trump got his kinda guy who have short work history and short service time, an exit is in clear site.
2
What a shock. Another shady political hack joins the Trump Team in a role that they are obviously not qualified for and with opinions publicly stated that in normal circumstances would mean automatic disqualification. The key here is the term 'normal circumstances' which has ceased to exist in this laughable wannabe regime. Looking forward to January 3rd and most definitely 2020.
12
Sounds to me like a real Trump kind of guy.
8
Is this the same guy Trump was congratulating earlier today for his exemplary behavior? Does he take us for idiots? Matthew Whitaker, however compromised, seems a carbon copy of Trump's preposterous lying and distorting the truth, accusing Mueller's investigation as a 'witch hunt' without any evidence whatsoever. As usual. But not normal.
11
Next we'll be asked to believe that he was "just a coffee boy", or that a "Devil's Triangle" was just a simple drinking game involving quarters.
Congress needs to protect the Mueller investigation. We are very close to a constitutional crisis. Nobody is above the law, including--and perhaps especially--the President.
7
And this can happen because, as Michelle Goldberg recently pointed out so adroitly, we are moving to point at which 70% of the population gets 30 Senators, and 30% of the population gets 70 Senators.
The Electoral College and the construction of the Senate served the purpose of getting ratification of the Constitution, for which I am grateful. But the contemporary consequence of the Electoral College is to make a mockery of the "one person, one vote" principle...and we see the outcome. A substantial minority of voters win, and our nation loses.
29
So the Electoral College in the Senate were good to convince states with low populations to join the union but once we have their agreement we should abolish them is that your basic premise? remind me never to enter into an agreement with you.
2
@JerseyGirl, if the Constitution could not evolve to continue to meet the nation's needs, NEITHER you nor I would be voters right now.
9
@JerseyGirl
No, the theory is not that refined. What they really mean is that the Electoral College, and the 2 Senators/state system, are fine if Dems are going to win elections, but not if they lose. If the Dems are going to lose, then the system is no good, and needs to be revised to ensure that Dems always win.
2
Our government is being run by white collar criminals. When I was a boy I would hear about countries that were run by thugs and criminals and I was so grateful that my country was not overly corrupt.
Now our country is in the hands of people lacking moral and ethical qualities. History has shown without exception that this leads to painful outcomes for the nation and it's citizens.
429
@Richard Fried To carry this point further, I have been shocked at how much of government function is based on convention or a "gentleman's agreement", which assumes that people of some moral character will forgo their interest, or cede some of their power, for the good of the country. Jeff Sessions, although I'm no fan, did one ethical thing: he recused himself.
With this government now so full of con men, we need to understand we have to patch these holes with mandates. We can't ensure our government will function for the good of the people anymore by relying on convention.
144
@jynx_infinity Your point can be made for civilization generally. The understanding is that we could kill the other for personal advantage or we could cooperate for an even better one, a "gentlemans' agreement" supported by laws, customs, etc.. That understanding is forgotten periodically.
2
The truth isn't the truth for the GOP the culture of corruption. They can't find any decent moral men so another bad guy. In two months when the Dems take over congress we must impeach Trump for all the collusion and lies and men like this one ready to be made our top cop. No moral fibers in any Republican politician so we better end the electoral college and fast. Very sad.
20
I hire only the best people!
29
Re-filling the swamp with more slimy sludge. When will this stop?
19
Mini me!
17
Another nice swamp-draining pick!
16
@Helene another excellent choice. Happy Friday!
the sheep (foxnews) begin to chant, as if on cue: “Four legs good, two legs better!”
6
Intimidation, lies, abuse of power, enriching himself at the expense of others? Check. He'll fit perfectly with Trump and his band of grifters.
38
Well no wonder Trump wants him as the acting Attorney General! His thuggish and dishonest business practices are in the same vein as how the Trump business has been run for years. Drain the swamp!
