WAPO OP ED: Why is Matthew Whitaker panic-stricken about testifying before Congress?

[lindysalsagal]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/07/why-is-matthew-whitaker-panic-stricken-about-testifying-before-congress/?utm_term=.c689c5058b98

Why is Matthew Whitaker panic-stricken about testifying before Congress?

By Jennifer Rubin Opinion writer February 7 at 3:21 PM

The Post reports:

Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker said he will not appear before Congress on Friday without assurances that he won’t be subpoenaed — giving Democrats a deadline of 6 p.m. Thursday to respond.

Whitaker’s move came shortly after the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to give its chairman the authority to subpoena Whitaker’s testimony, should he not appear or answer lawmakers’ questions.


Whitaker’s stunt comes after months of delay and refusal to testify voluntarily, a bit of chutzpah that did not go unremarked upon by Democrats ("the panel had sent Whitaker many letters and requests to settle points of his testimony in advance, to which he had chosen not to respond”). No doubt, when Whitaker shows up on Friday he’ll invoke executive privilege (improperly, since that is not a privilege that holds up against Congress), necessitating the committee then to issue a subpoena and attempt to compel his testimony.

The real issue here is Whitaker’s fear of appearing and being forced to answer questions under threat of congressional contempt, which could occur if he is under subpoena. (“Democrats worry that Whitaker, whose public comments before taking over the Justice Department suggested that he was sympathetic to Trump and critical of the Mueller inquiry, may seek to evade questions he is asked during the proceedings.”)

[DonaldsRump]

1. BECAUSE HE HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE! n/t

[lindysalsagal]

2. Right. And he knows it's either illegal or against POTUS regulations, and he's the next one in the b

barrell.

Everything 45 touches dies. Period.

[ooky]

3. Probably because he knows that he and Dotard have conspired to commit crimes.

[MotorCityMan]

4. Biggest take-away from article: "Innocent men don't behave in such a fashion.."

Um, yeah, and Trump and company are NOT behaving like innocent men.

[lindysalsagal]

5. None of his goons ever behave as if they're innocent. Because they never are.

[Apollyonus]

6. His best bet

is to throw Trump under the bus and save his own ass.

[kentuck]

7. He gambled and lost...

He thought the Republicans would keep control of Congress and he could end the Mueller investigation. It appears he bet on the wrong horse?

[Skraxx]

8. What's up doc! Oversight's a bitch, ain't it?

Snicker.

[Vinca]

9. He's afraid he'll slip up and tell the truth about something.

[onenote]

10. Because he's a doofus.

[GulfCoast66]

11. Because he is dumb, and is just now realizing it.

Even in his press conference he was sweating like a pig.(and as an Agriculture major I must point out pigs don’t sweat).

He is in over his head and knows it. He has just realized that Trump can’t protect him and he had no future that will allow he and his family to continue living at their accustomed lifestyle.

He has my thoughts and prayers.

[ariadne0614]

12. The 6pm deadline is past.

Do we know what happened?

[summer_in_TX]

16. A deal was negotiated

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/house-panel-authorizes-subpoena-for-acting-attorney-general-whitaker-just-in-case/2019/02/07/1e5ec47a-2af2-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f60eaad37f48

Nadler won't subpoena him tonight or tomorrow, apparently.

[Cryptoad]

13. Finally dawned on him,,,,

he is going to jail!

[marked50]

14. Because there aren't enough tissues to wipe off all his sweat...n/t

[NoMoreRepugs]

15. What did happen with his 6pm deadline??

[Pluvious]

17. If he was sweating bullets at just a press conference...

What will he be doing sitting below the unsmiling gazes off the committee ?

He won't need a handkerchief, he's gonna need a mop !

[Scruffy1]

18. I'm kind of hoping he will be asked about the dark money that has been funding him for several years

Could he be getting paid in Rubles?

[Nevilledog]

19. This is confusing.

Whitaker appearing voluntarily or by subpoena has no bearing on whether the fucker perjures himself. Showing up without a subpoena doesn't mean you're allowed to lie nor does a subpoena mean you'll tell the truth.

It's my understanding that Whitaker cannot rely on a claim of executive privilege to fail to answer questions. I'm interested in what bullshit imaginary privilege these asshats will try to assert.

[Wounded Bear]

20. Because he knows he's not as good a liar as his boss...