Just read letter in which Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker declined to recuse himself from overseeing Mueller investigation; 'rejected ethics official's advice...' Have to say, looks like Whitaker was entirely correct. For these reasons... 1/9 ow.ly/O12R30n59Xd
1) Whitaker did all required ethics reviews on possible Mueller conflict of interest. 2) The DOJ ethics official concluded there was 'no actual conflict' involving Whitaker and Mueller... 2/9
3) DOJ ethics official examining Whitaker also concluded 'there was not a personal or political relationship' with any person who is a subject of or would be directly affected by Mueller probe. 3/9
4) DOJ ethics official examining Whitaker also concluded 'there was not a personal or business relationship' with anybody else that would require recusal from Mueller probe. 4/9
5) Despite all that, DOJ ethics official said there were 'circumstances other than those specifically described' in regulations that meant Whitaker should recuse. Specifically: 'Public comments prior to his re-joining the Department...' 5/9
The DOJ ethics official conceded that Whitaker's public comments did not even require a formal ethics recommendation. And conceded it was a 'close call...' 6/9
Also: DOJ ethics official 'did not identify any examples' of a previous AG, acting or not, recusing himself for such reasons. Best previous example ethics official could cite did not result in recusal. 7/9
Given the weakness of DOJ ethics official's case, Whitaker decided he 'does not wish to create the first precedent requiring recusal in a 'close call' situation.' 8/9
Think of precedent for incoming cabinet officer: Expression of opinion on some aspect of department's work would require recusal from supervising that part of the department? A crazy standard. Whitaker made right decision. 9/9 End. cnn.com/2018/12/20/pol…
