Feinstein requests Senate hearings with Whitaker, Sessions
By Jordain Carney - 11/13/18 12:17 PM EST
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is requesting that acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker and ousted attorney general Jeff Sessions testify before the Judiciary Committee in the wake of the Justice Department shakeup.
Feinstein sent a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday asking that both men appear before the panel.
Feinstein, in the letters, argued the hearings are necessary to understand why Sessions was ousted last week as attorney general.
“The circumstances surrounding Attorney General Sessions’ departure raise serious questions, including whether the appointment is lawful and the possible impact on Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation,†Feinstein said in the letter about holding a hearing with Whitaker.
Democrats have separately argued that Whitaker’s appointment violates the department’s line of succession and likely violates the Constitution. Instead, they argue, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was next in line to be acting attorney general and should maintain oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/416431-feinstein-requests-senate-hearings-with-whitaker-sessions
