Al Sharpton's guests on Sunday's episode of PoliticsNation sparred over what President Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker as the acting attorney general means for Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Whitaker is known to have questioned the legitimacy of the probe, so Democrats demand he recuse himself. Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) push back and say there's no need for that. We know Trump would blow a fuse if Whitaker ever did bow to pressure, considering how he completely turned on his "weak" and "beleaguered" former AG Jeff Sessions for doing the same.
Conservative pundit Stacy Washington was the only guest in the PoliticsNation segment (starting at 30:29) to suggest Trump did not have nefarious intentions in appointing Whitaker to oversee the Russia probe.
"The idea that somehow any person who is put over the investigation and oversight capability. unless they’re a dyed in the wool Democrat who have publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton, that they can’t provide oversight, is ridiculous," she said. "We should be able to see Whitaker fulfill his role AG with no problems."
“Not one” Trump official has said they’re going to end or impede this investigation, Washington added.
Michelle Goldberg talks Trump, Whitaker, Sessions, and the Russia probe. #PoliticsNation pic.twitter.com/G0kgV2hdWV
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) November 11, 2018
New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg, who gave Washington a look the whole time she was talking, said there was no room for doubt as to whether Whitaker intends to obstruct the investigation.
"The idea that this appointment wasn’t made to impede this investigation is so preposterous that it’s almost insulting that we’re even sitting here debating it," Goldberg asserted. "There’s no other reason you would put this unqualified person who’s part of a scam company that cheated veterans out of their life savings and is currently under investigation. You choose him to be on an interim basis the most important law enforcement officer in the country?"
Radio host Bill Press sided with Goldberg, adding that there are constitutional issues at play as well. Scholars agree that Whitaker has no right to the position because he wasn’t Senate approved.
"He shouldn’t recuse himself he should just be thrown out of the job," according to Press.