Whitaker Doesn't Invoke Executive Privilege By House Committee Deadline

[DonViejo]

By Tierney Sneed

February 6, 2019 1:58 pm

Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker did not meet a Wednesday morning deadline to invoke executive privilege in advance of his testimony at a committee hearing later this week, according to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY).

Having not heard from Whitaker, Nadler sent a new letter reminding him that he will be expected at a hearing Friday to answer certain questions about his White House communications regarding special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

“Because you have not provided any notification to the Committee regarding executive privilege—or, indeed, any communication in response to the January 22 letter—my understanding is that you will provide full and complete answers to these questions when they are asked at your hearing this Friday,” Nadler said. Nadler previously announced that he would be seeking committee approval to subpoena Whitaker, if necessary. That vote will be happening on Thursday.

Altogether, the developments point to the potential for a confrontational hearing on Friday, if Whitaker is not, in fact, planning to “provide full and complete answers” to those questions.

The topics Nadler previewed to Whitaker include whether he discussed his decision not to recuse from the the Mueller probe with the White House, and whether he has communicated information he’s learned about the investigation to Trump, the White House or Trump’s personal legal team. Nadler also indicated that the committee would be asking him about his White House communications related to the federal probes in New York with links to Trump.

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https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/whitaker-doesnt-invoke-executive-privilege-by-house-committee-deadline

[Mike Nelson]

1. Probably an error...

… he will not answer some questions at the hearing satisfactorily, in my opinion.