Trump defends choice of acting AG but also says he doesnt know him.

(The Hill) President Trump said Friday he has not spoken to acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker about the Russia investigation which Whitaker has criticized but now oversees. Trump defended Whitaker as a very well respected man in the law enforcement community but claimed he does not know him personally. I didnt speak to Matt Whitaker about it. I dont know Matt Whitaker Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a trip to Paris. Whitaker who formerly served as chief of staff to ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions reportedly met with Trump roughly a dozen times in the Oval Office. In an Oct. 11 interview with Fox News Trump said I can tell you Matt Whitakers a great guy. I mean I know Matt Whitaker. While Trump sought to place personal distance between himself and Whitaker he made it clear he stood by his decision to place a loyalist in charge of the Justice Department a move many see as an effort to seize control of special counsel Robert Muellers probe. When a reporter asked Trump whether he wants Whitaker to rein in Mueller the president responded by calling it a stupid question. The president also rejected the notion that Whitaker is ineligible to serve as attorney general a position held by some legal experts who say the Justice Department leader must be confirmed by the Senate. As an unconfirmed political appointee Mr. Whitaker has not been subject to the scrutiny that the Constitution requires to ensure that he has the character integrity and ability to fulfill the grave responsibilities of this job Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote Monday in a letter to Trump. Read More