Tag: Acting Attorney General Whitaker

Five takeaways from acting AG’s fiery House hearing

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was grilled by House Judiciary Committee lawmakers for close to six hours Friday in an explosive hearing dominated by partisan clashes.

During the hearing, Whitaker fielded a slew of questions on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which he repeatedly declined to answer directly, infuriating House Democrats in their first crack at a top Trump administration official since recapturing the chamber in last year’s midterm elections.

The conclusion of the tense and highly dramatic hearing left Democrats unsatisfied and pledging that they will request a return appearance from Whitaker — even as his days as the top law enforcement official are numbered with the impending confirmation of William Barr.

View the complete February 8 article by Jacqueline Thomsen, Olivia beavers and Morgan Chalfant on The Hill website here.

As U.S. attorney, Whitaker sought longer-than-usual drug sentences

Raeanna Woody, shown at her home in Cheyenne, Wyo., was granted clemency under President Barack Obama. Credit: Nick Cote, The Washington Post

Raeanna Woody’s crimes hardly seemed like they would add up to a life sentence in prison. She had two nonviolent drug convictions, for possessing marijuana and delivering 12 grams of methamphetamine. But when she was arrested in a third drug case, she said, the office of U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker decided to make an example of her.

Under Whitaker, who is now acting attorney general, Woody was given a choice: spend the rest of her life in jail, or accept a plea bargain sentence of 21 to 27 years, according to court records. She took the deal.

Judge Robert W. Pratt in the Southern District of Iowa later accused federal prosecutors of having “misused” their authority in Woody’s nonviolent case. He urged President Barack Obama to commute her sentence — and Obama did shorten her term, after she had served 11 years.

View the complete November 21 article by Michael Kranish on The Washington Post website here.