Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey.

The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

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Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

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Washington - 5 September 2017

3. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

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Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller."

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Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

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Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

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Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

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Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

9. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

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Washington - 23 January 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

11. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey. The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign. They shared an ambitious law-and-order agenda that focuses on hawkish immigration policies and tough-on-crime strategies that engendered affection from many conservatives.

He has continued to push Trump's agenda on everything from gangs and the opioid crisis to religious freedom, giving the president credit every step of the way.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Mueller has conveyed interest in speaking with the president, and White House attorney Ty Cobb said that is "under active discussion" with Trump's individual lawyers. He said last week on a CBS News' political podcast, "The Takeout," that he expected the investigation to be wrapped up within weeks.

Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation in early March after acknowledging that he had had two previously undisclosed encounters with the Russian ambassador during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. He said at the time that it would be improper for him to oversee a probe into a campaign for which he was a vocal and prominent supporter.

Since then, Trump has lashed out repeatedly on Twitter at Sessions and the Justice Department.

People familiar with the matter have told The Associated Press that McGahn had contacted Sessions to urge him to retain control of the investigation. McGahn was acting at the behest of the president, according to one of those people, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly by name.

Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, to take over the Russia investigation one week after Comey was fired. He oversees the work of Mueller's investigators, but he told the AP in an interview last June that he, too, would recuse himself if his actions ever became relevant to the probe.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

Four people have so far been charged in the Mueller investigation, including former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former campaign foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Sessions' interview with the Mueller team was first reported by The New York Times.

++SOUNDBITES PARTIALLY COVERED BY VIDEO++

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Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Various Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

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Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

3. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller. And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

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Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey.

The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

3. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

9. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

11. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Representative Jerrold Nadler did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Representative Doug Collins.

Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear.

But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February.

One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not.

In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case".

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" US attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings, and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence."

In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed on 14 February.

Washington, DC - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walking down hall, gives reporters thumbs up, walks away

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman of House Judiciary Committee:

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways, that we take away, from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president (Donald Trump) called him to discuss Michael Cohen (Trump's former personal lawyer), the Michael Cohen case and personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more US attorneys. And three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York US Attorney Berman's recusal, and whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, he did not deny the president's involvement?"

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means that he had conversations with the president about Michael Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (Asked about charges against Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors):

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (Asked if President Trump would pardon Manafort):

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. Nadler leaving

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus113691

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins. Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear. But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February. One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not. In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case."

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" U.S. attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence." In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed Feb. 14.

Washington, DC. - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walks down hall, gives reporters thumbs up

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss Michael Cohen, the Michael Cohen case. And personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more U.S. attorneys. Three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Berman's recusal. And. Whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from our, from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, did not deny the President's involvement? Cannot deny the President's involvement?")

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means he had conversations with the president about Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked about charges against Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors)

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked if President Trump would pardon Paul Manafort)

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins. Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear. But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February. One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not. In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case."

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" U.S. attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence." In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed Feb. 14.

Washington, DC. - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walks down hall, gives reporters thumbs up

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss Michael Cohen, the Michael Cohen case. And personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more U.S. attorneys. Three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Berman's recusal. And. Whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from our, from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, did not deny the President's involvement? Cannot deny the President's involvement?")

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means he had conversations with the president about Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked about charges against Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors)

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked if President Trump would pardon Paul Manafort)

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

The White House is casting the expected departure of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in coming weeks as Rosenstein's choice alone.

However, AP reporter Eric Tucker says although Rosenstein's departure is not unexpected, it could affect the Mueller probe.

"Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said Rosenstein had always planned to stay around two years. She told a network interviewer there was no "willingness" by Trump or the White House to force Rosenstein out.

She says he wants to help with the transition to a new attorney general.

Tucker says Rosenstein's exit raises questions about how Trump nominee William Barr will deal with Mueller once Barr is confirmed.

"There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department," Tucker says.

"Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that.

Barr is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week for his confirmation hearings. He could be installed at the Justice Department as early as February.

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller," Tucker said.

