Nadler kicked off Whitaker’s questioning, asking him whether he’d been briefed on any criminal or counterintelligence matters related to Mueller’s investigation.
After initially declining to answer, Whitaker acknowledged that he had been briefed on the investigation but not while he was serving as chief of staff to Sessions, who recused himself from overseeing the Russia probe in March 2017.
Whitaker and Nadler had a contentious back and forth when Nadler asked him how many times he was briefed on Mueller’s work and when those briefings took place.
“Mr. Chairman, I’ve said all i’ve said all that I’m planning on saying about the number of times or briefings I’ve received on the special counsel’s investigation —” Whitaker began.
“Whether you were briefed is the subject of an ongoing investigation?” Nadler interjected. “I didn’t follow that.”
“No, the number of times I’ve been briefed and my involvement in the investigation, sir,” Whitaker said.
Nadler then said that it was the committee’s understanding that Whitaker was briefed on the investigation at least once in December, before he decided not to recuse himself from overseeing Mueller’s probe.
“What’s the basis for that question, sir?” Whitaker asked.
“Yes or no,” Nadler responded. “It is our understanding that at least one briefing occurred between your decision not to recuse yourself on December 19 and six days later, Christmas Day. Is that correct?”
“No, Mr. Chairman, I’m going to — you are asking me a question that it is your understanding,” Whitaker said. “Can you tell me where you get the basis for —”
“No, I’m not going to tell you that, I don’t have time to get into that,” Nadler said. “I’m just asking you if that’s correct or not. Is it correct?”
Nadler moved on when Whitaker refused to answer. He then asked the acting attorney general whether he communicated any of the information he learned from his briefing to Trump.
Though Whitaker began by saying he would not discuss his private conversations with Trump or other White House officials, he said he did not talk to the president or any senior White House staffers about Mueller’s probe.
Asked whether he relayed information to any third-party individuals who may have passed it on to either Trump or his legal team, Whitaker replied, “I do not believe I have briefed third party individuals outside the Department of Justice.”
from News fore today http://bit.ly/2SJakQB
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