It seems up to Whitaker to prove that he isn’t a goon hack brought in by Jared and Donald to try to stifle the investigation. Since that’s what everybody think,s
These hearings may be political theater and one repubs enjoy immensely when there is a Democrat administration. Yet they serve a valuable purpose in giving interested citizens and other persons a peek at what is really going on in Washington.
We learn something about who seems trustworthy and who is not, we learn something about who is loyal to their party or to a person above loyalty to the constitution, transparency and the democratic process. We learn something about what the work our government does and what our legislature already knows. And when done well, we expose the bad apples.
His demeanor on it's own demonstrates that he is in Trump's pocket. Pompeo and Kavanaugh both behaved in the same manner before committee's at Trumps direction. He thinks it's being"forceful" and the best way to avoid answering questions. It's appalling but it's definitely the Trump Administration strategy.
4
A fact came out of this hearing which I found hard to believe. Whitaker claimed after a lengthy and contentious exchange, that he had received no written recommendations for recusal from the DOJ personnel responsible for ethics/recusal reviews. ( A member of the committee asked for a copy of the letter he got from his DOJ ethics advisors to be forwarded to the committee. He said he could not forward it because he never got a letter.)
Could it be that on such a remarkable, controversial and important issue, no recusal recommendation was committed to writing?
This question clearly demands follow-up. Why would Whitaker not insist on a written documentation of the ethics review? Why would the ethics reviewers not insist that any recommendation be in writing? Is it possible that Whitaker never actually asked for such a review? Did the review consist of a chat while crossing paths in a DOJ hallway?
If I were to be in a job interview, which is basically what this committee testimony was, and I told the person interviewing me his five minutes of time were up, I shouldn't expect to get the job. These are the types of people the Republicans are, and obviously support and encourage, which is why it is so head shaking when Democrats still believe they can work with them. There is no working with these types. You have to defeat them and move forward.
2
“Congressman, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about an ongoing investigation,” Mr. Whitaker said....
So, would it be inappropriate for Trump to talk about an ongoing investigation?
3
Why he wasn't charged with contempt is beyond me.
4
Isn't it most likely that the only ones who believe him are of the Republican persuasion?
If Whitaker was auditioning for a Coen brothers movie, yesterday’s performance was a winner.
If it was not, it was a totally disgraceful display of a lack of respect for the law and authority by the country’s chief law enforcement officer.
Acting Attorney General is the wrong title for this fraud among frauds that are led by trump.
2
I still don’t understand why the House Judiciary Committee folded.
Instead of subpoenaing Whitaker, they let him set the format for the hearing, gave him s list of questions liable to be asked - as if he couldn’t have guessed in advance, and imposed a single-round 5-minute limit on members’ questioning.
Whitaker proved himself an expert at non-answers, a very convenient memory about what came across his desk and running out every Democratic committee member.
If his wasted time me hadn’t been dedicated from the Representative’s 5-minute clock, the hearing would have run into early Saturday.
If members had been given decent 10- or 15 minutes each for their words, and Whitaker limited to answering yes-no questions with one word, it would have been a good two- or three-day hearing.
The New Majority was too nice, refusing to claim their rights to some straight answers, Whitaker should have been forced yo attend, and held in contempt of Congress. Locked up until he lived by the rules.
The worst letdown was hearing questioner after questioner predict Trump’s choice for a permanent replacement would be approved by the Senate within dix days - that there no chance eight Republican Senators could be convinced to vote against the Barr appointment, which Democrats in the upper chamber Judiciary Committee let sail through without questioning the man on whether he’ work for the nation, ot the guy who offered him the job
1
As a Dutchman it's hard to understand what has happened to the God fearing people of the USA.
Can you go down on your knees for God and at the same time support a President who is a fraud.
Do they really think Petrus will show them the door to heaven?
Forget it!
4
This administration has shown utter contempt for the rule of law, and now it has found an AG who agrees. I wonder why he insisted on stripping the committee's subpoena power...
Anyone notice the resemblance to Wilson Fisk?
5
WaPo says on this topic:
"Whitaker’s attempt to evade the question was so ham-handed that the entire room burst out in a combination of shock and derisive laughter … [ Trump] has made no bones about the fact that he expects his Justice Department appointees to protect him from accountability …"
My response is that if those two REVERSALS of duty by the acting first law officer and the chief executive officer are not "high crimes and misdemeanors" in constitutional terms (given that their first, SWORN duty to the constitution is to PROTECT it under the rules of law) --- well, I'm not sure what would qualify. This is a legal disgrace. It is not "his" DOJ, there to protect him -- rather, to protect and serve the people. And the example this sets for common-or-garden crooks (those without the title of president) may have done permanent damage.
4
Can't wait to see what the late night comedians make of this!
We’ll never really know if he did or didn’t. We’ll never know whether information was passed through intermediaries or political networks. But we have no reason a priori to accept Mr. Whitaker ‘s denials, given what we know now about his time as an AUSA.
3
My grocery store has a reduced price aisle where they keep the dented cans, expiring-date items and soiled merchandise in messed-up packages.
Never before in American history have we had a President remotely as corrupt as Trump who heads straight for his own reduced price aisle whenever he is in the market for dented, expiring date, soiled advisers and government officials; which is always.
Steve Bannon, KellyAnne Conway, Scott Pruitt, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, Betsy Devos, Jeff Sessions. Matthew Whitaker, Tom Price, Sean Spicer, Ryan Zinke, Omarosa, Michael Flynn, Anthony Scaramucci, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Paul Manafort, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, the list goes on and on and on, ad nauseum.
I see them in the reduced price aisle with him all the time.
12
Aren't we all treated equal in the eyes of the law? Then how can Whitaker show such contempt?
Ask yourself what would happen if you or I carried ourselves under oath like Whitaker has. Justice would be swift and heavy. It should be for Whitaker as well.
Hold him in contempt and lock him up.
15
He is hiding something
10
I'm as liberal as they come, but was extremely disappointed of the democratic committee members. The yelling, degrating, bullying, rudeness and snarling was horrifying. Many reminded me of Trey Gowdy. Sure Whitaker was filibustering and not answering questioning directly, but come on.
Get it together. You can be tough, but civil. I expect that behavoir from conservative zealots.
6
@Mark
Being civil with thugs does not work. Being civil with bullies doesn’t work. Didn’t your dad or mom tell you to fight bullies back with whatever it takes?
2
I'm deaf. Watching the video of Whitaker's testimony without captions says volumes about what he's not saying. It's written all over his body.
15
It's time to boycott the Venetian Casinos, fulls stop.
Sheldon Adelson does not care at all for living in a Democratic nation, and if he believes he can buy off the Justice Department for $1.2 million, there should be some very expensive consequences for that level of cynical betrayal of his country.
7
@UTBG
Do we really need casinos?
Why are they legal anywhere?
Is Heroin legal?
Child pornography?
Prostitution?
There is a market for all and they satisfy the utility function of certain people.
Ethical principles and democracy play a game. There has to be rules that make sure the game is fair. You can’t make the argument that it is a “free country” when it suits your purpose and throw people in jail because they smoked a joint.
1
Make him pay up for the scams his company pulled on innocent people. He shouldn't even have an attorney license because of criminal activity.
8
As a Canadian, I would ordinarily not watch a hearing such as this, but since your current president’s election it is a different world out there. It was fascinating watching Mr. Whitaker reveal himself as an extremely evasive and slippery witness – this is the individual who heads the US department of justice, concerned with all legal affairs! He obviously regards himself as above the law - his demeanour certainly conveyed that – as did the hubris of telling Chairman Nadler that ‘his five minutes’ were up. Riveting viewing.
70
@Jazzie
You should watch more Congressional hearings.
They're quite entertaining and quite predictable. One party attacks the witness while the other defends with powder puff questions. The witness parrys and deflects the attack as best he or she can and occasionally returns fire.
When the issue is contentious the hearing is more theater performance than substantive inquiry. Such goes American political discourse.
2
@Jazzie...Chairman Nadler was the one who made a big deal about the "five minutes". Did you see that, Jazzie? Then, the first time he was being timed, he arrogantly ignored his own rules and kept motor mouthing along. As a country ruled by the British Crown, Canadians may scrape and bow to the aristocracy if you wish to kowtow. Speaking truth to power is an American tradition. As you didn't notice, Prince Jerry managed a little laugh himself.
