As the #NeverTrump right joins forces with the progressive left to call on acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to recuse himself from the Mueller probe, President Trump appeared on Fox News Sunday and voiced his support for Whitaker’s decisions regarding the investigation.
Asked if he would be “okay” with any attempt by Whitaker to “limit or curtail” the Mueller investigation, Trump responded, “Look, it’s gonna be up to him.”
Trump also defended Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker against Democrats’ calls that he should recuse himself because he has written critically of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.”I did not know that,” Trump said, when asked if he was aware prior to appointing him that Whitaker had argued Mueller’s authority and funding could justifiably be limited. “I did not know he took views on the Mueller investigation as such.”Trump added that he “would not get involved” in Whitaker’s decisions as he oversees Mueller’s probe in his new role as head of the Justice Department. The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion affirming the constitutionality of Whitaker’s temporary appointment without Senate approval.”Look he — it’s going to be up to him,” Trump said. I think he’s very well aware politically. I think he’s astute politically. He’s a very smart person. A very respected person. He’s going to do what’s right. I really believe he’s going to do what’s right.”
Watch the clip:
During this segment of the interview, host Chris Wallace showed clips of Whitaker stating on various news programs that there is no collusion. Trump points out that Whitaker is right, “there is no collusion.”
On Whitaker, Trump said he “did not know he took views on the Mueller investigation,” adding that those views didn’t have “any effect” on the appointment. But, Trump said his views on the probe are “right.””What do you do when a person’s right?” Trump said. “There is no collusion. He happened to be right. I mean, he said it. So if he said there is collusion, I’m supposed to be taking somebody that says there is? Because then I wouldn’t take him for two reasons, but the number one reason is the fact that he would have been wrong. If he said that there’s no collusion, he’s right.”
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