Composite image of former acting Attorney General and Fox News personality Laura Ingraham (screengrabs)
The former acting Attorney General of the United States argued that presidential abuse of power is not a crime during a Tuesday evening appearance on Fox News.
“Abuse of power is not a crime,” Matt Whitaker told Fox News personality Laura Ingraham.
Tufts University Professor Daniel Drezner was fascinated by the admission.
"Interesting that Whitaker pretty much acknowledges abuse of power but doesn’t think it’s egregious," Drezner noted.
Here is some of what others were saying about Whitaker's argument:
Hate to break it to Whitaker, but when the Founders discussed impeachment, they specifically discussed it as a reme… https://t.co/gr0GhNoonm— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire) 1571799803.0
Even if Matthew Whitaker lives to be 100 years old, “Abuse of power is not a crime” will be mentioned in his obitua… https://t.co/zZJfz9MPIe— Robbie Sherwood (@Robbie Sherwood) 1571799688.0
Correctamundo, Mr. Matthew “Failed My Tryout for AG” Whitaker, abuse of power is not (necessarily) a crime. But it… https://t.co/EVX9x4V2bf— John Nichols (@John Nichols) 1571800199.0
Couple things here. (1) By design, the Founders intended that impeachable offenses not be coextensive with crimin… https://t.co/0Ulq3532n6— Gabriel Malor (@Gabriel Malor) 1571799537.0
“Abuse of power is not a crime,” says GOP mouthpiece Matthew Whitaker. Well, it is impeachable. Let’s do that for s… https://t.co/EaCwkJEiEr— Mark Jacob (@Mark Jacob) 1571798766.0
@Acyn It's unconstitutional. I'm still wondering why Whitaker isn't in jail.— D Villella ❄️ (@D Villella ❄️) 1571798504.0
@Acyn When I saw your tweet I assumed that you were paraphrasing him but OMG HE ACTUALLY SAID THAT WORD FOR WORD I LITERALLY CAN'T EVEN...— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) 1571799016.0
@Acyn @chrislhayes But it is an impeachable offense.— Ray D'Antuono (@Ray D'Antuono) 1571798177.0
@Acyn @chrislhayes Narrator: It is actually the very definition of a crime.— Elizabeth (@Elizabeth) 1571798695.0
@Acyn He should be disbarred- straight up.— Basqueing for Biden-Harris (@Basqueing for Biden-Harris) 1571798771.0
@Acyn Giuliani’s replacement 😅😂— ≡l≡v≡nth (@≡l≡v≡nth) 1571798674.0
@Acyn Oh please let POTUS hire him to run the impeachment defense. I won't ask for any Christmas gifts.— Louis R. Bridgeman (@Louis R. Bridgeman) 1571798882.0
@Acyn Not this guy again. He was terrible in season two.— Beel (@Beel) 1571797651.0
@Acyn @chrislhayes Barr replaced him, so imagine how bad Barr really is.— ReggieSpeaks (@ReggieSpeaks) 1571798258.0
#BREAKING ‘Abuse of power is not a crime’: Former acting AG Matt Whitaker makes a brazen claim on Fox News… https://t.co/oI8SBNNLEc— Raw Story (@Raw Story) 1571800528.0
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