The Republicans' appalling embrace of this illegally nominated lackey, Whitaker, was already mind-boggling and now we find the guy hasn't even been pressured to repay the fraud-money he took from the scam operation he was an integral part of, World Patent Marketing? Incredible.
And, yet, here we are with Democrats being accused of committing "character assassination" by asking him legitimate questions. Really? Whitaker assassinated his own character a long time ago, and apparently so did Trump's Republican doormats like Collins and Burr. How they can even show their faces in public is an incredible statement on the arrogance and corruption that has penetrated the highest levels of the party. From the Party of Lincoln to the party of scam-artists, frauds, and bankrupts. Disgusting.
If you ask me, the Democrats are being way too easy on Whitaker. It's an outrage that he wasn't thrown out on the street when he was Sessions chief of staff, much less being allowed to act as the AG of the USA.
18
“I do not believe that I have briefed third-party individuals outside of the Department of Justice."
I do not believe? He hasn't been in the job long enough not to remember for sure if he had briefed anyone or not. Not for this critical, momentous investigation. That sounds like lawyer language to escape a perjury charge sometime in the future.
He wants us to believe that he interviewed with the WH for the job Sessions just left solely because of Mueller's investigation, with his views on that investigation public record, and no one asked him anything about it? Yeah, and I have a bridge handy for sale.
If the alleged Trump yelling incident didn't happen, why demur when asked about it? He finally answered, no. If that's the truth, what the heck was the hesitation?
Love it when people like Whitaker talk about an investigation, then under oath say they can't talk about an investigation. Didn't Comey get fired for something similar?
If CNN had been tipped off about the Roger Stone raid, they'd have gotten much better video than what I saw, and more of it.
And Whitaker snarkily challenging Nadler and others hearkens back to Kavanaugh's hearing. At least Kavanaugh's credentials for the SCJ job are waymore substantial than Whitaker's for even acting AG status.
And the Dems need to stomp hard on this "may be subject to executive privilege" stuff. If Trump wants it to be executive privilege, he needs to assert it. People guessing without that is a joke.
9
"Mr. Collins also asked whether or not Bruce Ohr, a once obscure Justice Department official, still worked there."
Seriously, you're still rolling this obscure nonsense along?
Bruce Ohr was the highest career - non-politically appointed - official at the DOJ. He was not "obscure".
And if you've been following the news, Ohr's closed door testimony to the HPDCI has been leaked. The leaks show Ohr was a critical component getting Steele's info into the FBI. He was also involved at the very beginning, as we have told to believe, of the "Crossfire Hurricane" operation against the Trump campaign. Adam Schiff lied in his countermemo to the HPSCI report when he said Ohr was involved much later, after the election. Someone needs to hold Schiff to account.
Hmm... I wonder who might have some reporters who could do that?
2
@K. Lazlo Hud The National Enquirer.
@Johnny Reb Don't need operative Schiff blackmailed, just held to account.
Democrats are very excited about this investigation....Thrilled in fact....Most rational people know that it is an attempt, once again, to overturn an election...The GOP tried it in the Nineties with "Travel-Gate" and "White Water"--and then "Monica-Gate"...They were certain that Clinton was the anti-Christ....Now everyone thinks Big Dog is a harmless old goof...
You people who are so certain that if Trump isn't immediately deposed the world will end--well, get a grip...Your need to sit back, get a bourbon, and start reading *War and Peace*....Believe it or not, when Trump is retired in Palm Beach, you will be worried about someone else....
3
The people being harmed have reason to care. And other normal human beings who cannot stand watching innocent people being harmed care. Trans people care. Immigrants care. A lot of us care. So you go ahead and sit this one out since it doesn’t affect you and yours. America.
6
I saw a couple of hours of this hearing. It's ironic that Trump called Adam Schiff a 'political hack'.
Snarky and smug in his answers Whitaker reminded me of Eddie Haskell from the old Leave It to Beaver TV show -- he burned away what little credibility he had up to this point. Unbelievable this is a public guardian that the country is saddle with.
13
As others point out, this man is the most senior legal person in our country
Wow. Just wow
17
Scary guy. Don't know how great of an acting AG he is, but he'd be great at playing the Judge in a movie version of Blood Meridian.
6
The Republicans are parading their seditious party over country agenda, personified by the juvenile antics of Mr. Collins, for the entire world to see. They are without morals, patriotism, ethics and shame.
The sooner the Republicans have lost power in the senate and White House the better for America and the world.
12
@tombo Dream on...
1
What a tawdry representative of at best--but what in fact is far, far worse--a tawdry administration.
12
Today, Matthew Whitaker showed us all, why he is unfit and unqualified to be in the position he holds. Today, Whitaker showed us he is a Trump employee and does not work for the American people. Besides showing us his ability to lie, evade and disrupt the ability of American's to find out the truth, he showed us all his arrogance and the I'm entitled persona he seems to constantly flaunt. The House Judiciary should have known what type of witness he would be and had him testify under a subpoena. His past history shows he is unethical, a liar, and he can't be trusted. He lied when he claimed he was an Academic All-American. Barb Kowal, a spokeswoman for the awarding organization, said the group has no record that Mr. Whitaker was ever an Academic All-American but that he was given a lower-level honor. Look at his un-success career record. He lost his bid for Iowa Treasurer, only 7.54% of Iowans voted for him in the primary for US Senate. The City of Des Moines terminated a loan agreement with his company for failure to deliver. He was a board member on a fraudulent invention promotion company. The Federal Trade Commission charged the company with fraudulently deceiving consumers and suppressing complaints through intimidation and the use of gag clauses. There is much more. Google Whitaker, find out how corrupt he is for yourself. You then can understand why Trump and the Republican's like him so much. One of Trump's best and brightest who will play dirty to get ahead.
13
Some people commented that anyone who does not like Mr. Whitaker’s appointment as an AG should put up and shut up simply because the president has exclusive Constitutional authority to appoint an AG.
The obvious reality behind the Constitution giving the President variety of appointing powers is that these powers no longer apply in the presence of high crimes, misdemeanors & treason.
Given the truckloads of publicly available evidence of possible crimes and treasonous behavior, it is only rational to investigate this president including questioning his appointment or Mr. Whitaker as simply self-serving and contrary to public interest.
4
I wanted more questioning on Mueller investigation, not all the grandstanding about border issues.
5
Whitaker reminds me of a student asked to explain their test answers when the teacher already knows the student clearly cheated on the test. The reading glasses don't help.
13
Sometimes you actually can judge a book by its cover.
21
After six hours, he never answered any questions.
Get the subpoena !
31
I miss Rod Rosenstein.
17
I do not jump to conclusions, but in the case of Whitaker I am certain he has interfered in the Mueller’s investigation because he stated several times he wanted to interfere and Trump put him there to do that.
21
He was specifically asked if anyone had ASKED him to interfere. After all the nonsense about 5 minute rules etc., he actually never answered that specific question. He said he did not interfere. He did not say whether anyone asked him to.
11
The country is already fed up with Trump's total disrespect for the DOJ. Does Whitaker realize that running interference for him only exacerbates our disgust?
18
@nzierler
No. You, and those sharing your opinion, are fed up with Trump's disrespect. The country remains divided.
3
The Trump administration has lost all credibility with a majority of Americans. More, at breakfast this morning with over 12 professionals, not one claimed to have any trust in Trump, his administration, or anyone who publicly supports them. These hearings, therefore, are a sham; we do not believe anything Whitaker says. I don't think our country had ever been laid so low, morally or ethically. Trump has brought all manner of slime, grime, and degradation to the office of the presidency and it will take decades to repair the damage.
25
One minor issue: Trump and his associates are well known for lying about everything. Why are we even pretending to believe Whitaker?
18
Republican committee members display all the comity of a show trial. The GOP should go away.
8
"The GOP should go away." No, we need to MAKE it go away. We have 21 months until the next Federal election. Get out there and MAKE it happen.
7
I’m in.
2
While Whitaker is putting on a good show for the President, he denigrates his oath of office and his law license. Maybe the ABA should review that law license after today's hearing.
12
We would never want this dishonest corrupt individual in our government. He is a stone faced liar.
20
he's not smart enough to lie either well or convincingly. he will go to jail with the rest of them in the end
16
Hillary Clinton went before a hostile committee, and answered their every question, slander, and attempt to trip her up, civilly, over a very long day. What a different experience this petulant dodging novice is.
33
I don't understand the faux civility and lack of hardcore prosecutorial accountability in how Dems question the Trump liars.
