WSJ: Acting AG Whitaker Falsely Claimed He Was Academic All-American at Iowa

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has falsely claimed academic All-American Honors on his job applications, resume and on government documents, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Whitaker, who replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions in November, played football at the University of Iowa from 1990-1992. In order to be considered for the All-American distinction, an athlete must maintain a 3.3-grade point average and be a starter or key reserve on the team. The College Sports Information Directors of America names the award winners, and Whitaker’s name doesn’t appear on the list of Academic All-Americans on the organization’s website.

“Being named an Academic All-District is PART of the CoSIDA Academic All-America program but does not make you an Academic All-America honoree. You must be placed on the national ballot and then voted onto the Academic All-America team to gain that honor,” Barb Kowal, a spokeswoman for COSIDA, told the WSJ.

Whitaker did receive an award in 1992 for GTE District VII Academic All-District selection and incorrectly relied on that distinction in his documents, said a Justice Department spokeswoman.

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