16
Wow. A president who has spent all of his life as a fraud and a scammer appoints a defender of frauds and scammers as the nations chief law enforcement officer. Perfect!
21
Cheated customers of money and threatened them. Of course he did. He'd be incompatible with the President if it were otherwise. God, 2020 can't come soon enough. I'm sick of Donald Trump. Although to be fair, you can't really blame Mr Trump for being the person he's ALWAYS been. I blame the Republican Party for harboring and enabling all of this dysfunction, cruelty and absurdity.
76
Breaking news: Trump University to acquire World Patent Marketing. "We fulfill the need of individuals in same market segment, we give them hope and a goal to aim for" says G.R. Quick, the spokesperson for TU. When questioned about customer satisfaction, Quick admitted that not all customers fully appreciate that the steak does not not always materialize after the fizzle is gone. "Hey, the business of America is business. If you like what we do - take your business elsewhere. That's what free-market is all about."
5
One should always wonder “who would work for trump?” It is always shifty people with sketchy pasts
20
Draining the swamp, right?
3
How did this guy get his government job? So much for draining the swamp. He is the swamp!
5
@Jay
"How did this guy get his government job?"
Same way everyone else does: lack of qualifications to work in the private sector.
1
This alone should be enough to disqualify him from any job in the U.S. Government. What on earth are the GOP leaders in Washington thinking allowing this to continue. My disdain for the silent GOP voter on issues like this has no bounds.
370
@JRR
Republicans on the Hill are pure and simple "Enablers".
Just look at Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell and Grassley. Clearly they and many of these politicians lack moral convictions. They clearly have NOT the country's best interest at heart. It is all about money and power. Unfortunately as a transplanted Canadian, I think this will be the undoing of this democratic Republic.
18
@GECAUS It's enough to send me to live in Canada, which by contrast is a much less corrupt country. If only most of it was not so cold in winter...
10
I'm waiting for a republican, any republican, to speak out against Trump's new mini-me at justice. Both specialize and revel in intimidation, strongarm tactics, threats, implied violence, inappropriate and ethically devoid banking of government service with personal gain, etc.
34
It's my understanding that it is a violation of the code of professional liability for attorneys to threaten someone with criminal action in a civil matter, perhaps a matter for disbarment if not sanctions.
40
@Melomom
But the article doesn't say that anyone was threatened with criminal action; you made that up.
1
@GMooG
"“Defendants and their lawyers have threatened consumers with lawsuits and even criminal charges and imprisonment for making any kind of complaint,” the trade commission’s complaint said.
Straight from the article. Try reading it next time. And before you point out they are only allegations the company was shut down and fined on the decision of a federal judge.
3
@GMooG Nope - here's what the article said:
Your emails and message from today seem to be an apparent attempt at possible blackmail or extortion,” Mr. Whitaker wrote in August 2015. “You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear World Patent Marketing’s reputation online. I am assuming you understand that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you.”
3
I don't get it? Why doesn't the president of Trump University just give himself a law degree and then name himself attorney general. This way he can directly dispense justice to himself without any intermediaries getting in the way.
42
Let it be known, anyone with money, regardless of how they made their money, is a stand up guy with Republicans.
13
"It is not clear if Mr. Trump was aware of Mr. Whitaker’s involvement with the patent marketing company before naming him as a replacement for Jeff Sessions, who was ousted by Mr. Trump on Wednesday."
Really, enough of this nonsense. This is the job of acting Attorney General of the United States. There is a well-known process called "vetting." Even Trump's interns could have caught this, if they weren't busy trying to grab microphones out of the hands of members of the press.
This is the scam artist that the scam artist in chief wanted.
53
Not a surprise. Now, all of a sudden, Trump
says, "I don't know Matt Whitaker." I hope that a lawsuit is filed to block Trump's unconstitutional appointment of unconfirmed Whitaker as acting Attorney General.
13
These intimidation techniques are taught, I believe, at Trump University.
