ATTORNEY GENERAL/JEFF SESSIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump defended acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker as a ‘highly respected man’ on Friday [11-9-18], while also claiming he didn’t know him despite reports Whitaker had regularly visited the Oval Office in recent months…The New York Times reported in September that Whitaker, then the chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, had “frequently visited the Oval Office” and that Trump had called him to offer ‘reassurance that he has faith in him.’ The Washington Post also cited a senior administration official who said Whitaker met with Trump in the Oval Office more than a dozen times, usually alongside Sessions. Trump has also previously said that he does actually know Whitaker…Trump’s comments appearing to distance himself from Whitaker came as the new DOJ head has quickly drawn criticism over past comments he made on special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, which he said went too far.”
–Rebecca Morin, “Trump says he doesn’t know acting AG, despite reports of Oval Office meetings,” Politico, November 9, 2018 2:55 pm