White House aide scrambles to deflect as he's put on spot over Trump: 'Different question'

A Trump administration official refused to answer a reporter's question about President Donald Trump's pardons for fraudsters on Thursday.

Colin McDonald, the assistant attorney general for fraud enforcement, spoke at a joint news conference for the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services at which he announced the administration's investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social service programs.

Minnesota Reformer reporter Max Nesterak asked McDonald, who was standing next to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to comment on Trump's moves to pardon fraudsters in the past — and if the same rules will apply to anybody arrested in the latest probe.

"President Trump has granted clemency to numerous individuals who have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funds," Nesterak said. "Can we expect any of these folks to be shown the same mercy in the future?"

McDonald appeared caught off-guard — and dodged Nesterak's inquiry.

"I'll take a different question as the final question," McDonald said.