5 things to know about the new Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker

President TrumpDonald John TrumpMidterms: Winners and Losers GOP Representative, Mike Bost, re-elected to Illinois Sisolak becomes the first Dem to win the Nevada Governor's Run since 1994 MORE On Wednesday, Matthew Whitaker was appointed Acting Attorney General after Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsEmpondment: to watch for Morning Morning – Judgment Day: New data suggest substantial gains for Dem and governors. Countdown to the elections: Trump is the subject of a referendum on the presidency | Senate seats most likely to tip | A high turnout raises Dem's hope | Controversy over Trump announcement | Weather forecasts head for key states | DOJ will monitor voting in 19 states MORE resigned from his senior position in the Department of Justice, marking a new era of oversight for DOJ and the special advocate Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: The United States should applaud Mueller's choice to lead the investigation into RussiaInvestigation.

The relationship between the president and his top police officer – and the former president of Whitaker – had deteriorated over the past two years, following Sessions' decision to withdraw from the highly publicized investigation. conducted in Russia.

In his new role, Whitaker will take over from the Deputy Attorney General to oversee the investigation. Rod RosensteinRod Jay RosensteinThe Consequences of the Elections: What to Watch Right Now The Hill's Morning – Presented by PhRMA – Trump, Obama's Battle for the Senate The Hill's Morning – Presented by PhRMA – Last straight until mid-term in a context of violence MORE, who has been a loyal supporter of the investigation since the withdrawal of Sessions.

Whitaker is now assuming a much more public role after being the chief of staff of the sessions.

Here are five things to know about the new Acting Attorney General.

Whitaker criticized the Mueller probe

Before joining the Department of Justice, Whitaker frequently criticized the same investigation he will now supervise.

Whitaker accused the special attorney 's investigation of going "too far," while asking Rosenstein to "limit the scope" of the investigation.

"The president is absolutely right.Mueller has crossed a red line in the investigation of Russia's meddling 2016 that he is about to cross," Whitaker wrote in an editorial. for CNN in August 2017.

Whitaker had also already written an editorial in The Hill, in which he defended the president for sacking his former FBI director. James ComeyJames Brien ComeyComey applauds the mid-term results: "The giant is on the move" Electoral countdown: election day edition | Spectator guide hour by hour | What to look for as results come in | Pundits Predictions | Choice to Make a Verdict on Trump | GOP suspenders for the possibility of losing the house | Democrats see slim hope of sitting in the Senate James Comey knocks on the doors of Virginia Democrat Jennifer Wexton MORE, while criticizing officials of the Obama administration's Justice Department for failing to review the scandals at the time. Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaSisolak Becomes First Dem To Win Nevada Governors Run Since 1994 Five conclusions to remember from a mid-term election that sparked division, David Valadao was re-elected to House in California PLUS was president.

Whitaker, however, said in an interview with a local news channel in Des Moines, Iowa, that Trump should not fire Mueller.

"I can not imagine a scenario in which Bob Mueller would have done something inappropriate or that would require his termination," Whitaker said in June 2017.

And already, the biggest Democrats in the House and Senate have asked Whitaker to recuse himself for comments he made on Mueller, including the Senate minority leader. Chuck SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerThe numbers do not lie: working Americans are better off with GOP Trump calls Gillum "un-equipped" to be the governor of Florida McSally accuses Arizona's media of "protecting" the # 39, Dem's opponent, Sinema MORE (D-N.Y.) And Leader of the Minority in the House Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia's Alesandro PelosiMidterms: Winners and losers Ryan midway through: "Tonight's story is repeated" Spillover of the elections: to watch now MORE (D-Calif.).

The Democrats, who will regain control of the House at the next Congress, have already announced their intention to oversee a series of issues related to the Trump administration – including its transfer to the field sessions.

Whitaker felt that there was a "strong" case against Clinton

Whitaker also voiced a series of opinions on Comey's decision not to charge Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonMidterms: Winners and losers Sisolak becomes the first Dem to win the Nevada governor's race since 1994 The GOP Senate exceeds expectations with an enlarged majority NEXT for his handling of classified documents during his tenure as Secretary of State.

At the time, Whitaker had hinted that the FBI was unfair in his treatment of Clinton.

"It is clear that the FBI was looking for reasons not to prosecute Hillary Clinton," Whitaker said in a September 2016 press release for the FACT monitoring group. he was the executive director. time.

"The critical point the FBI has forgotten is that Clinton clearly intended to send and store top secret and classified information on an unsecured personal server, which, in my opinion, is a lawsuit against A reasonable attorney would bring against her or against any other person who would have committed such irresponsible acts. ," He continued.