We've had repeated instances where Trump loyalists have lied to Congress, and yet the Dems timidly confront them in the most milquetoast way.
Kavanaugh, Whitaker, Sessions, Mnuchin, Ross and many others use evasion, deflection, stonewalling, obfuscation and aggression to avoid answering or to answer dishonestly.
Following the Ollie North playbook, they often go on the attack.
Those of us not in Congress watch this sorry spectacle and wonder where the rule of law went.
I'd like at least one Dem to say to Whitaker and all the other Trump gang members: "You were hired so you could protect the president from being indicted and impeached. You're an enemy of law enforcement and the Mueller investigation. The Democratic Party is united in opposition to you and we'll sue to prevent you from continuing to serve in government. Now get out of my face before I have you jailed for contempt of Congress."
10
Interesting the fear of a supposed 'perjury trap' among Republican commentators.
If you tell the truth, there is no perjury.
So - those who call it a 'trap', and act as if it's a dirty trick - they support lying under oath?
4
Whitaker reminds of the goons that the millionaires hired in the old days, to break up the union movement protests. Bonecrushers, fighting for weak , wealthy men that would throw them under the bus at the first opportunity. There is nothing new under the sun, just different names.
13
So shocking that Whitaker would cause a "breach of decorum" in a "highly unusual" exchange!
How many times does the Times and other media have to be surprised by the defiance of Trump's people before they get it?
They don't care about decorum, traditions, norms, etc.....and are happy to burn every one down because there are no consequences.
Donald has been doing it this way for 40 years with no trouble.
12
Whitaker’s defiance underscores how important these hearings and the Mueller investigation are. The White House is an unlawful place, he knows it, and the Republicans know it. This is going to reach a breaking point soon, and its outcome isn’t certain in any way. “May you live in interesting times.” Oh boy, yes.
5
Who believes that information regarding the Mueller probe did not pass from Whitaker to the white house ? The base believes ... The normal , thoughtful person does not .... I do however , believe Whitaker did not directly inform trump... But trumps legal team has information that it obtained from the acting AG...
4
I'd like to learn more about Val Demings, she sure seems like the kind of person who should have a national profile among the Democrats. She seems to be the kind of person we need in 2020.
1
Not in the least bit reassuring testimony.
3
Never in me life have I ever seen a person (or robot for that matter) answer any and all yes or no questions with every other word OTHER than yes or no.
Stonewalling is too kind of a word for what I am witnessing.
17
Seeing as this president, his administration and every nominee it has put forth has a sworn duty to evade the truth in order to protect personal interests, it's hard to imagine Acting Attorney General Whitaker straying far from this well-trodden course.
Apparently Justice is blind.
3
Guilty is as guilty does. Shouldn't be hard to find at least two or three areas where he lied under testimony (perjured himself). Email, meeting minutes, tapes, have an annoying way of turning up after the fact.
5
"...in July 2017 he interviewed to become a White House lawyer who would manage and respond to that inquiry."
Trump was a well-known commodity by then, including his demand of "personal loyalty". His claims that it's a "rigged witch hunt" were already too many to keep count of. If Whitaker even considered a job working for Trump to "manage and respond to that inquiry", he's already shown himself to be blatantly set against it.
If Trump even considered him for the job, Trump already knew how he felt about it. After all the anger Trump has spewed forth about Sessions' recusal and not firing Mueller, he wouldn't have even let Whitaker have an interview unless he knew Whitaker would take Mueller out. Sessions did the right thing, but not the right thing for Trump, and Trump would never let that happen a second time.
That he now declines to defend that investigation, is only further evidence that he's against it. His predecessors have supported it, and Mueller has a long and respected track record in the FBI. He can't be a reliable or trustworthy director of FBI if he doesn't support it's most important work.
It's clear that Whitaker is Trump's personally-loyal fixer, his most recent desperate effort to kill the investigation.
6
As if he would say anything else, regardless of what he has actually done.
4
“I do not believe that I have briefed third-party individuals outside of the Department of Justice."....You have to love lawyers using weasel words.
10
If only investigation committee members remembered that an investigation committee only works when there's something to investigate, then perhaps it wouldn't give the appearance to the public that they weren't merely looking for excuses not to do their real job. Of course avoidance is all the only way out when there is no clue as to what to do otherwise. Producing sensational TV news clips is what I call putting my tax dollars to good use.
2
@John Doe...You either believe all the national security agencies (most of them run by Republicans) who have said that the Russians tried to influence the election, or you believe Trump.
16
@John Doe
Unless you've been sleeping through current events, it's hard not to know that there's not only plenty amiss, but reason enough to investigate -- regardless of how many times this president claims "No Collusion".
Ultimately, the truth will be revealed.
And the only "avoidance" will come from those who refuse to see it.
5
@N. Smith
As long as you agree not to "avoid" a conclusion of no collusion when it comes.....
Matthew Whitaker is my hero. Too bad he will be gone soon.
2
This is what kakistocracy looks like.
9
@AC, at least one thing both sides of the aisle have in common.
Of course this is political theater! This is politics! They end goal of this theater is to express to the White House that any "acting" high level cabinet member that you appoint to circumvent confirmation will face this committee and could be subpoaena'd. This is oversight of gov't processes that are put in place to avoid corruption.
7
It's good to know this man will soon be gone from the AG office, a position he was clearly not qualified for and received on the basis of his public attacks against an investigation about Russian interference in our elections. The fact that Whitaker doesn't want to see justice done in that matter is all too telling and troubling.
Did he ever answer why he has not returned the money he received from World Patent Marketing to their "victims of the fraud?" Keeping that money is likely a much bigger concern to him than finding about who attacked our nation's sovereignty.
15
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal - as a parent, a mom, who has never lost touch with my children, not ever. I cannot imagine the trauma, heartbreak, long term mental damage the separation of children torn from their parents that this country is causing at our borders.
Mr. Whitaker had no humane answer when questioned about this today.
I will say, thank you Ms. Jayapal for your passion, your determination, your efforts to stop this cruel and evil act, this separating children from their loved ones.
Please do not ever give up in your efforts. Our hearts and very beings honor you. I am proud to have seen you question the concerns for these children, who basically have no one to passionately represent them. I am proud you are a Congresswoman, clearly the term Representative is fitting for you and your work. Thank you.
26
@MIMA her yelling and screaming at Whitaker was so uncalled for. Child separation is horrible.
Whitaker has long been a Mueller critic and Trump surrogate (viz., liar) on CNN. He should long since have recused himself per the specific instructions of DOJ ethics officers. Why wouldn't he do so, if he were not planning to interfere in the investigation? A week ago Mr. Whitaker announced that the investigation was almost done. What in the world was that? It certainly wasn't following DOJ rules. Was it also obstruction of justice, or interfering with the investigation? I don't believe him. He is almost certainly lying. How do we know? Who in this White House has not lied about the investigation? That he is lying should be our default assumption. Whitaker helped World Patent Marketing (indicted and convicted) perpetrate fraud on its customers, and has still not returned his share of the illicit gains.
14
Interesting that the Trump chaos circus is now doing it's best to make those that are seeking the truth be seen as a chaos circus. In the court of public opinion, which is what this hearing is all about, there will be those that will see Trump for what he is, a con-man and those that see getting what you want you have to be a good con-man. Where thing will change is when those that admire con-artistry realize the con is on them.
4
Sorry but I have absolutely no reason to believe Whitaker, the unvetted acting Attorney General. Does Jeff Sessions have anything to say about this, or has he been completely silenced since the midterm election? I might even believe Sessions by now, but definitely not Whitaker.
8
Privilege has to be asserted on a question by question basis, and has to be soundly grounded in the law for each assertion. It sounds like the Committee is going to make him do his job, and make proper assertions of privilege. Asserting privilege when not warranted and sticking to refusing to answer thereafter will be seen as either contempt of Congress, obstruction of justice, or both.
11
Another Trump stooge. Apparently, there is an endless supply of people who are willing to forfeit their dignity and morality for...what?
26
Mathew Whitterker has made too many comments that disqualify himself and he should not be attorney general.
12
Donald Trump’s new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, was involved in a company that scammed US military veterans out of their life savings, according to court filings and interviews
27
Whitaker may not have personally briefed Trump about the Russia investigation, but there is not reason why he might have briefed another who in turn briefed the President. This guy is wise guy in the sense of the Mafia and knows how to play the game.
13
Whittaker cannot answer a single question without deceit. He sounds like an enemy of the state rather than acting A.G.
