Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, got into a heated exchange with Matt Whitaker, in which he asked the acting attorney general if special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election is a
Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, got into a heated exchange with Matt Whitaker, in which he asked the acting attorney general if special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election is a “witch hunt.”
Whitaker, who is overseeing the special counsel, did not answer the question. President Trump has repeatedly called the probe a witch hunt.
Whitaker however did say he has not denied funds to Mueller and his team
Here’s how the full exchange went down:
Cohen: “Would you say the special counsel’s investigation is a witch hunt? Are you overseeing a witch hunt?”
Whitaker: “Congressman, as I’ve mentioned previously, the special counsel’s investigation is an ongoing investigation, and so I think it would be inappropriate for me to…”
Cohen: “But you wouldn’t oversee a witch hunt, would you? You’d stop a witch hunt, wouldn’t you?”
Whitaker: “Congressman, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about an ongoing investigation.”
Cohen: “You said you were not interfering with the special counsel’s investigation. Have you denied him any funds he’s requested at all?
Whitaker: “Congressman, I can tell this is an important issue for you…”
Cohen: “It’s an important issue for the American public and for the whole world.
Whitaker: “Congressman, to answer your question directly, I have not denied any funds to the special counsel’s investigation.”
Watch the exchange here:
From CNN’s Liz Landers
Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries told CNN that he thought Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has been acting like “a petulant child.”
Whitaker is currently testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. You can watch the hearing in the video player at the top of this page.
Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has dodged some of the House Judiciary Committee’s questions, citing confidentiality and executive privilege — but the committee may have a second chance to grill him on those questions.
