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| Barr testimony: Kamala Harris joins calls for attorney general's resignation – live | Barr testimony: Kamala Harris joins calls for attorney general's resignation – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Joe Biden did not answer when asked by reporters whether Bill Barr should resign, according to a producer covering his rally today, instead responding with, “Hey! How you doin?” | |
| For the third rally in a row, @JoeBiden does not speak with press. He acknowledged a shouted question "Should Bill Barr resign?" with "Hey! How you doin'?" pic.twitter.com/Gsj5QpiX1U | |
| Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham says he will not call Robert Mueller to testify before the committee. “I’m not going to do any more. Enough already. It’s over,” he said, according to ABC News. | |
| Sen. Lindsey Graham says he won't call for Robert Mueller to testify before Congress: "I'm not going to do any more. Enough already. It's over." https://t.co/rd17bJTJ8u pic.twitter.com/71gLTFBCp6 | |
| Graham added: “I’m going to write Mr. Mueller a letter and ask him if he has any dispute with what Mr. Barr said...give him a chance to correct the record if he thought Attorney General Barr in any way misrepresented the findings of his report and that would be it.” | |
| William Barr called Robert Mueller’s letter objecting to his characterization of the Mueller report “snitty,” and refused to hand over to Congress notes on their subsequent phone conversation. | |
| In response to questions from Senator Richard Blumenthal, Barr said he called Mueller after receiving his critical letter and they spoke for about 10 to 15 minutes. | |
| “I said, ‘Bob, what’s with the letter? Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call me if there’s an issue?’” Barr said. | |
| Mueller was on speaker phone and there were multiple observers in the room including Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, according to Barr. | |
| “He said they were concerned about the way the media was playing this and felt it was important to get out the summaries,” he said. “I asked him if he felt that my letter was misleading or inaccurate, and he said no.” | |
| Blumenthal pointed out that nothing in Mueller’s letter complained about press coverage, but rather said that Barr’s letter did not fully capture the report’s findings and created public confusion. | |
| “His letter was an extraordinary act. A career prosecutor rebuking the Attorney General of the United States, memorializing it in writing,” Blumenthal said. | |
| Barr confirmed that notes were taken on the conversation, and Blumenthal asked if the committee could have them. Barr said no. “Why should you have them?” he said. | |
| He gave his assessment of Mueller’s letter: “The letter’s a bit snitty, and I think it was probably written by one of his staff people.” | |
| With that, the hearing has wrapped up. | |
| William Barr says he does not know whether Robert Mueller reviewed Donald Trump’s tax returns and financial statements. | William Barr says he does not know whether Robert Mueller reviewed Donald Trump’s tax returns and financial statements. |
| William Barr argues that the president has the authority to terminate a “groundless” investigation and it would not be improper to do so. | William Barr argues that the president has the authority to terminate a “groundless” investigation and it would not be improper to do so. |
| “The president does not have to sit there constitutionally and allow it to run its course. The president could terminate that proceeding and it would not be a corrupt intent, because he was being falsely accused,” Barr said. | “The president does not have to sit there constitutionally and allow it to run its course. The president could terminate that proceeding and it would not be a corrupt intent, because he was being falsely accused,” Barr said. |
| “We now know that he was being falsely accused,” Barr added. | “We now know that he was being falsely accused,” Barr added. |
| Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for William Barr to resign. | Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for William Barr to resign. |
| Attorney General Barr needs to resign. Today, he's proven once again that he's more interested in protecting the president than working for the American people. We can't trust him to tell the truth, and these embarrassing displays of propaganda have to stop. | Attorney General Barr needs to resign. Today, he's proven once again that he's more interested in protecting the president than working for the American people. We can't trust him to tell the truth, and these embarrassing displays of propaganda have to stop. |
| “If you’re hiding something,” Senator Ted Cruz tells William Barr, “you’re doing a very lousy job of hiding it. Because the thing that they’re suggesting you hid, you released to Congress and the American people.” He drew a chuckle from the AG. | “If you’re hiding something,” Senator Ted Cruz tells William Barr, “you’re doing a very lousy job of hiding it. Because the thing that they’re suggesting you hid, you released to Congress and the American people.” He drew a chuckle from the AG. |
| Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg met with Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, the Hill reports. | Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg met with Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, the Hill reports. |
| The South Bend, Indiana mayor requested the meeting and they met at Clinton’s office in New York. Clinton has also met with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren. | The South Bend, Indiana mayor requested the meeting and they met at Clinton’s office in New York. Clinton has also met with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren. |
| Leaving the hearing after questioning William Barr, Senator Kamala Harris said that Barr should resign, NBC News reports. | Leaving the hearing after questioning William Barr, Senator Kamala Harris said that Barr should resign, NBC News reports. |
