New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman noted the sighting on Twitter. People who responded jabbed — nervously — at the too-close-for-comfort situation of the man who could conceivably fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller heading straight to one of the lairs of the man Mueller is investigating. One commented that Whitaker was “reporting back to daddy.” Another compared it to “Lex Luthor returning to the Legion of Doom.”
The hotel, incidentally, is the focus of a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, which argues that it’s a conduit for violating the Constitution’s emoluments clause. The clause bars federal officials from accepting benefits from foreign governments or officials to guard against foreign influence in the U.S. government — like the kind of influence Mueller is investigating.
Spotted at the Trump Hotel earlier tonight – Matt Whitaker, post-testimony.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 9, 2019
Wake me when Whitaker is seen in The Lincoln Bedroom.
— Suzanne Dundee (@SuzanneDundee) February 9, 2019
I think Whitaker had enough taxpayer-funded beverages at his hearing today.
— Amanda Crumley (@AmandaCrumleyLA) February 9, 2019
Lex Luthor goes to the Legion of Doom to celebrate.
— brad vachal (@bradvachal) February 9, 2019
The servant paying homage by praying at his false god’s temple.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) February 9, 2019
Getting a treat for being a good faithful boy
— Usha Srinivasan (@USrinivasan) February 9, 2019
He cannot confirm or deny that there was any talking as that is an ongoing investigation that is almost complete. 😉
— HonestyMatterz (@HonestyMatterz) February 9, 2019
Not too worried about optics, is he?
— Tee Bryan Peneguy ❄ 🌏🕊 (@TeeBryanToo) February 9, 2019