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Ex-White House counsel interviewed Whitaker about joining Trump's legal team: report | TheHill

posted onNovember 10, 2018
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Article snippet: Former White House counsel Don McGahn interviewed Matthew Whitaker, who has since been named The New York Times reports. McGahn, who left the White House last month, interviewed Whitaker in July 2017 about taking the position, according to the Times, which described Whitaker being interviewed to be "a legal attack dog" against special counsel MORE. The White House ultimately did not hire Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney from Iowa, who then continued a media tour last year that included writing op-eds criticizing Mueller's sprawling investigation as having gone too far. Trump announced Whitaker as the acting attorney general this week after asking for and accepting Attorney General MORE's resignation. The president had for over a year openly mocked Sessions and blasted his decision to recuse himself from the federal Russia probe being led by Mueller, which is examining ties between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Legal experts have criticized Whitaker's appointment to lead the Justice Department, saying the DOJ chief must be confirmed by the Senate. Lawmakers have also blasted Trump for installing a GOP loyalist to the position to oversee Mueller's probe. "As an unconfirmed political appointee, Mr. Whitaker has not been subject to the scrutiny that the Constitution requires to ensure that he has the character, integrity and ability to fulfill the grave responsibilities of this job," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote Monday... Link to the full article to read more

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