| Leaving the hearing room after questioning AG William Barr:Q: Should he resign?@SenKamalaHarris : “Yes.”*walks away* | Leaving the hearing room after questioning AG William Barr:Q: Should he resign?@SenKamalaHarris : “Yes.”*walks away* |
| After questioning William Barr @senkamalaharris: "This Attorney General lacks all credibility and has I think compromised the American public's ability to believe that he is a purveyor of justice."Q: "Should he resign?"Harris: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/hh8rBVHBjj | After questioning William Barr @senkamalaharris: "This Attorney General lacks all credibility and has I think compromised the American public's ability to believe that he is a purveyor of justice."Q: "Should he resign?"Harris: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/hh8rBVHBjj |
| William Barr said he did not personally review the underlying evidence in order to make his judgment that Donald Trump did not obstruct justice. | William Barr said he did not personally review the underlying evidence in order to make his judgment that Donald Trump did not obstruct justice. |
| “We accepted the statements in the report as the factual record. We did not go underneath it to see whether they were accurate. We accepted it as accurate,” he said. | “We accepted the statements in the report as the factual record. We did not go underneath it to see whether they were accurate. We accepted it as accurate,” he said. |
| He said no one in his office reviewed the underlying evidence either. | He said no one in his office reviewed the underlying evidence either. |
| Under questioning by Senator Kamala Harris, Barr also waivered on whether anyone at the White House had told or suggested that he open an investigation into anyone. | Under questioning by Senator Kamala Harris, Barr also waivered on whether anyone at the White House had told or suggested that he open an investigation into anyone. |
| “They have not asked me to open an investigation,” he said. “I wouldn’t say suggested.” Asked if anyone had hinted or inferred that he should open an investigation, he said, “I don’t know.” | “They have not asked me to open an investigation,” he said. “I wouldn’t say suggested.” Asked if anyone had hinted or inferred that he should open an investigation, he said, “I don’t know.” |
| Senator Harris: Has the president or the WH ever asked or suggested you open an investigation into anyone?*pause*Barr asks for the Q to be repeated. It's repeated.AG Barr: They haven't asked me to open an investigation...Suggested? I don't know. | Senator Harris: Has the president or the WH ever asked or suggested you open an investigation into anyone?*pause*Barr asks for the Q to be repeated. It's repeated.AG Barr: They haven't asked me to open an investigation...Suggested? I don't know. |
| Kamala Harris asks Barr if anyone in the White House suggested he open an investigation of anyoneBARR: "Could you repeat that question?"She does.BARR: "I'm trying to grapple with the word 'suggest.'" | Kamala Harris asks Barr if anyone in the White House suggested he open an investigation of anyoneBARR: "Could you repeat that question?"She does.BARR: "I'm trying to grapple with the word 'suggest.'" |
| The Washington Post’s fact checkers awarded four Pinocchios to Joe Biden’s claim that “all” of the GOP tax cut “went to folks at the top and corporations.” | The Washington Post’s fact checkers awarded four Pinocchios to Joe Biden’s claim that “all” of the GOP tax cut “went to folks at the top and corporations.” |
| About 80% of taxpayers got a tax cut, thought the top 1% got about 20% of the total cuts. | About 80% of taxpayers got a tax cut, thought the top 1% got about 20% of the total cuts. |
| Asked repeatedly by Sen. Mazie Hirono whether he thinks various actions by Donald Trump are “OK” - as opposed to just non-criminal - William Barr does not give a direct answer. | Asked repeatedly by Sen. Mazie Hirono whether he thinks various actions by Donald Trump are “OK” - as opposed to just non-criminal - William Barr does not give a direct answer. |
| “I’m willing to talk about what’s criminal,” he said, after she asked whether it was OK for the president to tell the White House counsel to lie. | “I’m willing to talk about what’s criminal,” he said, after she asked whether it was OK for the president to tell the White House counsel to lie. |
| Hirono’s questioning came after she delivered a lengthy attack on Barr in her opening. Chairman Lindsey Graham cut in and told her, “You slandered this man,” and cut off the line of questioning. | Hirono’s questioning came after she delivered a lengthy attack on Barr in her opening. Chairman Lindsey Graham cut in and told her, “You slandered this man,” and cut off the line of questioning. |
| Senator Hirono: Do you think it is OK for the president to ask his WH counsel to lie?AG Barr: I am willing to discuss what is criminal... "Which event are you talking about?"Hirono: "Give us some credit for knowing what the hell is going on around here." | Senator Hirono: Do you think it is OK for the president to ask his WH counsel to lie?AG Barr: I am willing to discuss what is criminal... "Which event are you talking about?"Hirono: "Give us some credit for knowing what the hell is going on around here." |
| “You slandered this mom from top to bottom,” Graham says to Hirono, turning the questioning to Blackburn | “You slandered this mom from top to bottom,” Graham says to Hirono, turning the questioning to Blackburn |
| And he repeatedly asked what event she was talking about, even though she was referring to something clearly described in the Mueller report. https://t.co/SpaarB8fD9 | And he repeatedly asked what event she was talking about, even though she was referring to something clearly described in the Mueller report. https://t.co/SpaarB8fD9 |
| Sen. Mazie Hirono tells Attorney General William Barr he has chosen to act as the president’s lawyer. | Sen. Mazie Hirono tells Attorney General William Barr he has chosen to act as the president’s lawyer. |
| “You used every advantage of your office to create the impression that the president was cleared of misconduct,” she said. | “You used every advantage of your office to create the impression that the president was cleared of misconduct,” she said. |
