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Since November, Democrats in the House have been calling for Whitaker's public responses on his role of overseeing the investigation of special advocate Robert Mueller following the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In a phone call this month, Whitaker informed the representatives. Jerry Nadler (DN.Y.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) That he would abide by "all regulations, policies and procedures" governing Mueller's investigation and promised to testify when the Democrats officially took the control of the House.
But scheduling Whitaker's audience has not been so easy.
Officials from the Department of Justice requested that the hearing be postponed until mid-February or the end of February. Democrats who had run out of staff due to the closure of the government that began Dec. 22, as well as Whitaker's move to Washington.
A change in the scheduling of hearings could ultimately make Whitaker's testimony less relevant if President Donald Trump's nominee was nominated. to serve as Attorney General, William Barr, is already confirmed by the Senate by then. The Judiciary Committee of the Senate is expected to hold two days of confirmation hearings for Barr on January 15 and 16.
If it is confirmed, Barr should succeed Whitaker as chief supervisor of the Mueller investigation on whether the Trump campaign has plotted Russia will win the presidential election of 2016.
Democrats dissatisfied with the Justice Department's delay with Whitaker are considering subpoenas to force his appearance, saying that they will only have a limited window to ask questions about the reasons why he got the job. decided not to supervise Mueller's investigation and to take action regarding the investigation.
But Democrats are also discussing the opportunity to take such a provocative step against the Trump government, one of their first official orders since the House's takeover last week.
For the moment, the plan of the Democrats to make a possible subpoena of Whitaker their main topic of discussion when the Judiciary Committee will hold its organizational meeting for the new Congress. This session could be held later this week when congressional leaders will announce which legislators will sit on the powerful group of experts, which reports to the Justice Department and will be the main venue for any impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Congressional Republicans clearly have no power. Interesting to take Whitaker to Capitol Hill.
In an interview last week, the representative of Georgia, the new Republican Republican on the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives of Georgia, said that it was practically useless for Whitaker to appear because he is on the point of leaving. the door. Collins argued that the process of confirmation by the Senate to replace the sessions was already under way and that Whitaker's testimony was irrelevant.
"At this point, it shows that Democrats are only looking to drive a rabbit through a hole," they said, Collins said. "The confirmation process began in the Senate for a new Attorney General. I think that's what we need to focus on.
Although Collins did not criticize Whitaker, some other Republican lawmakers expressed concern that this one would be embarrassing for the party itself. appeared.
Whitaker's appointment in November sparked bipartisan criticism and raised questions about his qualifications and the fact that he would either limit the Mueller investigation or bury its findings. A staunch guest on radio and cable television before joining the Justice Department, Whitaker criticized the investigation into Russia and cited Trump's nickname "witch hunt" to characterize the investigation.
A defense lawyer collaborating with a client of the investigation on Russia. Whitaker would be in a difficult situation should he appear before the House committee.
"They will have a little fun with him, but he's a man running," said the lawyer.
Citing the Department "Skeletal Personnel", a spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment when asked Monday Whitaker's plan to appear before the House of Representatives Committee.
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