I applaud Rep. Nadler and Rep. Liu and others for pointing out Whittaker's incredible ignorance of the constitution, rule of order in congress, and disregard for the law.
Whittaker has disgraced the office of A.G. Trump has disgraced the office of the Presidency. These are dark times we live in and I am shamed by the mockery our government has become.
25
Mr. Raskin and others: thank you.
4
I only got a bit of this but what a slimy character and he was appointed by Trump as acting AG! It's pretty clear the swamp has not been drained and clear again it is time to get the money out of politics.
15
This is no "investigation." With rare exceptions, members of the committee on both sides of the aisle are merely engaged in shameless televised speechifying; while Whittaker has a few well-rehearsed, all-purpose, evasive responses.
One line of questioning was rather amusing, however. Whittaker was asked whether he still holds the view, which he repeatedly touted on radio, television and the internet before being anointed 'Acting Attorney General,' that there is absolutely no evidence of 'collusion' or 'criminality' involving Trump or his inner circle. Whittaker's response - translated from gobbledygook into plain English - was that he really had no idea what he was talking about and at the time he was just another clueless loudmouth spouting off while nursing his drink at the end of the bar.
His damning admission seemingly went unnoticed.
13
Robert Muller needs to question Matthew Whitaker before the Grand Jury, under oath for Obstruction of a Department of Justice investigation on Russian violation of the 2016 election!
28
@Steven of the Rockies
On what possible grounds?
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ summing up of Trump’s criminal syndicate had me fist pumping in my living room. Way to go, Midwood HS!
10
Whitaker is hilariously smug and arrogant.
Thank God he'll be gone soon.
8
I beg to differ with the ranking GOP committee member, Collins, who accused the Democrats of "character assassination" in that one's character cannot be assassinated if one lacks character.
Whitaker, like the rest of the thugs in Trump's claque, is nothing but an overbearing lackey who fits right in with the mob boss in the White House. He is rude, crude and to paraphrase Winnie the Pooh a man of little brain.
18
Lie to me once, shame on you.
Lie to me twice, shame on me.
5
@Red Sox, '04, '07, '13, ‘18, - if American voters pose those questions to the president next year he'll lose his bid for reelection.
3
Generally speaking, I think hearings like today make Democrats look bad. The badgering and lecturing makes them look like a party more interested in scoring points with their base than with the general welfare of the country. Whitaker is spot on about all the things they were uninterested in, such as the opioid crisis. This plays poorly with independents who have no interest in the impeachment porn that draws progressives to MSNBC or CNN.
2
Whitaker is stonewalling and running out the clock without answering any questions.
His refusal to answer simple yes or no questions implies that he's hiding something. His lack of transparency is disturbing.
And ranking Republican Doug Collins' constant interruptions during questioning are out of line. If Collins and Whitaker continue to make a mockery of this hearing they should both be held in contempt of Congress.
262
@L well perhaps because the questions asked are not relevant such as Ms/Escobar's....
4
@L...Gosh, if y'all think this so-called hearing is a mockery, then Jerry Nadler and his gang are the ones to be held in contempt of Congress. All of these Democrats are performing for the folks back home. After all, they are running again already for re-election next year, and the spectre of Joe Crowley is haunting the Democratic Party. Just ask Boss Pelosi.
1
He is , for the time being the number one Person in our legal system with extraordinary powers.
It occurred to me how ordinary citizens would be treated in a court of law if they behaved with such contempt and disrespect
for the process and questioners.
It seems the people we should look to as role models such as the President and the Attorney General are instrumental in destroying all forms of decency , truth and respect for our institutions , not to mention simultaneously destroying our planet .
176
@Carsafrica
Judges don't permit prosecutors to demand yes or no responses to questions in courtrooms.
1
All part of Putin's plan to undermine democracy (even more than it is already) in the USA. Whether they are aware of it or not, the President and the GOP are playing into Putin's hands.
@William Case
'Judges don't permit prosecutors to demand yes or no responses to questions in courtrooms.'
This committee hearing is not a court. It is an investigation into whether the current acting Attorney General has acted improperly in passing on information from an ongoing Special Council investigation to the President and members of his administration.
But don't fret, there will be plenty of court proceedings in the near future, as well as the many that have already occurred. You should save your false equivalencies until then.
"Your five minutes is up". Just a little test of the growing authoritarian power of the executive branch.
12
Whitaker is a good man. Dems just playing political games as usual.
3
Watching this hearing on C-span where are all the Republicans? Their side of the room is empty.
10
It's simple really: subpoena the man and ask the hard questions. That is Congress' job.
18
"Our" new Attorney General's testimony: Hogwash.
9
Where's Joseph Welch when we need him?
"Have you no sense of decency?"
9
He says he didn't interfere with the Mueller investigation? What else did you expect him to say? In a year, he will be found to have lied in this hearing, like so many of trump's other toadies.
25
I am extremely concerned about Whitaker defense of
Executive privilege, we are dealing with an investigation
not a disclosure of military secrets.
If there are crimes involved congress and the American people have the right to know if their president has worked with an
enemy nation to defraud them.
I also find it extremely hard to believe that president trump
would not talk about the investigation with Whitaker,
this is a man that has spend the past two years whining about a witch hunt, yet 37 witches have been indicted to date.
I do hope Mr Mueller will go over the transcript to determine any possible interference from Whitaker
21
Go Rep Cicciline! Nice to see Whitaker faced with the truth.
10
Whitaker to Nadler: "Your five minutes are up."
The irony. Mr. Whitaker, your five minutes are up and the floor yields to Mr. Barr.
6
Trump called Adam Schiff a political hack earlier this week. In my opinion the definition of political hack is being questioned this morning. His arrogance and evasive answers, his ‘talk back’ to the committee members, clarifies why he was appointed.
19
The Democratic attitude in asking questions are totally accusatory and shameful. How can we ever have civil servants who can feel good about what they do when they hear only criticism. If these Democrats have reared their children with this same attitude I really feel sorry for those children!
2
Confused,
Surely you jest. Whitaker and Collins are out of line and contemptuous.
Whitaker isn't a civil servant, he's a stooge for Trump.
And what do you have to say about ranking Republican Collins' disrespectful behavior?
My last question: where were you for the Benghazi hearings?
14
@Confused Oh please. Whitaker is a self-admitted tool for Trump which is why he was appointed.
14
@Confused
Democrats, and surely Republicans, should raise their children to tell the truth.
7
Has Whitaker just opened himself up to perjury charges? Anyone who believes he hasn't given trump information about Mueller's investigation, hasn't been paying attention to this parade of trump sycophants for 3 years.
24
I don't understand the shameless delay, feigned confusion, and general unwillingness to answer questions. Shouldn't a government official welcome oversight? He is (either intentionally or through incompetence) leaving one impression: that he has something to hide.
31
Subpoena Whitaker, then send him to jail when he continues to protect our President from his crimes.
25
The danger is that Roger Stone would destroy evidence and he knows that.
8
Matthew Whitaker is not a man with an abundance of brain power or common sense. He sounds like he's stonewalling not for political purpose but because the questions are totally over his head and expertise. He thinks he's Trump's pal and he will go far protecting his boss. Reality will soon appear. He's now proven what was suspected all along, totally unqualified.
21
I agree Cathy. He wasn’t qualified to be Sessions’s COS and he certainly isn’t qualified to be AG. Geez, my resume looks better!
So let Whittaker move on. Barr is waiting in the wings and will make an infinitely better AG. Enough of these wasted inquiries.
1
Soon the entire cabinet will be drafted from FOX News, as was this turkey. Syncophants only need apply.
20
"Mr. Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, angrily attacked Democrats in his opening statement, saying that they were interested in carrying out a “character assassination” of Mr. Whitaker and damaging Mr. Trump, not carrying out oversight of the Department of Justice."
So this is the way Republicans act when in the minority? Accusations not well-formed or enunciated, and nonstop efforts to "run out the clock" on questions and time limits?
Donald Trump called Adam Schiff a "partisan hack." I'd say, based on the utterances of both Whittaker and the committee Republicans, that they exemplify what "partisan hacks" look and sound like.
It's all posturing and pandering at this point. As the first publicly aired investigation, this hearing is a great start, but unfortunately we the public aren't getting the answers we hoped to hear.
30
If only we could assume that on balance, Mr. Whitaker is seeking to be truthful and mindful of the huge responsibility he and so many others in our Justice Department have to maintain the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution. But the nation's President and CEO apparently does not feel that way.
