Whitaker Must Recuse Himself from Mueller Probe

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 7, 2018 – Following today’s announcement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s resignation and the elevation of Matt Whitaker to the role of Acting Attorney General, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement:

“As Attorney General, Jeff Sessions pursued a loathsome agenda of shredding civil rights and advancing the Trump Administration’s hostile and discriminatory policies. Despite his efforts to portray himself as a champion of civil rights during his confirmation hearings, his short tenure showed us exactly who he is. His departure is not unwelcome; at the same time, we are deeply concerned about the possible actions of the now-Acting Attorney General, Matt Whitaker, with regard to the investigation led by Robert Mueller. Whitaker is on record as a critic of the investigation, and his past statements show he is predisposed to seriously jeopardize it, which would plunge us into a constitutional crisis. Because he has already shown such hostility to the investigation, Whitaker must recuse himself from any oversight of it.”