30
What Whitaker's resume doesn't reveal is that he also graduated...with honors...from Trump University.
17
Proof?
@Tom Q
He was up for professor emeritus
Unconfirmed AG with anti-American views formerly worked for a company with a sketchy history of defrauding people? Sounds perfect for Trumpism.
24
Wait, wait... The judge was still ruling on this case in March 2018. Matt Whitaker was appointed Chief of Staff in September 2017. He was then again considered to replace Don McGahn in September 2018. He's now acting Attorney General.
You know, even inferior public officers need to undergo a current background check before appointment. I guarantee that background check included a question concerning outstanding or recent litigation. The Trump administration had three opportunities to discover this information in advance. Occam's razor: They knew about the association and appointed Whitaker anyway.
If they didn't know, Whitaker is guilty of lying to the FBI. He wouldn't get security clearance without honestly disclosing his association with World Patent Marketing. Not hard for the FBI to connect the dots.
The only other explanation is the White House never conducted a current background check. Like Kushner, they pushed him through with provisional clearances and never audited the results. In which case, why is Whitaker allowed anywhere near the White House?
46
So he used to work for a fraudulent business, intimidating and threatening people, to circumvent justice.
Now he's going to be the head of the DOJ, intimidating and threatening the special counsel and anyone else on the president's enemies list.
16
Ladies and gentleman, the top law enforcement officer in the nation...
3
Wow... I was sued by a competitor company after I posted a report on their company (amongst many their in the industry) on a website I made to help inventors keep away from this kind of invention and patent company. I spent $70k defending myself and then when I went after them for malicious prosecution they kept dragging the suit on and on and on with delays and date changing to hearings that cost me hundreds of dollars every time. It got to the point where I had to call it quits. The other option would’ve been to sell my home and gone bankrupt. It’s a despicable industry.
38
why on earth do people trust board members? their sole ambition is to fatten their wallets. they don't give two hoots about anything else.
don't trust these people.
10
People in states with Republican Congresspeople, if any of you dare read the NYT, please write to your representatives in DC and express outrage at this travesty of the rule of law. Please.
18
'After the company took the money, it typically began ignoring customers, who became frustrated that they were left in the dark. Mr. Cooper would often berate or threaten them when they asked questions or wanted their money back.'
Sound familiar Mr. Trump? Trump U. ring any bells here? in which the same kind of stall tactics were used up to and including personally humiliating the poor schmuck customer who handed over their own hard earned monies to empty three piece suits with a penchant for lying and stealing from dreamers?
Seems pretty clear to me our current admin is being run by a bunch of Tricky Dick hucksters. When does it end...
29
Veteran's Day- a day of remembrance to honor the ideals for which they fought. My dad taught me to respect others, my teachers taught me the genius of the Constitution, Shakespeare taught me the paradox of the human condition, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight of my fellow citizens rallying with pomp to support this fiasco of only the best people. This appointment shows Tuesday was one small step to reclaiming our soul, with miles to go before we sleep.
57
Okay, so this guy used his position of public trust to threaten mere citizens after his buddy had stolen money from them? And he directly profited from same? Not fit to serve, even in an interim capacity.
Looks like Trump will just have to use his Deputy AG instead, which would not only be smart, it would be LEGAL, as compared to Whitaker who has not been confirmed by the Senate. I would like to think that his abuse of power would give him trouble with the Senate majority, but they seem to have collectively lost their moral compass, so not holding my breath.
113
@Elinor
"Okay, so this guy used his position of public trust to threaten mere citizens after his buddy had stolen money from them?"
Umm, no. Read the article. Whitaker was no longer working for the government when he was paid by this co.
1
@GMooG It is still unethical. The strong emphasis on having been a U.S. Attorney (even a former one) is used as a cudgel to threaten and intimidate, inferring that the company had federal legal authority on speed dial.
Sort of like a twerp bringing a glorious career of real estate mega-deals and life lessons of how to live like a billionaire to the oval office.
