Acting US AG snaps at Democrats

Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker snapped back on Friday at newly emboldened Democrats in Congress who are pushing for information on the special counsel’s Russia probe as they try to put President Donald Trump’s administration under greater scrutiny.

In a combative congressional hearing, Whitaker said he had not talked to Trump about the probe into whether Moscow tried to tip the 2016 presidential election, or “interfered in any way” in the investigation since taking his role in November.

Democrats, who took over the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee after last year’s midterm elections, accused Whitaker of being evasive in front of the panel and frequently clashed with him.

The hearing room erupted in gasps when Whitaker pushed back strongly against a question from Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, about whether he had ever been asked to approve any action requested by Mueller.

“Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up,” Whitaker said, in a bold challenge to the head of the committee. “I am here voluntarily. We have agreed to five-minute rounds,” he added. “Answer the question please,” Nadler replied.

“How the heck did you become the head of the Department of Justice?” Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries later railed at Whitaker. Whitaker had publicly criticized the investigation before joining the Justice Department in 2017 but said on Friday he had not discussed it with Trump.