Trump said that he installed Matthew Whitaker to replace Jeff Sessions as attorney general because of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Here is the transcript of Trump admitting in an interview with The Daily Caller that Mueller is the reason Whitaker was chosen:
THE DAILY CALLER: Sure. Could you tell us where your thinking is currently on the attorney general position? I know you’re happy with Matthew Whitaker, do you have any names? Chris Christie —
POTUS: Matthew Whitaker is a very respected man. He’s — and he’s, very importantly, he’s respected within DOJ. I heard he got a very good decision, I haven’t seen it. Kellyanne, did I hear that?
WHITE HOUSE ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY: 20 pages.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
POTUS: A 20-page?
THE DAILY CALLER: It just came out right before this, sir.
POTUS: Well, I heard it was a very strong opinion. Uh, which is good. But [Whitaker] is just somebody that’s very respected.
I knew him only as he pertained, you know, as he was with Jeff Sessions. And, you know, look, as far as I’m concerned this is an investigation that should have never been brought. It should have never been had.
It’s something that should have never been brought. It’s an illegal investigation. And you know, it’s very interesting because when you talk about not Senate confirmed, well, Mueller’s not Senate confirmed.
THE DAILY CALLER: Right.
POTUS: He’s heading this whole big thing, he’s not Senate confirmed.
Trump admitted in his usual weird circular way that the Whitaker installation isn’t Senate approved, which means that it is unconstitutional and illegal. Just like in the Lester Holt interview, Trump couldn’t help himself. He just had to tell the world that Matthew Whitaker was chosen to shut down Robert Mueller’s investigation.
House Democrats Have Everything That They Need to Investigate Trump’s Selection Of Whitaker
Democrats will be in charge of the House in January, which means that there will now be consequences for Trump’s brazen admissions of criminal activity. Democrats were already planning on looking at the circumstances surrounding the forced removal of Jeff Sessions, but Trump has just made their investigation a whole lot easier by admitting to obstruction of justice.
Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offense.
This almost too easy, as Trump hasn’t adjusted to the new political landscape and is giving Democrats everything that they would potentially need to bring him down.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