6
As an alum of the University of Iowa, I don’t know whether AAG Whitaker’s testimony is a bad advertisement for U of I law school or a good public service spot for the dangers of football and CTE?
55
Another Trump administration figure from the Q team. This isn't the B or C team, this is dredging the bottom to find people to fill these positions. This guy is being made an absolute fool of by Nadler.
16
The man will not be the acting AG next week, this is an absolute waste of time for all parties involved in this little game of "gotcha". Save the questions for Barr.
6
Jason A.,
Trump brought in Whitaker to act as his stooge with regards to the Russia investigation.
As the Attorney General, Whitaker should have had to undergo Senate confirmation.
This hearing is serious and absolutely nesessary to determine whether we still have the rule of law in our country.
The Republicans are hyper-partisan and making a mockery of their duty to provide Congressional oversight.
22
Whitaker is just another smug moron defending his own conduct on behalf of Donald and obfuscating at every turn. I am glad to have this nonsense on the record so we can go back and compare it to the truth when it finally emerges. Whitaker is treating Congress and the citizens of the US just as he treated the inventors at World Patent Marketing—with epic dishonesty and disdain.
28
“Looks the part” as DJT would say...
Of a stooge.
What has AMI’s Pecker got in him?
Of course he told Trump everything.
10
I hope someone is going to probe into Whitaker's involvement as an adviser to World Patent Marketing which was shut down by the FTC for fraudulent behaviour. Whitaker's involvement was said to lend credibility to the organisation (can you believe it!!!).
He seems to have all the credentials of a Trump operative.
29
Bruce W,
The F.B.I. was investigating World Patent Marketing. Hopefully Whitaker wasn't brazen enough to try and quash that investigation while acting AG.
16
Why is he so hostile and why does he use such a condescendingly nasty tone-of-voice?
Incredible.
This indeed sounds like a 90s mafia hearing. Those guys always had a hostile tone like Whitaker does today.
32
This quote from Whitaker is telling:
“I do not believe that I have briefed third-party individuals outside of the Department of Justice. I’ve received the briefings myself, and I’m usually the endpoint at that information.”
The three words, "I do not believe", seem to have been carefully contemplated in advance.
35
It looks like Whitaker has zero lawyer skills, a complete hack. Whitaker answers questions like a frat boy playing the part of a lawyer in a simulation hearing for a college class.
27
Mr. Whitaker, would you be acting attorney general had you not questioned the legitimacy of the Special Counsel investigation? What other qualifications do you think you possess to be acting attorney general?
21
I don't believe him.
23
The democrats never cease to prove they are want to run a banana republic. Their questions are nonsense - he has answered many of the same questions many times in the past. They are trying to set up a perjury trap. The democrats have no responsibility toward proper governance or oversight. Anyone unbiased and reasonable would pick that out.
6
Review the GOP led investigations of Benghazi. Lots of money spent, years of investigation and no one charged with any wrong doing.
27
@Njlatelifemom
that was in the past, this nonsense is happening now, but you appear to agree something is wrong now also
@sh, And what is wrong with setting up a perjury trap? It looks like the top US law man is lying and hiding serious illegal acts, so trap him if he is.
8
The arrogance of Whitaker and the Republicans trying to shield him is disgusting.
54
Oof NYTimes ending the article with the misleading Burr quote, which was an intentional gob of red meat thrown to appease the ravenous and criminal Pres. If the Senate intelligence investigation has found "no collusion" then what HAS it found that keeps the investigative wheels turning for over 2 years, of Republican control. Stay tuned.
8
It is appalling to see how disrespectful and brazenly disdainful Republicans react to oversight and inquiry.
They always sound like medieval lords aghast at the thought that serfs might question the divine order...
85
@Eric All one can gather is that if a Democrat in the White Hose has done what the current POTUS has done you know that they'd be asking for impeachment. Rules and apparently laws don't apply to the Republicans.
42
The disrespect that acting Attorney General Whitaker showed to Representatie Jerrold Nadler clearly demonstrated, to quote Socrates, "utter contempt for transparency, honesty, democracy, oversight and the American people". It was an outrageous performance!
The Republican Party and too many of its members have gone rogue and trampled on all the values that Americans hold dear. Is it just the $thousands, and in some cases $millions, donated to a long list of GOP members of Congress from Russian oligarchs, designed to bring chaos to our government? Or are these seditious individuals just ignorant and vicious? Whatever motivates these politicians, it's critical to vote them out of office in 2020.
49
@Elizabeth Bennett
Motivation is sitting in Pecker’s vault at AMI
7
This fellow is a hack and is completely in over his head.
Some men think that if they shave their head and work out, that makes them a "tough man."
No, it just makes you a guy with muscles and a shaved head. What makes for a real tough guy is between the ears, and as I said, this guy is just flat out of his league.
This hearing needs a Judge Judy to bring this big guy down a few pegs.
24
@pjc needs Nancy Pelosi!
5
Is Whitaker testifying under oath?
That is, with the penalty of perjury hanging over him for lying or simply not telling the "whole truth, and nothing but the truth"?
And when will this travesty of an "acting" AG be questioned in the Senate as part of a conformation hearing? Or has Trump dispensed with such "frills" of democracy in his despotic rule?
14
So this is the top Law Enforcement official in the United States? Acting I know, but this guy is the best that the US could do? State of the Union is a bit of a clown show.
32
“The top Republican on the committee accused Democrats of engaging in ‘political theater’ and a ‘character assassination’ against Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Trump.”
About Mr. Trump’s character or rather the gaping lack of it, there is not much left that needs to to be said. However, after reading extensively about Mr. Whitaker’s sleazy past doings, I’d say he’s done a pretty good job of character assassination on himself and needs no help from the Democrats.
20
Whitaker should have recused himself from the get go. What did he have to lose? He knew this would be a temporary assignment. Why create more confusion and/or distraction? Trump and his cronies all seem to think they are above the law. What more is there to say? One more mess. One more weary day.
Jeff Sessions is not looking too bad, is he? Now that’s how untoward things are.
22
@MIMA
Yeah, it's a pretty low bar when Jeffrey Sessions stands above it. Trumps entire game is chaos and distraction, so that is all it really about. Sending a message that yes, he is above the law and he'll replace anyone that disagrees with that with a blind loyalist in a millisecond.
Republicans - Your an international disgrace, undemocratic, unethical, hypocritical, over bearing and fascist.
Go move to Alaska and start your own country and get out of our lives and business. Your 30% of hundreds of millions and the other 60% doesn't want to live by your phony hypocritical code.
5
Whitaker claims he hasn't spoken to Trump about the Mueller investigation. It's like saying daylight has nothing to do with the sun.
27
While I have never met acting Attorney General Whitaker, I am suspect of anything anyone in the Trump administration says about anything. If Trump said it was raining outside In November, and I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains nine plus months of the year, I would have to check. In the post truth era, inspired by Trump and his buddies (Sanders, Conway etc.), I now paint the entire administration as inveterate liars, Whitaker included. If he says he did not interfere, I assume he either did or did so without even knowing it.
24
@Paul
You hit the nail on the head Paul, they have no ethics. Their plan is to obstruct, confuse, impede, lie and deny they did any of the above with intent. Hows that for "Christian" Values?
6
I listened to an hour of this nonsense, the ugly nature of the investigation, the slanted views behind the questions delivered by interlocutors, especially the Democratic interrogators.
This is political theatre. It is tiresome.
5
@Tom ,Retired Florida Junkman - I'll tell you what's tiresome. Listening to apologists for this vile and corrupt administration. Maybe if voters actually applied some real critical thinking to those they put in power, this country would be in better shape spiritually and morally.
19
I'm a Democrat, but I'll have to say that Ms. Jackson- Lee's questioning was both rude and completely ineffective.
2
@Ken
You can always tell when someone is a Trump troll when they start a comment with I'm a Democrat, but...
and then go on to slag Democrats.
Get a clue. Nobody's buying your shilling.
3
I just watched a Congressman named Jim Jordan exchange pleasantries with Mr. Whitaker.
Could this Jim Jordan be the same Jim Jordan who is still working tirelessly night-and-day trying to get Hillary Clinton absurdly convicted of treason for the capital crime of using a private e-mail server?
And who recently came under harsh scrutiny for failing to notice the locker-room irregularities that seem to have occurred at Ohio State University under his less-than-observant eyes?
