US Senator Calls For Judiciary Committee Hearing On Whitaker's Appointment - Letter

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) The US Senate Judiciary Committee must convene a hearing on President Donald Trump's decision to appoint Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general and determine whether the move was illegal or hurt Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a letter on Tuesday.

"This letter requests a hearing as quickly as possible with Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker," Feinstein said in her letter to Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. "The circumstances surrounding Attorney General [Jeff] Sessions' departure raise serious questions, including whether the appointment is lawful and the possible impact on Special Counsel Mueller's investigation."

The statutory line of succession requires that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein be appointed as Acting Attorney General following Sessions' resignation, Feinstein said.

Feinstein expressed her concern over Whitaker's criticism of the Mueller investigation and his call for reducing the Special Counsel's budget significantly so that the probe comes almost to a stop.

Last week, Sessions resigned at US President Donald Trump's request. Trump in a Twitter post said Whitaker would fill the role of acting attorney general until a permanent replacement is found. Several lawmakers said such an appointment requires congressional approval.

Mueller is investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, as well as possible coordination between Moscow and the Trump campaign.

Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, insisting that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Trump and the White House have also repeatedly denied allegations of collusion.