Pelosi: Whitaker's appointment to act AG 'does violence to the Constitution'

House Minority Leader Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiCollins reiterates call for legislation to protect Mueller investigation Swalwell offers his 'thought' and 'prayer' in wake of California shooting Dem strategist says 'a lot is up in the air' with House leadership fight MORE (D-Calif.) Ripped President TrumpDonald John TrumpEx-White House counsel interviewed Whitaker about joining Trump's legal team: report Flake slams Trump for doubting Arizona vote count: No evidence of 'electoral corruption''S appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general, saying in a new interview that his appointment "does violence to the Constitution."

"It does violence to the Constitution and the vision of our founders to such a person in such a manner and to the chief officer of the country." And that's bipartisan, "Pelosi told CBS News's Margaret Brennan in an interview set to air Sunday we "Face the Nation."

Trump tapped Whitaker to lead the Justice Department after Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsEx-White House counsel interviewed Whitaker about joining Trump's legal team: report Flake: Whitaker should not oversee Mueller probe FBI investigating Florida company Trump's acting AG was involved in: report MORE announced Wednesday that he was resigning at the president's request. Whitaker had served as Sessions' chief of staff since September of last year.

Shortly after Sessions's ouster, Trump also announced that Whitaker would oversee special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerStep: US should applaud the choice of Mueller to leadinvestigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Deputy Attorney General Rod RosensteinRod Jay RosensteinFlake: Whitaker should not oversee Rosenstein calls Whitaker 'superb' choice for acting AG: report Collins reiterates call for legislation to protect Mueller investigation MORE had supervised Mueller's report since Sessions recused himself last year.

Whitaker's rise to his new role prompted immediate concern among bipartisan lawmakers regarding the fate of Mueller's investigation.

Whitaker has publicly touted that there is "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and the United States and the United States has had the special counsel of investigation as a "witch hunt," adopting the president's own rhetoric.

In May 2017, Whitaker penned an op-ed for the Hill criticizing the idea of ​​appointing a special counsel for its investigation.

"Serious, bipartisan congressional investigations into the Russian allegations have been under way for weeks and they have made progress. Hollow calls for independent prosecutors are just craven attempts to score political points and serve the public in no measurable way, "he wrote.

Pelosi and other Democrats called on Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel in light of the comments.

"Given his record of threats to undermine & weaken the Russia investigation, Matthew Whitaker should recuse himself from any involvement in Mueller's investigation. Congress must take immediate action to protect the rule of law and the integrity of the investigation. #FollowTheFacts " she tweeted Wednesday.

Pelosi on Wednesday officially launched to become Speaker, following through on the face of the Speaker's chair after an eight-year absence.