After Heated Exchange, Matthew Whitaker Says He Will Testify Friday Before the House.

[elleng]

Source: nyt

After a heated back and forth with House Democrats, the acting attorney general, Matthew G. Whitaker, told lawmakers late Thursday that he will testify before the House Judiciary Committee as scheduled on Friday, having received assurances that they would not issue a subpoena for his testimony.

Earlier in the day, the Justice Department sent the committee a letter demanding a commitment in writing that any subpoena not be used during the hearing, a promise that the committee chairman, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, would not give.

But after negotiations that began early in the evening, the committee agreed not to issue a subpoena during on or before Feb. 8, according to a Justice Department spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec.

“In light of that commitment, Acting Attorney General Whitaker looks forward to voluntarily appearing at tomorrow’s hearing and discussing the great work of the Department of Justice,” Ms. Kupec said.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/us/politics/matthew-whitaker-subpoena-congress.html?

[Honeycombe8]

1. What is the hearing about, I wonder?

I'll have to look that up. There's so much going on.

[elleng]

2. 'Democrats want to ask Mr. Whitaker about matters related to the Russia

investigation led by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and whether Mr. Trump replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Mr. Whitaker in order to interfere with that inquiry. Some Democrats consider Mr. Whitaker’s appointment to be illegitimate.'

[Honeycombe8]

3. Oh....super. And he's afraid of a subpoena for something. Super duper. Thanks. nt

[groundloop]

4. So what's the big deal about him not wanting to be subpoenaed?

Does he think he won't be under oath without a subpoena, or that he can lie to Congress?

[thesquanderer]

7. I'm not certain, but I think this is right...

If he's there voluntarily, he can decline to answer any question, without consequences. If he's there under a subpoena, failing to answer a question would be chargeable as contempt. So he was worried that he could be sitting there voluntarily answering questions, and then if he declines to answer one, they could immediately serve the subpoena they have sitting in their pocket, and he'd have to answer the question or face contempt charges.

If they are dissatisfied with his testimony, they could still issue the subpoena in the future, but he won't be sitting right there, and he'd have the opportunity to find legal ways to delay or challenge or limit it, or at least have time to think about how to answer the questions he doesn't want to answer.

[jcgoldie]

9. thanks

good explanation!

[rgbecker]

16. Great explanation. First I've been able to understand what the fuck.

DU. Great resource for a clear understanding.

[dhill926]

5. well....

"the committee agreed not to issue a subpoena during on or before Feb. 8" so, issue one Feb. 9.

[George II]

6. He knew he was digging a hole he couldn't get out of.

[Marie Marie]

8. Heh, heh, heh. You wanted to hitch your wagon to this loser, sooo...

Be careful what you wish for and all that.

[Julian Englis]

10. I wanna see one of them thar perjury traps. n/t

[watoos]

11. I will be shocked if Whitaker

answers questions regarding his conversations with Trump. The game plan is to stall.

[Leith]

12. Will the hearing be televised?

I'll have to figure out how to get C-SPAN... I have a link somewhere.

[Cadfael]

15. C-SPAN live streams

https://www.c-span.org/networks/

I hope it will be available here.

[Leith]

17. I'm watching

https://www.c-span.org/video/?457164-1/acting-attorney-general-whitaker-testifies-house-judiciary-committee&live

No fluff like pundit opinion. Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer to watch and make my own mind up.

[NBachers]

13. They'll have to throw him rolls of paper towels to sop up his flop sweat.

[ffr]

14. We had to provide him with the questions, wait until it was convenient & time for his prep

What else does the little princess demand before he answers in a truthful manner?

Geesh!