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U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber won’t testify before House panel on Clinton probe

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune U.S. Attorney John W. Huber talks about the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods in Utah during a U. S. Attorney General Law Enforcement Commemoration, October 3, 2018, at the Capitol. Wednesday marks the one year anniversary since the Trump administration returned to the policy pushed by the George W. Bush administration. Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, federal prosecutors focus on security stiff sentences for those convicted of gun crimes and reducing violent crimes.

Washington • U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber won't testify Thursday before the House Oversight subcommittee as its chairman had announced previously.

Huber had been assigned by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate several controversies Republicans have raised about Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, many of them stoked by right-wing activists who believe she should be prosecuted.

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the Oversight’s subcommittee on government operations, had hoped Huber would provide an update on his probe.

“Mr. Huber with the Department of Justice and FBI has been having an investigation — at least part of his task was to look at the Clinton Foundation and what may or may not have happened as it relates to improper activity with that charitable foundation, so we’ve set a hearing date for December the 5th,” he told Hill.TV previously.

That hearing was postponed until Thursday because of President George H.W. Bush's funeral service.

Meadows had wanted to quiz Huber on whether any of the Clinton Foundation’s tax-exempt money was used for personal gain, as well as a litany of other conservative allegations against Clinton, such as the State Department’s approval of a uranium deal with Russia.

The Oversight Committee, as with all other House panels, transfers to Democratic control next month because of the results of the midterm elections.

Huber's spokeswoman, Melodie Rydalch, confirmed that Huber wouldn't testify.

“Consistent with conversations between the department and the committee, Mr. Huber will not appear at the hearing,” she said.

The hearing will instead feature Tom Fitton, the head of the right-leaning Judicial Watch, a law professor and two tax professionals.

The purpose of the hearing, as the subcommittee announced, is to "discuss the management of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and how the designation impacts the programs and activities a nonprofit is allowed to conduct.” But the heading of the hearing is titled, “Oversight of nonprofit organizations: a case study on the Clinton Foundation.”