According to The Wall Street Journal, the House Judiciary Committee believes it has proof President Trump did ask Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker if Manhattan U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman, who had recused himself from matters related to the Michael Cohen investigation, could take control over the Southern District of New York investigation into his former personal lawyer.
Mr. Berman, a former law partner of Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani who in 2016 donated to the Trump campaign and whom the president personally interviewed for the U.S. attorney job, last year had recused himself from involvement in the matter. He didn’t give a reason, but legal experts said his interim status at the time the probe began would have made his involvement appear improper.
During his public testimony earlier this month, Whitaker chose his words very carefully when questioned about whether the president ever asked him to do anything about the special counsel probe or any other investigation.
Mr. Whitaker told the panel: “At no time has the White House asked for nor have I provided any promises or commitments concerning the special counsel’s investigation or any other investigation.”
Any evidence that Mr. Trump sought to intervene in the federal prosecutors’ probe could propel further lines of inquiry by lawmakers into whether he has tried to obstruct the investigation into his business dealings.
Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) has asked Whitaker to clarify many of the answers he provided during his contentious testimony on February 8th and says he will pursue a formal deposition should Whitaker refuse.
Full story: House Investigators Probe Trump Contact With Matthew Whitaker (WSJ) *Note: WSJ articles appear behind a paywall