| “You lied to Congress,” she said of Barr’s testimony that he did not know what objections Mueller’s team had to his summary. “You knew. You lied. And now we know.” | “You lied to Congress,” she said of Barr’s testimony that he did not know what objections Mueller’s team had to his summary. “You knew. You lied. And now we know.” |
| Mazie Hirono opens her question saying Barr is like Rudy and Kellyanne who “sacrificed their reputations” for the “liar” in the Oval Office | Mazie Hirono opens her question saying Barr is like Rudy and Kellyanne who “sacrificed their reputations” for the “liar” in the Oval Office |
| She tells him he should resign. | She tells him he should resign. |
| Yet another Democrat is about to get into the presidential race: Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will announce his bid in two weeks, MTN News reports. | Yet another Democrat is about to get into the presidential race: Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will announce his bid in two weeks, MTN News reports. |
| AG William Barr declines to say whether Donald Trump lied to the American people when he denied telling the White House counsel to have Robert Mueller fired, and gave a false accounting of a meeting with a Russian national at Trump Tower. | AG William Barr declines to say whether Donald Trump lied to the American people when he denied telling the White House counsel to have Robert Mueller fired, and gave a false accounting of a meeting with a Russian national at Trump Tower. |
| “I’m not in the business of determining when lies are told to the American people. I’m in the business of determining whether a crime was committed,” he said. | “I’m not in the business of determining when lies are told to the American people. I’m in the business of determining whether a crime was committed,” he said. |
| BARR: "I'm not in the business of determining when lies are told to the American people. I'm in the business of determining when a crime has been committed." pic.twitter.com/ueJvsLNnsQ | BARR: "I'm not in the business of determining when lies are told to the American people. I'm in the business of determining when a crime has been committed." pic.twitter.com/ueJvsLNnsQ |
| William Barr says he can’t recall whether he provided information about ongoing federal investigations by US attorneys in New York and Virginia that stemmed from the Russia investigation. | William Barr says he can’t recall whether he provided information about ongoing federal investigations by US attorneys in New York and Virginia that stemmed from the Russia investigation. |
| “I just don’t recall providing any substantive information about a case,” he said. | “I just don’t recall providing any substantive information about a case,” he said. |
| He declined to recuse himself from those investigations. | He declined to recuse himself from those investigations. |
| “I don’t recall having any substantive discussions with the White House,” Barr saying to Blumenthal when asked if he’s spoken to the WH about the probes spun off from the Mueller investigation. He acknowledges he may have said a name of one of them. He says he WON’T recuse | “I don’t recall having any substantive discussions with the White House,” Barr saying to Blumenthal when asked if he’s spoken to the WH about the probes spun off from the Mueller investigation. He acknowledges he may have said a name of one of them. He says he WON’T recuse |
| NOTABLE: Barr dodges questions from @SenBlumenthal about whether he's been in communication with the White House about ongoing criminal investigations pertaining to Trump and his business pic.twitter.com/Si5jK3ZYHY | NOTABLE: Barr dodges questions from @SenBlumenthal about whether he's been in communication with the White House about ongoing criminal investigations pertaining to Trump and his business pic.twitter.com/Si5jK3ZYHY |
| Senator Richard Blumenthal told William Barr history will judge him harshly. | Senator Richard Blumenthal told William Barr history will judge him harshly. |
| "History will judge you harshly," @SenBlumenthal tells the AG, in opening remarks. | "History will judge you harshly," @SenBlumenthal tells the AG, in opening remarks. |
| Senator Blumenthal bringing the heat says history will judge AG Barr "harshly." | Senator Blumenthal bringing the heat says history will judge AG Barr "harshly." |
| Senator Chris Coons says Barr’s summary served to “obscure” Donald Trump’s inappropriate actions rather than giving the American people the full truth. | Senator Chris Coons says Barr’s summary served to “obscure” Donald Trump’s inappropriate actions rather than giving the American people the full truth. |
| Trump’s demands to the White House counsel to fire Mueller were “alarming and unacceptable,” he said, and “None of that was in your letter.” | Trump’s demands to the White House counsel to fire Mueller were “alarming and unacceptable,” he said, and “None of that was in your letter.” |
| “A critical three weeks passed” before the report was released and revealed a “whole range of inappropriate actions by the president and his core team,” Coons said. | “A critical three weeks passed” before the report was released and revealed a “whole range of inappropriate actions by the president and his core team,” Coons said. |
| Barr again offers this rationale on why the president’s behavior did not add up to a pattern of obstruction: “It would be difficult for the government to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt.” | Barr again offers this rationale on why the president’s behavior did not add up to a pattern of obstruction: “It would be difficult for the government to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt.” |
| The siren moment of this hearing may already have happened: Barr acknowledged he used his judgment to decide that it would have been difficult to establish “beyond a reasonable doubt” to a jury that the president obstructed justice, not that leaning on McGahn isn’t obstruction. | The siren moment of this hearing may already have happened: Barr acknowledged he used his judgment to decide that it would have been difficult to establish “beyond a reasonable doubt” to a jury that the president obstructed justice, not that leaning on McGahn isn’t obstruction. |