And who is still working assiduously to separate Mr. Mueller and Mr. Rosenstein from their positions for the capital crime of doing their jobs.
And who had his eyes fixed on Speaker of the House until Mrs. Pelosi and the American people put a stop to it.?
Well, why not?
He thought he had earned it.
What better position -- other than the Presidency -- would he ever be in to overlook Trump's crimes?
35
@A. Stanton
Yes, that’s the Same Jim Jordan. I lived for 11 months in his Ohio district. Very sobering to see such a depressed, wasteland with the voters repeatedly voting this guy into office against their own and children’s interests.
Whitaker‘s nervous demeanor in his opening remarks indicate guilty feet have no rhythm. What has he been promised for his loyalty to Individual # 1? A hotel partnership in Russia , or say somewhere in the Middle East?
Godspeed Muriel’s investigation !!!
Our Nation waits in breathless hope for this madness to end SOON.
9
He answered the important question that he did not interfere in Mueller investigation either denying funds or access to documents. The acting AG is not the proper conduit to get to the President. That will come from his tax returns if congress can get its hands on it. Trump knows his odds of second term is low, so he will spend next two years setting the table for strong growth of his business after he leaves the office.
4
@Kodali
If Trump's current motivation is the building up of his businesses rather than a hopeless re-election bid he's going to be sorely disappointed. His 'empire' if there really is one will ironically be dissolved as a result of his term in office.
Maybe Putin will build him his 'Moscow tower'. Hopefully Vlad will give him the $50 million penthouse to live in. I hear Putin has a warm spot for Mr. Trump.
1
@Kodali
I suspect you're correct. Whitaker is unlikely to provide any great clues to anything. But he's proving he doesn't belong in the AG job.
Glad someone in Congress mentioned the fact that he never had a confirmation process or oversight committee review. He's not even technically validly Acting AG; unless you are already the second-in-command to the AG when the need for an acting arises, you require confirmation hearings to take that position. Rosenstein qualified to step in as acting without confirmation hearings, Whitaker does not. I have no idea why he's being allowed to serve without confirmation.
63
@Working Mama
That’s right!
So many layers of corruption we forget the base layer—- he isn’t acting Ag. Rosenstein is.
This made him look constitutional but he is contra-constitutionally places by trump
4
Trump said he’d hire "top, top people" and would fill his administration "with only the best and most serious people."
And this is it?
Hmmm ... serious people, serious trouble.
24
It's clear that Whittaker is just trying to run out the clock on his highly questionable appointment to be Attorney General. I guess we'll see where his testimony or lack of leads us. Unlike the Kavanaugh hearing the Democratic committee is serious about getting to the truth. The Republican members of the committee are basically embarrassing themselves during the Whittaker questioning.
35
Subpoena him. We need straight answers. Yes or No please.
39
Trump hires only the best people. Whitaker is just another squatter in the Trump administration without a drop of intelligence. He left a wake of fraud behind him in Iowa scamming people out of money. He is a fraud.
50
Just like Kavanaugh’s “I like beer do you?” utterance Whittaker comment of “your 5 minutes are up” comment show Whittaker’s” contempt for this super serious situation. Kavanaugh had the unwarranted full support of the GOP led Judiciary committee Whittaker is facing a determined Democrat led committee.
38
@Javaforce
I think this is the way most Republicans view Democrats...with contempt, as people to be bullied. And the Democrats just "take it." Sorry to say, if Trump and his corrupt cronies are ever called to account and brought down, it won't be by the Dems, it will be by Republicans like Mueller.
1
ob·fus·ca·tion
/ˌäbfəˈskāSH(ə)n/
noun
the action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
"when confronted with sharp questions they resort to obfuscation
35
Testimony? No. No this is hypocritical hyperbolic hubris. There is no GOP bottom...
29
Whitaker demonstrated his massive lack of qualifications for even being AG for a day during take our children to work day.
14
The rude behavior on Whitaker's part mirrors the president and all his men. Who can forget the Kavanaugh hearing and his rude "in your face" behavior? They play to an audience of one, and he is grinning ear to ear.
52
If this is the face of justice in America we are in trouble. Putin, you won.
20
That picture on the front page is amazing...makes me want to hasten the ascendancy of women to political power dominance. Nancy please help Alexandria in whatever way you can...I think she will be President...and not a minute too soon.
That guy...Whitaker...and his guy...Trump, are inexcusable in their behavior.
6
Whitaker is not going to tell this committee anything, he will either plead the 5th or drink one.
This is one of Trump's lap dogs and he's not going to bite his master.
34
"I do not believe that I have briefed third-party individuals..." and "I'm USUALLY the endpoint..." (caps are mine). He's lying.
26
@Claudia
Yes, those were neither opinion questions, nor about his faith based beliefs.
4
Is he under oath? Apparently not, he feels he can lie with out consequences. What does he mean by briefings “usually” aren’t shared with anyone above him? It means sometimes they are.
17
This guy acts like a bouncer at a Trump casino. ( oh there gone).
His John Gotti impression is poor. oh- forgot-he's 45's choice to head a Justice Dept here in America.
Loyal to 45 gets you tossed to prosecutors. Be patient citizens- the clean-up crew is working it.
13
Add this to the list of certainties: death, taxes, and Whitaker obnoxiously stonewalling a legitimate inquiry. Invoking executive privilege does not apply when the questions being asked do not jeopardize the exposure of confidential or sensitive information. And only an obsequious servant of Trump would have the temerity to tell a committee chairperson that his time limit for questioning has expired. Disgraceful.
15
@nzierler Especially when he ran down the clock intentionally blathering in a manner nonresponsive to the question. Note his stalling filler phrases like "Congressman,thank you for the question..." in practically every response.
11
The Attorney General of the United States is not the attorney for Donald Trump as an individual person nor as the occupant of the Article II executive office of the President. Trump has his personal private lawyers. And the lawyer for the President of the United States is the White House Counsel.
While the client of the Attorney General is the American people. And the prime directive of the Attorney General is to insure that the laws are faithfully executed while preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution. Any and every Attorney General owes their ethical obligation of loyalty to the American people and their Constitution.
326
@Blackmamba
-AND - he serves by appointment of the President and under the Presidents authority, not the Congress.
He executes the Law enforcement priorities of the President who sets the direction of ALL depts of the Executive Branch.
So it is written in the Constitution.
It is the job of the House of Representatives to compose the Laws of the land to the benefit of the people, not to pursue a mindless vendetta against the President.
6
@thelastminstrel. Minstrel?...your moniker alone is indicative of your alternative facts bias.
Lets hope you are last minstrel...as term is used with all of its negative, racist connotations.
32
@thelastminstrel
And if the President, and/or those surrounding him, break those laws? An investigation takes place. If that investigation finds evidence of criminality? Indictments are made. We have seen that there is certainly the possibility of crimes here. There is no personal vendetta outside of the execution of the oath of office that every member of Congress takes and swears to uphold. The Presidency is not a godship, not a cult leader, and not infallible; the President is a man: flawed, predictably egotistical, and certainly acts as though he has committed a crime. I await and honor the results of the Special Counsel's investigation--even if Trump is cleared. I would also advocate for this investigation if the President were in any other political party, including my own. Can you say the same at this point, @thelastminstrel?
34
A better title: Whitaker Acknowledges His Name is Whitaker; acting AG denies any communication with boss, and bloviates about his topics .
44
Perhaps more important in the Whitaker hearings than watching his stalling and misdirection tactics, will be the reaction from Donald Trump. Whitaker is doing the President’s bidding and we know that Mr. Trump often rewards those folks with praise for their service to him. No doubt Mr. Trump will congratulate Whitaker for his loyalty (i.e., his worthless testimony). But we should watch for statements and tweets from Mr. Trump encouraging Whitaker to evade questions or stall or misdirect the House Judiciary Committee—and that could be evidence of obstruction of justice.
286
The committee has been in recess for almost an hour.
Something is cooking.
Maybe they’re getting the subpoena
25
Mr. Whitaker seems to take a light and casual view of his position. He seems to lack common sense, much as he did during the World Patent Marketing scandal.
35
Whitaker's defiant pose and bullying demeanor suggest that he is not being candid and will make a mockery of justice, and his character is tainted from the get-go because he himself is a convicted fraudster and cheap con in the business realm. Where do the GOP find these craven capitalist underminers of democracy? The people have had enough. Whitaker should not serve in our government.
