The Washington Post editorial board published an article explaining why the new acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, should not occupy his position.
A day after the midterm elections, President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The Post said that Whitaker is "unfit" for the role.
"Legal experts have sparred over whether Mr. Trump can unilaterally elevate someone from a role that does not require Senate confirmation to one that does. But regardless of whether the promotion is legal, it is very clear that it is unwise. Mr. Whitaker is unfit for the job," the article states.
Elevating Whitaker to the acting attorney general is also breaking the law since he was not vetted by the Senate— a move in which The Post called out the GOP for since they are standing idly by to Trump's authoritarian leadership style.
"The Senate above all should be offended by the president’s end run around its authority. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should demand hearings and consider filing a lawsuit," The Post wrote. "Instead, he is helping to establish a troubling precedent, saying only that he expects Mr. Whitaker to be a “very interim AG.” Yet no random official should be endowed with all the powers of an office as powerful as attorney general, meant for a Senate-vetted individual, even for a relatively short time."
Trump's motive for appointing Whitaker has also been questioned. Whitaker said that he would not recuse himself from the Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, and even made his Twitter account private once reporters brought to light his controversial tweets and statements.
"If the Senate were consulted, it is impossible to imagine Mr. Whitaker getting close to the attorney general’s office. He should not be there now," the article concluded.
Read the full piece here.