Whitaker, who also expressed his respect for Comey, disputed the fact that the FBI leader had the power to make such a decision in the place of Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

However, he is not alone in these opinions – many other Republicans have criticized Comey's decision not to accuse Clinton.

House Republicans have been investigating the decision-making of FBI and DOJ officials during the 2016 presidential race – an investigation that could end now that the House has moved to Democratic control.

Whitaker defended Donald Trump Jr.Donald (Don) John TrumpManchin occupies the seat in the Senate of the West Virginia Senate My father wants to end illegal immigration with this answer NBC backtracks will no longer broadcast the controversial controversy of Trump ad PLUS to take the Trump Tower meeting

Whitaker defended the president's eldest son for meeting with a Kremlin-related lawyer who promised to smear Clinton's campaign in the middle of the presidential race.

Mueller is expected to look closely at the circumstances of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting. Although the story of this meeting has changed on many occasions, Trump Jr. denied having received incriminating information.

"You would always take this meeting," said Whitaker during an appearance on CNN in July 2017 which has recently resurfaced.

"If you have a trusted person who says you have to meet that person because she has information about your opponent, you would take that meeting," he added.

Despite his defense, in an editorial published in August 2017 in The Hill, Whitaker asserted that the case deserved a "serious investigation", insofar as he pointed out the case of another Democratic official who allegedly met with Ukrainian officials.

In quoting information, Whitaker announced that a Democratic National Committee (DNC) official had met with Ukrainian officials to investigate the relationship between Trump and his former campaign manager. Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortObama: GOP has "gathered enough charges to stage a football team" Top Top on a Russian Senate investigation for Halloween "Treasure Hunt" Trump has not received a subpoena from Mueller MORE had to Russia deserves an investigation, but it is "swept under the carpet."

"Given what we know today about both situations, it's clear that both deserve serious investigation," Whitaker wrote. "The foreign influence in our policy is not new, but it is very worrying and should be investigated. The DNC / Ukraine connection is serious and the public deserves answers. "

His remarks echoed those of Trump at the time, who felt that the issue was not receiving the required attention.

In another potential Mueller tie, Whitaker is Sam Clovis's friend

Sam Clovis, who previously served as Co-Chair of the Trump Campaign, asked Whitaker to be its president when he was nominated for the position of Treasurer of the State of Iowa in 2014.

Whitaker, who was then managing partner of Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff LLP, a law firm based in Des Moines, congratulated Clovis at the time of being an experienced public servant, according to reports.

"When the opportunity was offered to put my name on the ballot as a Republican candidate at the State Treasury, Matt became the logical person to chair my campaign committee. ", said Clovis in a statement at the time.

Clovis, however, has also become involved in Mueller's investigation, prompting some critics to claim that these ties create a conflict of interest for Whitaker who oversees the investigation.

The Washington Post reported earlier this year that Clovis was the campaign manager who encouraged George PapadopoulosGeorge Demetrios PapadopoulosSenate wants to interview Steve Bannon, the attorney claims that Trump has not received a subpoena from Mueller Trump complained about Mueller's investigation at his last meeting with McGahn: PLUS report organize an "informal" meeting with Russian officials.

Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with the Russians during the campaign, was sentenced to two weeks in prison.

Clovis, while acknowledging that he remains friend with Whitaker, disputed the fact that these links have an impact on Whitaker's ability to oversee the investigation.

"It's not relevant and Matt has great integrity. I am very happy for him and he will do a fantastic job, "Clovis told the post office Wednesday.

Whitaker is considered a Trump loyalist

Trump would love Whitaker, a former football player who often went back and forth between the West Wing and the GM, despite the president's strained relationship with Sessions.

"[Whitaker] Frequently visited the Oval Office and said he had an easy chemistry with Mr. Trump, "the New York Times reported in September amid premature announcements of Rosenstein's resignation.

Whitaker's name first appeared after The Times issued a bomb report saying that Rosenstein had been talking to other officials about wearing a wire to register Trump after firing Comey in May. latest. The story also tells that Rosenstein had discussed the possibility that cabinet members would invoke the 25th amendment to remove Trump from office last year.

Rosenstein and the DOJ strongly disputed the Times report, saying the comments were joking. Despite their denials, the report has prompted almost instant speculation that Rosenstein may be about to leave home.

While questions about Rosenstein's fate were seething, Trump quickly dispelled claims that he was firing leader # 2.

Following this episode, however, Trump is sure to call and reassure Whitaker that he trusted him, according to the Times.

In addition to his public defense of the president, Whitaker also followed the Sessions initiative to align the agency with its top priorities, including immigration and violent crime, said a DOJ official in September at the Times.

Although the president said Whitaker's appointment was temporary, it could be a test for other future roles within his administration.