102
Why do we treat these criminally incompetent people with respect?
Subpoena him if you want answers.
118
@Nick
Because we don't have bold leadership in the Democratic Party.
3
@Tom
Totally agree
2
Lots of comments trashing Whittaker for being tough. Well, he should be and it frankly is political theater to even have him testify. I’m no fan of many republican politicians, but the behavior of democratic reaches levels of hypocrisy that is shameful— and for people to act this way under anonymity of NTY comments section does no favors for our discourse.
6
@Independent, you are calling out people in the comments section relying on anonymity and you are going by the moniker "Indepependent"? Ironic at least. And people are not trashing Whitaker for being tough but being rude and evasive.
22
@Independent Whitaker is not "tough'. He is incompetent. He has no qualifications for his position and is under investigation for fraud with his patent company. Trump Administration hides their actions; so forcing them to talk is the only recourse. You criticize others for their anonymity; but your name is Independent; you are a hypocrite; like so many on the right wing. Ray Sipe
28
@Independent Cool.
3
Someone needs to tell these arrogant and gutless Republicans in the House of Representatives that “nobody is trying to put on a partisian show “.
We are trying to find out the truth and while the truth may be irrelevant to Donald Trump and his cohort, for some 200 million Americans who are watching , the truth still matters !
82
CNN clearly stated that they knew of Roger Stone's indictment and that is why their reporters were camped out near his home. It's called journalism - following a story and then reporting on it. Maybe someone should tell Collins that is what real journalists do.
55
Yeah, none of this is good. The signs here are all really, really bad and really, really dangerous. These folks perceive no limits, so we - meaning the Democrats in the House - need to pull out all the stops and go after them HARD and FAST. Whitaker needs to be held in contempt and jailed. This stuff has to be nipped in bud - or in partial bloom, because this autocracy is past the budding stage - before our tyrant in chief feels emboldened to shut down Congress. Seriously. And no one here is going to convince me that he does not have plans - call them fantasies or what have you - to do so. Because he DOES.
92
@Matthew
Democrats are not tough enough to go after Whitaker hard and fast. You need really assertive prosecutors like Kamala Harris or Elizabeth Warren to ask the tough questions that could make Whitaker squirm. Nadler is by comparison a pussycat.
1
Whitaker is not gonna say one thing.
Maybe he wrote everything down regarding what he knows about the Mueller investigation and just left it on his desk, for Jarad to discover.
Just get the subpoena.
28
nauseating. trump's enablers know no limits in their desire to cover for him. question remains: why? what has trump ever done for anyone, other than himself?
35
America continues to witness the Constitution urinated upon by the Trump Administration.
Congress must hold Matthew Whitaker in contempt and use their power to subpoena him.
Mr. Whitaker essentially is providing a video for the Senate republicans to approve him across party lines for Deputy Attorney General, when Mr. Rosenstein retires to work in a new law firm and write his book.
24
Who cares if the Russians were involved in the last election. The most pressing problem, threatening to upend American democracy, is who tipped off CNN about the Stone arrest? It's going to be a long day.
8
Whitaker is a train wreck. Chairman Nadler needs to subpoena him and be over with it.
76
Nadler broke the rules everyone agreed to follow. Nadler exceeded his 5 minute time limit. He was asked to stop talking and allow other people to ask questions. Nadler refused. That is when Whitaker spoke up and told Nadler to follow the rules everyone agreed to follow.
26
@Tom Becker The witness can not be a part of the procedural process. If you or I tried that, we'd be found in Contempt of Congress.
At the very least it was unprofessional and provocative. In the end, history will be very unkind to him.
127
@Tom Becker That is like telling the cop who caught you going 102 mph in a school zone that the cop broke the speed limit and you are making a citizens arrest. Whitaker is not in charge here; Nadler is. Whitaker needs to be slapped with a subpoena ; then investigated for his dealings with the fake patent company. Ray Sipe
132
@Sal- Whitaker and Nadler entered into an agreement to follow the 5 minute rule before the hearing began. Whitaker had every right to remind Nadler of the agreement and ask Nadler to honor the agreement. Nadler then continued to break the agreement until enough republicans complained, forcing Nadler to stop violating the rules.
7
This knucklehead is what Donald Trump thinks of as a winner? Whitaker is a patsy who isnt smart enough to know the president isn’t going to win
41
Only real criminals would behave like Whitaker, i am sure his mob boss in the White House will be very happy and smiling at his performance.
This is another sign that corruption is in control of the department of Justice. Their leadership have all gone over to the fascist side. Another person smiling will be Russia’s crime master Putin, when he sees that his own now copyrighted plans on how to take over a government were executed precisely as written.
55
A picture speaks a thousand words. If the look on his face doesn't say "Not me next", I don't know what does!!
8
Whitaker is just another Trump political hack. I wish Mr. Nadler would cut to the chase and force this nincompoop to the truth. Typical of Trump in how he circumvents our political system with executive orders and "subcontractors" such as Whitaker in temporary positions. When is congress and the republicans going to end this circus before it is too late? Empeachment or Article 25 is appopriate to get rid of this cancer that is only getting worse. POLITICAL COURAGE folks.
27
Poor Poor pitiful Collins. He does not like being in the minority and he better get used to it, it is payback time for the Dem's.
27
OK. Two can play this game. Prepare a subpoena for anything he didn't answer voluntarily. It's our country, and our representatives require answers to our questions. If there is no crime, there is no privilege to be protected, as none of the questions could possibly involve classified information involving events the president claims never happened.
400
@JP
Good suggestion... but it won't happen. Democrats are not bold enough to play the game. And because they are not bold enough, Whitaker will be confirmed.
2
@Tom
Whitaker will be confirmed for what? A tool of Trump’s?
5
@Tom...Really, Tom? You think this is a confirmation hearing for Acting Attorney General Whitaker? Are you not aware of the Senate confirmation hearing for Attorney General nominee Barr that occurred last week? Are you not aware that Nominee Barr will be confirmed by the full Senate next week? Geeze. You guys are incredible.
2
Unless I missed it in the article, I don't know if Whitaker was sworn or just having a little chat with the committee.
The level of disrespect that the witness showed during his flippant answer, which was nicely deflected and then ordered by the chair to answer the question, shows how dysfunctional our government has become. But then again, we've got Trump in the oval office.
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@reid And NOTHING is more dysfunctional than trump in the oval office as we have all endured the last two years.
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@reid
Perhaps this is all fine with the Presidential Triumvirate aka Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. Along with the Vice Presidential triumvirate of Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and Jeanine Pirro.
While " we don't have Trump in the oval office". Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin have Trump in the Oval Office. Along with the 63 million Americans including 58% of white people who voted for Trump who have him in Mar-a- Lago and Bedminster.
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@reid
The swearing took place around 9:30.
I just keep wondering what the odds are that we are hearing the truth from Mr. Whitaker. His bluster doesn't make me trust him or feel the slightest bit of sympathy for him - he is in over his head and needs a much more humble approach.
19
"Mr. Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, angrily attacked Democrats in his opening statement, saying that they were interested in carrying out a 'character assassination' of Mr. Whitaker and damaging Mr. Trump, not carrying out oversight of the Department of Justice."
Really? And what exactly have Republicans been doing to Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and so many others over the last decade and only getting worse?
I really do try to not become overly emotional about politics or to rant like a crazed lunatic. But I must admit that I've become thoroughly disgusted by the GOP and anyone who still defends Trump. While I have my complaints about the democratic party, there is no way they are as thoroughly corrupt as the republicans.
They wear their flag pins and wave their bibles and act like no one can be a good person unless they're a Christian and you can't be a patriot unless you tow the party line and don't question ANYTHING.
I just don't understand how any of these people sleep at night. I couldn't.
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@Patty O
I am really tied of anyone using Committee hearings as a floor for attacks, and for anything other than the stated purpose. Sometimes it can be Democrats. This time it was Collins performing like a Trump Handmaiden.
4
I'd suggest to Mr. Whitaker that he comply with this (long-neglected) constitutionally-mandated oversight on this administration. If the recent past is any indication, his blind loyalty to Trump will not be rewarded. (As they've mentioned, Whitaker was crooked before he even joined this administration---so I guess in that sense, he's a perfect fit.)
31
Yet another apprentice in the Trump administration. Whittaker is not only unfit to serve as (acting) AG, but is totally unprepared to meet with members of the House Judiciary Committee. This is a travesty and I hope it ends with a subpoena.
