John Brennan: There’s a Very Strong Case That Whitaker Should Recuse Himself From Overseeing Mueller Probe
On MSNBC on Wednesday, former CIA Director and object of Donald Trump‘s recent security clearance ire John Brennan spoke with host Nicolle Wallace by phone on the subject of Matthew Whitaker‘s coming tenure as acting Attorney General. In particular, Brennan addressed oversight of the Russia investigation.
Outgoing AG Jeff Sessions famously recused himself on the issue of the Russia investigation, and the oversight of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe has been in the hands of Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein. With the change of leadership, the recusal is no longer on the table, and Whitaker’s views on the probe are well known. On that basis, Brennan says maybe recusal isn’t off the table after all.
Wallace asked Brennan specifically about Whitaker’s previously expressed opinions on the probe.
“How would the intelligence community work with somebody like Mr. Whitaker who has his thumb on the scale? We already know exactly how he feels about the Mueller probe. He’s prejudged it before it’s come to its conclusion. We already know how he feels about Donald Trump Jr.’s participation in the Trump Tower meeting, he thinks it’s a nothing-burger. That is something under investigation by Robert Mueller in both, sort of the obstruction of justice prong of that investigation for the lies told afterward, and the conspiracy to coordinate with a foreign government and an American adversary,” she began the lengthy query. “How would career professionals in the law enforcement community, in other U.S. Attorneys offices, the southern district of New York also has big cases against the president, Michael Cohen has alleged that Donald Trump directed him to pay hush money to a porn star. How do career national security, intelligence and law enforcement officials deal with someone who is essentially a political stand-in for the president’s interests?”
Brennan, apparently able to keep up with that paragraph-long question, answered that those professionals have plenty of experience with “political loyalists”, and added that, for the most part, those political actors usually realize the “gravity” of their responsibility and, like Sessions, take the step of ensuring they aren’t inhibiting the rule of law.
“Matt Whitaker comes with a lot of baggage, and it’s going to be quite evident, I think, whether or not he is going to fulfill his responsibilities now in that position or whether or not he is going to be like many others in the Trump Administration, an enabler, an apologist and a sycophant for Donald Trump,” he said. “I hope that is not the case.”
Wallace pressed, asking, “Are you saying that Mr. Whitaker, with his public statements, public writings and his comments on television, should be recused from overseeing the Mueller probe based on those statements?”
“I would think that there is a very strong case that given his public acknowledgment of his prejudiced view on this issue that he should recuse himself,” said Brennan.
Watch the clip above, courtesy of MSNBC.
[Featured image via screengrab]
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