Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker on Friday declined to say whether he agrees with President Trump that the special counsel investigation into Russia is a witch hunt.
“Would you say the special counsel’s investigation is a witch hunt?” Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., asked Whitaker in a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “Are you overseeing a witch hunt?”
“As I’ve mentioned previously, the special counsel’s investigation is an ongoing investigation, and so I think it would be inappropriate for me …” Whitaker answered before being interrupted.
“But you wouldn’t oversee a witch hunt, would you?” Cohen asked. “You’d stop a witch hunt, wouldn’t you?”
“Congressman, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about an ongoing investigation,” Whitaker said again.
“But you wouldn’t oversee witch hunt, would you? He would stop a witch hunt, wouldn’t you?”@RepCohen gets worked up over Russia.
“I could tell this is an important issue for you.”
It’s an important issue for the America people and for the whole world!” pic.twitter.com/G1zJAlLPIP
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 8, 2019
The two tussled moments later when Cohen asked if Whitaker has ever denied any funds to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
“I can tell that this is an important issue for you,” Whitaker said, prompting Cohen to shout that it’s important for all Americans.
“Congressman, to answer your question directly, I have not denied any funds to the special counsel,” Whitaker answered. He later testified that he never interfered with the investigation.
[Also read: Whitaker hearing erupts in partisan acrimony as top Republican seeks to adjourn it]