55
Whitaker's 15 minutes of fame will be up in a matter of days and, during that brief period, he showed that his true calling was not in law enforcement but in political sycophancy. As it was in Nixon's day, the question must be asked "Would you buy a used hot tub from this man?"
33
Going after Whitaker is a complete waste of time and a disservice to the country, but the Republicans engaged in the same antics instead of addressing the real threats to this country from cyber attacks to climate change. Whitaker would have no idea why Trump fired Sessions. They might as well ask
Trump, but he we do know that Trump was trying to drive him out for months because Sessions recused himself and Trump therefore saw Sessions as in part responsible for the appointment of Mueller. So, attacking Whitaker is more political theater, but the American voter is not impressed: it is plague on Democrats and Republicans.
20
@Bian Whitaker was put in his position by Trump to find out what Mueller is doing. Whitaker works for Trump; not the American people like he is supposed to.Democrats are not attacking Whitaker; they are trying to find the truth. Truth is something very elusive in the Trump Administration. Ray Sipe
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@Bian
This is not Whitewater nor Benghazi.
Whitaker is the only fake Acting Attorney General that Americans currently have. He was Sessions Chief of Staff. And he was not nominated to any position in the Attorney General line of succession and approved with the advice and consent of the Senate.
It is a plague on the Republicans for colluding with Trump and Netanyahu and Putin.
22
@TD
Not quite. Give this a read (unless your mind is already made up):
https://www.npr.org/2018/07/15/629281975/fact-check-did-the-obama-administration-respond-to-election-interference-by-russ
3
Did he lose the subpoena on his way to the hearing? Why doesn't he throw it into Whittakers face? He has given them enough reasons already... Lock him up. Maybe that's getting one step closer to removing trump from office and burying the republicans in political nirvana for the next 100 years...
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Can you imagine Hillary being so rude and disrespectful during her 11 hour Benghazi hearing? The GOP would have gone (even more) ballistic!
Whitaker refuses to answer questions then states (with all the ego & bluster of his boss) to Chairman Nadler "your 5 minutes are up". Unreal! These criminals (aka trump administration) have zero respect for our laws and institutions.
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@Heidi A. This is what you get when you take the lid off the sewer.
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@Heidi A I can't believe the arrogance of these Republicans! First, Kavanaugh asking during his confirmation hearing, the Senator if she drank, now this. The first slap against common decency was the "You lie!" hurled at Obama during the SOTU. Although I must add that, for a guy who hawked toilets on tv for overly-endowed men, Whittaker is doing surprisingly okay.
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@Heidi A
And this is why Democrats lose. If you don't stand up to these bullies, they win. Democrats need to be more assertive with questioning and proving how "wrong" Whitaker is for this position.
17
Collins is an absolute joke. He's trying to obstruct the entire hearing. Apparently he doesn't think congressional oversight is his job. Pathetic.
300
I am very disappointed--but not surprised-- by the complete lack of comity displayed by ranking Republican Doug Collins in his opening remarks at this hearing.
In a remarkable example of political theater, Collins accused Chairman Jerry Nadler of holding the hearing as political theater.
Collins continued his animated rant against the chairman's integrity in a near-shouting voice, despite being seated directly to the left of Chairman Nadler.
Is this an example of the new bipartisanship President Trump called for in his State of the Union address this week?
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A sneering and openly contemptuous Matthew Whitaker is trying his best to impress the president who is surely watching these proceedings. Whitaker's stonewalling and rambling about protecting the southwest border wall is simply a way to run out the clock.
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@silver vibes-Whitaker's tactics "recall" his mentor Jeff Sessions who under testimony responded to questions with 47 declarations of: "I don't recall."
https://www.wired.com/story/everything-jeff-sessions-did-not-recall-under-oath/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVzSivLvGE
10
Where did Whitaker get the idea that he would get to decide the issues about which he would be questioned?
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@Cherri
Probably from watching the Kavanaugh hearing where he fired back at Senator Klobachuk and turned her question rudely back on her. As an aside, when she failed to instruct Kavanaugh to answer the questions as they were asked of him and that he was not there to interrogate members of the committee, she lost any pretense of having enough spine to be president of the United States.
19
@Cherri
Nadler can follow up with a subpoena; he left the door open for that when allowing Whitaker to appear "voluntarily" and forgoing a subpoena if Whitaker answered the questions posed.
14
@Cherri
Probably from Eric Holder, the 5th amendment, or from the terrible memories people always seem to have when they are called to testify.
So Nadler talks tough, but has defanged himself in advance. Perhaps Republicans are correct: just a photo op.
8
@John Brews ✅✅
Similar to the old Watergate photo op.
8
Well, no surprise here. Another one of DJT's protégés proves himself to be rude and disrespectful. Unbelievable how many incompetent fools are in these positions of power. Anybody notice the "acting" AG's twitter page is private and features a picture of him looking tough and lifting dumbbells? The irony. They're all insecure light weights that should either return to the greedy swamp they came from or reform themselves. The latter is highly unlikely.
133
If he refuses to answer questions he must be subpoenaed and if need be cited for contempt.
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@david baerwald-The NY Times report says, Mr. Whitaker said multiple times that he did not discuss the Mueller investigation with anyone at the WH. Also Whitaker claimed, “I DO NOT BELIEVE that I have briefed third-party individuals outside of the Department of Justice. I’ve received the briefings myself, and I'M USUALLY the endpoint at that information.” Whitaker also reframed Rep. Lofgren's question: “Congresswoman, just to be clear, you are asking me whether I talked with anybody in the president’s circle or the White House about my views of the special counsel investigation when I was a private citizen and NOT at the Department of Justice?”
Seems to me Whitaker is parsing his statements. Interesting choice of words.
5
Trump assassinated his own character decades ago, hung it in effigy, and beats it with a stick first thing every morning while he watches Fox News. You can't assassinate something that has been dead for fifty years.
Whitaker assassinated his own character when he took a job in the Trump administration.
Unlike a real body, character can be resurrected, but neither Trump now Whitaker seem to have any interest in such a thing.
When this country was founded, your word was your bond. We had national myths about George Washington saying, "I cannot tell a lie," and Lincoln walking miles to return a penny.
Now half the country thinks a pathological liar and con-man is synonymous with "businessman."
Character is what makes society move forward, and those (in any or no party) that sacrifice character, morality, truth, logic, math, and science for fun and profit are dragging us back to the primordial muck.
No Compromise with the morally bankrupt! That way lies disaster.
174
@McGloin With so many examples of enormously paid CEOs doing nothing different and then being held as objects of achievement in their goal to feather their nests rather than work FOR the company, we see this slide to mediocrity and lower all the time.
9
Just from watching the first 30 minutes of Whitaker in front of this committee two things become clear to me: He is in over his head as Acting AG and he is the very definition of a political hack.
But the best part so far was when he refused to answer Rep. Nadler's question because Whitaker stated Nadler's five minutes had expired. It's going to be a long day.
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@Len -- Whitaker's clock-watching aptly depicts his lack of sincerity and honesty in answering questions. He was playing the moment for laughs but his open disrespect for Congressional oversight is typically Republican, unless it serves the GOP's interests.
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@Len I mean, Whitaker literally ran a scammy hot-tub company before suddenly becoming AG. The entire Trump administration is the same way though. Even putting their terrible politics aside, no one working for Trump has any sort of appropriate experience for the jobs they have. Whitaker has absolutely no clue how do to the job he has.
93
Ranking Republican Doug Collins member of the House committee tried to shift the House's oversight to CNN for filming the arrest of Roger Stone while avoiding any serious questions for the bumbling, gagged Whitaker.
Whitaker tried to deflect the talk to the opioid crisis, gangs, religious liberty and college campus freedom of expression and while doing his college best to deflect all matters Russian-Republican.
The Republican Party once again shows its utter contempt for transparency, honesty, democracy, oversight and the American people.
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@Socrates Agreed. It is so apparent that Whitaker is nothing but a political hack who is in over his head.
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@Socrates - I'm not sure we can out-FOX the 35% of the population that is keeping the country (and the world for that matter) hostage. But actually it really is the 0.001% that is keeping the country hostage - with their billions of ill-gotten dollars (and riyals and rubles) and control of the media noise machine. Trump (and the current GOP) is just a do over (re do?) of Nixon and his henchmen but with the backing of the long tentacles of Murdoch, Kochs and the Mercers.
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@Socrates
It has been reported that CNN had a stack-out for quite some time.
10