It doesn’t take a PhD in political science to see what’s going on here. Alarm bells should be going off in the halls of Congress but so far, nothing but silence. It was just eleven days ago that Donald Trump fired his Jeff Session and installed Matthew Whitaker as acting Attorney General.
Trump said today in an interview with Fox correspondent Chris Wallace that he didn’t know Whitaker’s views on the special counsel before making him acting Attorney General, but he (Whitaker) happened to be right in calling for restrictions on the investigation.
BREAKING: Trump claims he "did not know" Whitaker's views on the Russia probe https://t.co/UozY38fq4P
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 18, 2018
And just as frightening, Trump said he would not get involved if Whitaker tried to curtail the special counsel investigation. Is this an end run around the Senate? From The Fox Sunday Interview with Chris Wallace:
Trump: “Look…it’s going to be up to him. I think he’s astute politically. He’s a very smart person. A very respected person,” Trump said. “He’s going to do what’s right. I really believe he’s going to do what’s right.”
Wallace: “But you won’t overrule him if he decides to curtail – .”
Trump: “I would not get involved.”
WALLACE: Whitaker is going to have to make big calls on Mueller probe. If he decides to curtail it, are you ok w/that?
TRUMP: "It's going to be up to him."
W: But you won't overrule him if he decides to curtail?
T: "I would not get involved…[but] the whole thing is a scam." pic.twitter.com/bqnjIlVEHq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 18, 2018