Mueller's new boss and tough as nails
Matthew G. Whitaker (born October 29, 1969) is an American lawyer and the acting United States Attorney General. He was appointed as such by President Donald Trump on November 7, 2018, after Jeff Sessions was asked to resign. Whitaker had served as Chief of Staff under Sessions.[1]
In September 2018, The New York Times described Whitaker as a Trump loyalist who had frequently visited the Oval Office and has "an easy chemistry" with Trump. With his appointment, Whitaker directly supervises Robert Mueller's Special Counsel investigation, which had previously been supervised by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein. Democrats demanded Whitaker recuse himself from supervising the investigation, citing potential conflicts of interest. Shortly before joining the Justice Department in 2017, Whitaker wrote an opinion piece arguing that the Mueller investigation was "going too far." He also referred to the Mueller investigation as a "lynch mob."[2][3][4][5]
Whitaker previously served in the United States Department of Justice during the George W. Bush administration as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. Whitaker also ran as a Republican candidate in the June 4, 2014, primary election for United States Senate election in Iowa, which he lost.
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Whitaker graduated from Ankeny High School and graduated with a Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts (communications major) from the University of Iowa.[6] While at Iowa, Whitaker played tight end for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes football team, appearing in Iowa's Rose Bowl game in 1991.[7][8]
After graduating from law school, Whitaker worked for a number of regional law firms including Briggs & Morgan (Minneapolis) and Finley Alt Smith (Des Moines). He was also corporate counsel for a national grocery company, SUPERVALU and small businessman owning interests in a trailer manufacturing company, a daycare, and a concrete supply company.[9]
Whitaker ran as a Republican for Treasurer of Iowa in 2002. He lost to incumbent Democrat Michael Fitzgerald by 55% to 43%,[10]
On June 15, 2004, Whitaker was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa by President George W. Bush. From 2005 to 2007, he was responsible for the unsuccessful investigation and prosecution of Iowa State Sen. Matt McCoy on charges of attempting to extort $2000. The jury took less than 2 hours to return a not guilty verdict.[11] As is typical when new administrations begin, Whitaker resigned in November 2009 following the appointment and confirmation of Nicholas A. Klinefeldt, who was appointed by President Barack Obama.[7][12][13]
Whitaker was a managing partner of the small general practice law firm Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff LLP (now Hagenow Gustoff LLP) from 2009-2017.
Whitaker was the co-chairman of Texas Governor Rick Perry's 2012 presidential campaign.[14]
Whitaker was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2014 United States Senate election in Iowa. The seat was being vacated by Democrat Tom Harkin. He came fourth in the Republican primary, with 11,909 votes (7.54%). The nomination was won by Joni Ernst, who went on to win the general election.[15] Whitaker chaired the campaign of Sam Clovis for Iowa state treasurer in 2014.[16][17][18]
In 2014, Whitaker became an Advisory Board member for World Patent Marketing.[20] Whitaker was also personally involved in marketing activities. In 2015 he was featured in marketing videos, including "Invention Evaluation" promotions for inventions such as the "Hot Tub Swivel Seat".[21] and the "Safety Blade"[22] While in May 2018 World Patent Marketing was shut down by the Federal Trade Commission for fraud,[23][24] Whitaker and his prior U.S. Attorney credentials are still prominently featured on the World Patent Marketing Glassdoor presence.[25]
The Wall Street Journal reported the day of Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general that he was a paid advisory-board member for World Patent Marketing, which was shut down by federal regulators in 2017 as an alleged scam in which consumers lost about $26 million.[26]
Before Whitaker joined the Justice Department as Sessions’ chief of staff, Whitaker was the executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust.[27]FACT begun in 2014 which operated as a conservative nonprofit specialising in legal and ethical issues related to politics.[28][29] Whitaker tenure at FACT was from October 2014 to September 2017 during which the organisation has a special focus on Hillary Clinton regarding alleged misconduct relating to Hillary Clinton e-mail controversy and perceived favouritism in business dealings.[30]
On August 6, 2017, one month prior to joining the Justice Department, Whitaker wrote an opinion column for CNN titled "Mueller's Investigation of Trump is Going Too Far."[31] He stated that Mueller's investigation should be limited and should not probe into Trump's finances.[32] On September 22, 2017, a Justice Department official announced that Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Whitaker to be his Chief of Staff.[33] In early September 2018, Whitaker was revealed to be on the short list of President Trump's White House staff as the replacement for Don McGahn as the White House Counsel.[34][35][36] During conflicting reports about Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's firing, potential resignation and eventual retention on September 25, 2018, Whitaker is reported to have told officials that he would assume Rosenstein's post, while control of the Russia investigation would fall to the Solicitor General, Noel Francisco.[37] The New York Times reported on September 25, 2018, that White House chief of staff John Kelly advised Whitaker that he would be appointed acting deputy attorney general should Rosenstein exit, and described Whitaker as a Trump loyalist who, if appointed, "could have visibility into the special counsel’s work."[38] In addition to the deputy attorney general role, The Washington Postreported on October 10, 2018, that President Trump had also spoken with Whitaker about potentially assuming Jeff Sessions' role as Attorney General.[39] With the resignation of Jeff Sessions on November 7, 2018, Whitaker was appointed to serve as Acting Attorney General.[6][40]
The country's chief law enforcement officer and somebody stole his hair.
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