dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Top Senate Democrat demands hearing with Whitaker, Sessions

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is demanding that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions be called in for congressional hearing “as quickly as possible.” “The circumstances surrounding Attorney General Sessions’ departure raise serious questions, including whether the appointment is lawful and the possible impact on Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation,” Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a letter sent Tuesday to Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, demanding a hearing with Whitaker.

Last week, Sessions was forced to resign by President Trump and replaced by Whitaker, previously Sessions' chief of staff. Whitaker now takes control of oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller and his wide-ranging investigation into Russian election interference. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had been in control due to Sessions’ recusal, and he appointed Mueller in May 2017. In a separate letter to Grassley calling for a committee hearing with Sessions, Feinstein wrote that “it is critically important that we understand why the Attorney General was forced out of his position.” “This seems consistent with the hearings held when FBI Director Comey was fired," said Joyce Alene, a former U.S. attorney who served under the Obama administration from 2009 to 2017, on Twitter about the call for hearings. "If Senators are concerned with DOJ’s integrity & believe the Whitaker appointment was proper, there’s no reason a hearing shouldn’t be held.”

On Monday, Feinstein joined a letter sent by top congressional Democrats to Lee Lofthus, the DOJ's chief ethics officer, asking him if any top Justice Department ethics officials have advised Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel. Due to both Whitaker's 2017 remarks critical of Mueller and his relationship with Sam Clovis — who is a grand jury witness in Mueller’s investigation — as well as what the lawmakers say are “other entanglements,” the Democratic lawmakers want to know if Lofthus or any other ethics officials at the Justice Department have advised Whitaker to recuse himself, as well as “the basis for that recommendation." “We also request that you provide us all ethics guidance the department has provided to Mr. Whitaker to date,” they wrote.

The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is expected to say that Whitaker’s appointment was legal and he can continue oversight of Mueller. That legal opinion is expected Tuesday. "Acting AG Matt Whitaker is fully committed to following all appropriate processes and procedures at the Department of Justice, including consulting with senior ethics officials on his oversight responsibilities and matters that may warrant recusal,” Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said in a statement.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/dianne-feinstein-demands-hearing-with-whitaker-sessions