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“Everyone is fine, except perhaps the car,” Nadler says as he belatedly kicks off the AG Barr hearing.
He was in an accident this morning, which delayed proceedings.
He was in an accident this morning, which delayed proceedings.
Nadler just baaaarely finished saying he recognized Jim Jordan before he jumped in with “SPYING!”
(In case you were wondering how Republicans were going to approach the Barr oversight hearing. Nadler focused on many things, including presence in US cities)
(In case you were wondering how Republicans were going to approach the Barr oversight hearing. Nadler focused on many things, including presence in US cities)
“The topic comes up in Cabinet meetings and other thing,” Barr says in response to a question about whether he’s discussed the election with Trump
Regarding where the feds would get sent next:
“I would like to pick the cities based on law enforcement need and neutral criteria,” Barr says.
“I would like to pick the cities based on law enforcement need and neutral criteria,” Barr says.
Barr tells Nadler that Operation Legend is about violent crime, “that does not involve encountering protesters as you refer to it. Civil disturbance is a different set of issues. And I just reject the idea that the department has flooded anywhere” to suppress demonstrators.
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I will note that there’s been a lot of confusion about the forces that *Homeland Security* has been deploying to cities and *Justice Department* forces. Most of the highly criticized actions are DHS, but DOJ’s efforts were the ones publicized at the White House.
“I agree the president’s friends don’t deserve breaks, but they also don’t deserve to be treated more harshly than others,” Barr says.
Lofgren’s turn: “It’s one thing to fight crime through joint task forces, that involves the cooperation of local officials,” she says, but locals in Portland want feds out.
“The reaction actually has been in reverse proportion, people are showing up because the troops are there.”
“The reaction actually has been in reverse proportion, people are showing up because the troops are there.”
Lofgren's phone kept dinging as she appeared virtually.
A GOP rep. afterward asked Nadler to tell "members who choose to not come to work" to silence phones.
It would take a 5 hr plane ride for Lofgren, 72, to be in DC. She has been voting, via proxy, and chairing hearings.
A GOP rep. afterward asked Nadler to tell "members who choose to not come to work" to silence phones.
It would take a 5 hr plane ride for Lofgren, 72, to be in DC. She has been voting, via proxy, and chairing hearings.
AG Barr tells Rep. Jackson Lee, as she lists the names of black Americans killed by police, that systemic racism does not exist in US police departments, in his view.
After Democrats decry the lack of action on coronavirus and police tactics against protests, Rep. Gohmert suggests it would solve their concerns if the DOJ shut down protests entirely because of covid.
Barr says he has not considered that as a possibility.
Barr says he has not considered that as a possibility.
Rep. Buck criticizes “antifa’s fascist, totalitarian” actions…
(Antifa, which is a term for a general movement, is shorthand for "anti-fascist")
(Antifa, which is a term for a general movement, is shorthand for "anti-fascist")
Barr says Antifa is a term for a movement of "loosely organized groups around the country.”
“Loosely...but they are definitely organized,” he adds. “Since they have an anarchic temperament, they don’t get along well with each other…They tend to get organized for an event”
“Loosely...but they are definitely organized,” he adds. “Since they have an anarchic temperament, they don’t get along well with each other…They tend to get organized for an event”
Richmond notes Barr, Sessions and Whitaker brought no black staff w/ them for hearings.
“That sir is systematic racism,” he says. “Actions speak louder than words, and you really should keep the name of the Honorable John Lewis out of the Justice Department’s mouth.”
“That sir is systematic racism,” he says. “Actions speak louder than words, and you really should keep the name of the Honorable John Lewis out of the Justice Department’s mouth.”
“Donald Trump is probably tested more than any other human on earth,” Barr says (in response to a question about Trump eschewing coronavirus precautions.)
Swalwell: Are you investigating Trump’s commutation of Stone’s sentence?
Barr: "No"
Swalwell: "Why not?"
Barr: “Why should I?"
Barr: "No"
Swalwell: "Why not?"
Barr: “Why should I?"
Swalwell: Are you familiar with this Trump tweet?
Barr: No
Swalwell: Do you read the president’s tweets?
Barr: "No"
Barr: No
Swalwell: Do you read the president’s tweets?
Barr: "No"
"We require a reliable predicate before we open a criminal investigation … I consider it a very rube Goldberg theory that you have,” Barr says to Swalwell. “If I applied this standard there would be a lot more people under investigation.”
McClintock: “Calling what’s happening in our cities mostly peaceful protests is a lot like calling Scott Peterson a mostly faithful husband or calling Al Capone a mostly successful businessman.”
Rep. Lesko, who represents the suburbs of Phoenix, starts off with Barr by saying “my constituents are scared” seeing rioters and statutes being toppled on TV.
Lesko quotes her Dem colleague Rep. Jayapal at length to disparage her comments in the media, repeatedly mispronouncing her name. (Jay-a-paul, instead of Jai)
Across the room, Jayapal chimes in: “It’s Jayapal. If you’re going to say my name, please say it right.”
Lesko corrects.
Across the room, Jayapal chimes in: “It’s Jayapal. If you’re going to say my name, please say it right.”
Lesko corrects.
Lol, Jordan: “I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where a witness was not able to respond.”
“If he said that, that’s nonsense,” Barr says in response to a question about a comment by Rudy Giuliani from Rep. Demings.
Scanlon: You keep saying foreign actors could fraudulently sway our election with mail-in ballots, but you don’t have any evidence for it, do you?
Attorney General Barr: “No, but I have common sense."
Attorney General Barr: “No, but I have common sense."
The more junior members of House Judiciary really are better at creating a replay-able moment in hearings, but seniority rules dictate they take their turns at the end.
“You said under penalty of perjury, I’m going to answer the damn question,” Barr says, losing his cool a bit more as the hearing goes over four hours.
Neguse: Was DOJ statement saying Berman was stepping down accurate at the time?
“He may not have known it, but he was stepping down,” Barr says. “He was being removed."
“He may not have known it, but he was stepping down,” Barr says. “He was being removed."
Barr continues in response to questions about foreign disinformation coming to DOJ with a “maybe if they had vetted the dossier”…
Nadler is also losing patience: “The gentleman’s rudeness is not recognized,” he says to Jordan once again loudly protesting about Barr not getting enough time to answer questions.
“You’re a real class act,” Barr says to Nadler when he denied a 5-minute break, pointing out the committee was almost done. Barr also noted he waited over an hour because Nadler was in a car accident on the way in and he hasn’t had lunch.
Nadler grants the break.
Nadler grants the break.
“When people resist law enforcement, they’re not peaceful,” Barr says, in saying pepper balls are an important tactic against “rioters."
Barr further adds that such tactics (like pepper balls/tear gas) are deployed against “rioters or in situations where protesters are not following police directions."
“I don’t pay attention to the (President’s) tweets unless they’re brought to my attention,” Barr says.