Some dowry that turned out to be, huh?
15
You are illustrating a different without a distinction. His behavior was unseemly regardless of who signed his paycheck.
6
That company served as his apprenticeship. Now he gets to scam the entire nation, courtesy of Donald J. Trump.
191
If not mistaken 26million fine is one million more than the 25
million fine incurred by a comparable scam called trump
university...
But surely all nyt commenters are already well aware of that
remarkable resemblance.
98
Is there no low Republicans won't stoop to, in the service of dominating the majority who didn't vote for them?
Cheating is on the table, multiple forms of cheating. With free and fair elections, Republican losses would be much bigger.
In fact, in 2000, we elected Al Gore. Think how much better off we would be with a guy who succeeded in attacking waste and fraud in government.
And An Inconvenient Truth? Al Gore was right. A big deal has been made of a few petty errors, which he corrected, and one typo that made headlines. Fact is, we're in big trouble with climate change, and we've been going in the wrong direction pretty much continuously, though Obama did try.
Republicans, you want Democrats to work with you? Remember what you did to Obama. They will, because they are more open, tolerant, and generous than you are, but might makes right is not in the Constitution. Nor is universal access to armories including military grade killing machines.
81
Another morally bankrupt Trumpster. What a surprise!
127
@Paul
Can't go bankrupt morally if you never invested in them in the first place.
1
We can expect more of the same if Mr. Whitaker remains to head up a Justice Department staffed with professional men and women of genuine integrity. One hopes those under the Whitaker boot will find ways to rebel against corrupt attacks and demands.
The Trump-Whitaker relationship is more proof that birds of a feather feather their nests together.
Maybe it 's time for Mr. Mueller to play an ace or two.
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
40
"Only the best dressed criminals" in my criminal Administration.
Grifters, thieves, Snake Oilers, pathological liars, conspiracists, dissemblers, and Whited Sepulchers.
Welcome to the Trump Administration
Make Satanic Behavior Great Again
TRUMP 2018
Investigate
Impeach
Indict
Incarcerate
Donald Trump and his Republican criminal syndicate staff belong in federal prison.
283
"Matthew G. Whitaker, the acting attorney general, served on the advisory board of a Florida company that a federal judge shut down last year and fined nearly $26 million after the government accused it of scamming customers."
And he was chosen as Acting Attorney General by a POTUS who, before assuming office, paid a $25 million settlement for operating a fraudulent university.
The "invasion" is not impoverished migrants headed towards our southern border. It's what's been allowed inside our federal government.
477
He thinks the President is above the law. Outspoken partisan. History of dishonest business practices. Threatened to sue customers who wanted their money back.
In other words, a perfect fit for the Trump administration.
219
Sounds like a real winner. Lock him up!
85
Wow! An AG after the president's heart.
90
My goodness! I'm shocked - shocked!! - that Trump named a bully and fraud artist as acting Attorney General, because Trump sees him as a docile lackey. Anyone who thinks the Republicans in the Senate will care, raise you hands.
Come on, now - surely there's someone out there....
199
So, a crook is now in charge of our entire Justice system. How perfect.
385
@Tom
Or "how republican."
24
@Tom
Why not? We have an imbecilic crook as fake "president," after all!
16
Whitaker is only the beginning of Trump interpreting the Constitution to fit his needs. With the courts being stacked with Trump supporting judges, and the Senate being a tool of Trump's racist agenda to transform America to his vision of greatness, we can only expect more of the same.
44
He fits right in with all the other guys Trump hangs out with.
64
GBGB-correct. He has all the credentials DJT looks for in someone who will work for him-grifter, rip-off specialist, irrational thinker, sycophant.
9
Everyday that goes by with Whitaker as Acting Attorney General is a day closer to authoritarianism. There have been no checks and balances with this President thanks to the GOP. If action is not taken to stop Trump now, we can say goodbye to American Democracy.
162