Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May: Report    Worshippers in Makkah and Madinah perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer    Saudi authorities shut down food factories and branches over suspected poisoning cases    Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian government, expresses hope for stronger ties    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Defense, interior, and national guard ministers extend Eid greetings, praise efforts of military and security personnel    Syria forms new government with 22 ministers including one woman President Sharaa vows reform and transparency    Israeli army fires warning shots at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon    Denmark rebukes US Vice President Vance over Greenland remarks    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Makkah and Madinah mobile data usage exceeds global average during Ramadan: CST    Elon Musk's xAI acquires X in all-stock deal    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Acting US attorney general snaps at Democrats over Russia probe
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 08 - 02 - 2019

Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker snapped back on Friday at newly emboldened Democrats in Congress who are pushing for information on the special counsel's Russia probe as they try to put President Donald Trump's administration under greater scrutiny.
Whitaker, a Trump appointee, said he had not "interfered in any way" with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Moscow tried to tip the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor or colluded with the Trump campaign.
In a combative hearing in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Whitaker said he had not talked to Trump about the probe. Democrats, who took over the panel after winning the House at last year's midterm elections, accused him of being evasive.
The hearing room erupted in gasps when Whitaker pushed back strongly against a question from Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, about whether he had ever been asked to approve any action requested by Mueller.
"Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up," Whitaker said, in a bold challenge to the head of the committee. "I am here voluntarily. We have agreed to five minute rounds," he added. "Answer the question please," Nadler replied.
Trump's decision to appoint Whitaker sparked controversy given that the acting attorney general directly oversees Mueller's probe, which Whitaker has publicly criticized in the past before joining the Justice Department in 2017.
Whitaker said on Friday he would invoke executive privilege in declining to discuss "the contents of deliberations or conversations with the president."
Democrats repeatedly accused Whitaker of running out the clock by giving them evasive or repetitive answers in the hearing.
In one case, he refused to answer Democratic congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's questions with a yes or no, and made a flippant remark about whether the time she had lost on the clock had been restored before he answered her questions.
"Mr. Attorney General, we are not joking here and your humor is not acceptable," she said. But Whitaker did say he had not discussed the Russia probe with Trump, either before he worked at the Justice Department or after he became acting attorney general.
"I have not talked to the president of the United States about the special counsel's investigation," Whitaker said.
Russia has denied any meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia and has called Mueller's investigation a witch hunt.
Political drama erupted on Thursday when Democrats threatened to serve Whitaker a subpoena if he failed to answer certain questions at the hearing.
Nadler later agreed to drop the threat, after Whitaker said he would back out from testifying if the subpoena was served.
During the hearing on Friday, Nadler threatened to force Whitaker to go back in front of the committee for a deposition.
Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the committee, blasted Democrats for their handling of the subpoena drama.
He accused them of character assassination and suggested the hearing was political theater. "Bring your popcorn," he said.
Justice Department ethics officials have recommended Whitaker recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, a step he chose not to take.
"Mr. Whitaker, like everyone else at the Department of Justice, you are entitled to your political opinions," Nadler said.
"But when career officials at the department recommended that you take steps to mitigate your apparent conflicts of interest, Mr. Whitaker —- when they told you that your public criticism of the special counsel was bad for the department and bad for the administration of justice, you ignored them."
Whitaker defended his decision on Friday. "I had no conflict of interest," he insisted. "Ultimately, the decision whether or not to recuse was my decision."
Whitaker told lawmakers he has never tried to withhold funding from Mueller's office and never spoke with members of Trump's inner circle about his views on the probe as a private citizen, before he joined the Justice Department in 2017.
It was likely the first and last time that Whitaker will testify as acting attorney general. Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr, is expected to face a Senate confirmation vote next week. — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.