Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has a message for Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell: Don’t come for me unless I send for you.

Whitaker torched Swalwell after the California lawmaker repeatedly tried to goad him into saying what he wanted him to say ― instead of telling the truth.

Swalwell Wanted Whitaker to Undermine Trump

“Congressman, I am not here to be a puppet and to repeat terms and words that you say that I should say,” Whitaker quipped at Friday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing.

Swalwell reacted with a look of stone-faced embarrassment in response to Whitaker’s suggestion that he was shamelessly trying to entrap him into making statements that would undermine President Trump.

Matt Whitaker made the remark at the end of this heated exchange, where Swalwell tried to entrap the acting AG into praising special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller — a former Obama FBI director — has led a fruitless “Russia collusion” witch hunt that has yielded no evidence of collusion after two years.

SWALWELL: “The president has called [Mueller] conflicted and you oversee the investigation. Do you believe that Mr. Mueller’s conflicted?” WHITAKER: “Congressman, as acting attorney general, I have followed regular order at the Department of Justice. And I have expected that the lawyers and agents that work for me follow regular order. As I sit here today, I don’t have any reason to believe that.” WHITAKER: “So you you believe he’s honest? You don’t believe he’s conflicted? Can you say right now, ‘Mr. President, Bob Mueller is honest and not conflicted?'” WHITAKER: “Congressman, I’m not a puppet to repeat what you’re saying.” SWALWELL: “Are you able to say it or do you not believe it?” WHITAKER: “I have answered your question as to what I believe about the special counsel. I stand by my prior statement.” SWALWELL: “Can you say it to the president, though?” WHITAKER: “Congressman, I am not here to be a puppet and repeat terms and words that you say that I should say.”

Whitaker: 1, Swalwell: 0

Twitter reacted by giving Matt Whitaker huge props for style and for putting Eric Swalwell in his place. When you come for the best, you’re going down like the rest.

VIDEO: Acting Attorney General Whitaker to Rep. Eric Swalwell: "Congressman, I am not here to be a #puppet to repeat terms and words that you say I should say."#BasedWhitaker #ThugLife pic.twitter.com/ffHY51GL09 — Something Wicked ? (@TexasBarrister) February 8, 2019

Whitaker Won the Internet With Clever Retorts

The House Judiciary Committee hearing was an epic waste of time that was little more than political theater. It was all an attempt to attack Matt Whitaker, who will vacate the office next week once President Trump’s AG nominee, William Barr, is confirmed.

As BizPac Review reported, Whitaker made headlines on Friday morning, when he nearly broke the Internet by reminding committee chair Jerrold Nadler that his “5 minutes are up.”

Whitaker draws audible gasps during contentious hearing when he tells chairman, ‘your 5 minutes is up’ https://t.co/GmJX0JTBrv pic.twitter.com/edZLuEFpSO — Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) February 8, 2019

Matt Whitaker was a college football star who does CrossFit during his spare time. That’s probably why being cross-examined by a motley crew of vagina hat-wearing leftists does not faze him.

Chris Wallace flippantly compares Matt Whitaker hearing to Benghazi investigation