The FBI is investigating a Florida company where Matt Whitaker, President Trump’s pick for acting attorney general, once served as a paid advisory board member. Last year the Federal Trade Commission shut down the company—World Patent Marketing Inc.—after a number of inventors, including military veterans, said the company cheated them out of their life savings. Whitaker was paid at least $9,300 to serve on the board of World Patent Marketing and appeared in promotional videos on behalf of the company. As acting attorney general, Whitaker will oversee the FBI, which is now investigating Whitaker’s former company.
The growing scandal came as Democrats questioned whether Trump’s appointment of Whitaker is constitutional. They also warned against any interference by Whitaker in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Whitaker became Jeff Sessions’s chief of staff last year after he repeatedly spoke out against Mueller’s probe, saying it could be starved of funding.
On Friday, Trump was asked if he’d spoken to Matt Whitaker about the Mueller probe before appointing him acting attorney general.
President Donald Trump: “I didn’t speak to Matt Whitaker about it. I don’t know Matt Whitaker.”
President Trump’s comment Friday directly contradicted a previous statement he made one month ago. This is Trump speaking on “Fox & Friends” on October 11.
President Donald Trump: “I can tell you, Matt Whitaker’s a great guy. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker.”