LIVE: Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker testifies to Congress about the Russia investigation and more

Associated Press/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.

• Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker testified before the House Judiciary Committee Friday about his oversight of the Justice Department.
• His testimony came after some back and forth with the committee's chairman, Rep. Jerry Nadler, about a potential subpoena threat.
• Nadler and other Democrats on the panel are primarily interested in learning more about the circumstances of Whitaker's appointment; his oversight of the Justice Department; and his refusal to recuse himself from the ongoing Russia investigation.

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday for a highly anticipated testimony about his oversight of the Justice Department.

Whitaker's testimony comes after some back and forth between him and Democrats on the panel, who earlier this week voted to give the committee's chairman, New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the authority to subpoena Whitaker's testimony if he failed to show up Friday or refused to answer lawmakers' questions.

Following the vote, Whitaker said in a statement Thursday that he would not testify unless Democrats dropped their subpoena threat. Whitaker ultimately agreed to appear before the committee after Nadler responded in a letter, saying there would "be no need" for a subpoena as long as Whitaker showed up Friday prepared to answer lawmakers' questions.

Friday's hearing comes as House Democrats flex their oversight and investigative powers after becoming the majority in the lower chamber following the November 2018 midterm elections.

Nadler and his fellow Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have signaled a particular interest in learning more about the circumstances of Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general; his oversight of the FBI's Russia investigation; and his refusal to recuse himself from the investigation in light of inflammatory comments he made about the inquiry and the special counsel Robert Mueller.

The hearing is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET. Follow along for live updates.