"We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

1. FILE: Rod Rosenstein walks to podium for speech on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"I would note that Rod Rosenstein's departure is not unusual or unexpected. It is common for attorneys general and cabinet secretaries to want their own deputy or number two official. So, it makes sense and is logical that if Bill Barr comes in as the new attorney general that Rod Rosenstein would then depart as an ordinary course of business. And to that end we don't have any indication that he is being forced out, or is being asked to leave by the White House, although we are hearing that Bill Barr did tell some friends that he did definitely want his own number two."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

3. FILE: Rod Rosenstein speaking on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"There is no doubt that Rod Rosenstein's departure has the impact of potentially affecting the final stages of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. After all, Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 28 November 2018

5. FILE: Mid of Rod Rosenstein speaking a press conference on international hacking scheme

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"But, there are still other people within the department who would be involved in the work of Mueller. And there is a likelihood that Mueller might be in his final stages so that there aren't that many more weeks and months left for a new attorney general to be supervising the investigation. But for now, once Barr is confirmed, he would assume ultimate oversight of the investigation the same way that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker currently has ultimate oversight."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

7. FILE: Rosenstein enters Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"It's not clear what the end of the Mueller investigation will look like, or when that might occur. He's been at work for more than a year and a half. There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department. Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

9. FILE: Various of Rosenstein at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller. We know that Mueller wants an in-person interview that the president and his lawyers have resisted. So then the question becomes can the special counsel and the Justice Department move to subpoena him, to basically compel his testimony. We don't know whether that will happen, and we don't know what Rosenstein's perspective on that is. We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

POOL

Washington, DC - 23 March 2018

11. FILE: Rosenstein speaking at Department of Justice announcing the charges of 9 Iranians in a hacking scheme

The White House is casting the expected departure of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in coming weeks as Rosenstein's choice alone.

However, AP reporter Eric Tucker says although Rosenstein's departure is not unexpected, it could affect the Mueller probe.

"Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said Rosenstein had always planned to stay around two years. She told a network interviewer there was no "willingness" by Trump or the White House to force Rosenstein out.

She says he wants to help with the transition to a new attorney general.

Tucker says Rosenstein's exit raises questions about how Trump nominee William Barr will deal with Mueller once Barr is confirmed.

"There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department," Tucker says.

"Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that.

Barr is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week for his confirmation hearings. He could be installed at the Justice Department as early as February.

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller," Tucker said.

"We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

1. FILE: Rod Rosenstein walks to podium for speech on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"I would note that Rod Rosenstein's departure is not unusual or unexpected. It is common for attorneys general and cabinet secretaries to want their own deputy or number two official. So, it makes sense and is logical that if Bill Barr comes in as the new attorney general that Rod Rosenstein would then depart as an ordinary course of business. And to that end we don't have any indication that he is being forced out, or is being asked to leave by the White House, although we are hearing that Bill Barr did tell some friends that he did definitely want his own number two."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

3. FILE: Rod Rosenstein speaking on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"There is no doubt that Rod Rosenstein's departure has the impact of potentially affecting the final stages of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. After all, Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 28 November 2018

5. FILE: Mid of Rod Rosenstein speaking a press conference on international hacking scheme

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"But, there are still other people within the department who would be involved in the work of Mueller. And there is a likelihood that Mueller might be in his final stages so that there aren't that many more weeks and months left for a new attorney general to be supervising the investigation. But for now, once Barr is confirmed, he would assume ultimate oversight of the investigation the same way that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker currently has ultimate oversight."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

7. FILE: Rosenstein enters Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"It's not clear what the end of the Mueller investigation will look like, or when that might occur. He's been at work for more than a year and a half. There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department. Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

9. FILE: Various of Rosenstein at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller. We know that Mueller wants an in-person interview that the president and his lawyers have resisted. So then the question becomes can the special counsel and the Justice Department move to subpoena him, to basically compel his testimony. We don't know whether that will happen, and we don't know what Rosenstein's perspective on that is. We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

POOL

Washington, DC - 23 March 2018

11. FILE: Rosenstein speaking at Department of Justice announcing the charges of 9 Iranians in a hacking scheme