well as white house chief of staff john kelly. schumer writes mr. whitaker was seen by department officials as partisan, a white house spy, he was known as west wing s eyes and ears and someone who was counseling the white house on how the president and his aides might successfully pressure then attorney sessions and his deputy rod rosenstein to give in to chump s demands, in addition to the lawsuit filed by three senate democrats in federal court, incoming chairman, jerry nadler indicated he will call whitaker to testify as one of his first actions as chairman. very first witness on january 3rd, we will subpoena mr. or summon if necessary, summon mr. whitaker. short time ago, the president backed whitaker and indicated for the first time publicly that the appointment might not be temp rear temporary, charles.