U.S. Attorney General Barr fends off Democrats' attacks over protests

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U.S. Attorney General Barr fends off Democrats' attacks over protests

By Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe

 

Attorney General William Barr appears before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, in Washington, U.S., July 28, 2020. Matt McClain/Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday parried attacks in the Democratic-led House of Representatives, denying accusations he is doing President Donald Trump's bidding by intervening in high-profile cases and sending federal agents into U.S. cities.

 

He testified to the House Judiciary Committee for the first time since taking office in February 2019 as the Justice Department faces criticism for sending federal officers to forcibly disperse anti-racism protesters in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.

 

Committee Democrats repeatedly interrupted Barr, often running out the clock before he could answer their questions and drawing criticism from Barr's fellow Republicans, who responded by letting him address the Democrats' criticism during their own allotted time to ask questions - a tactic that made it easier for Barr to stay on message.

 

During an exchange about the deployment of federal agents to Portland where they have clashed nightly with anti-racism demonstrators who have also set fires and thrown objects, Barr responded, "We cannot just stand aside and watch the federal courthouse be destroyed."

 

Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler opened the hearing by telling Barr: "Your tenure is marked by a persistent war against the Department's professional core in an apparent effort to secure favors for the president."

 

Barr rejected Nadler's assertion the deployment of federal agents to U.S. cities was an effort to boost Trump's re-election campaign. Barr also denied taking actions to help Trump associates, saying they do not deserve special breaks but also should not be treated more harshly than other defendants.

 

The department's internal watchdog launched probes last week into federal involvement in the Portland and Washington, D.C., protests.

 

Widespread and mostly peaceful protests against racial bias and police brutality have taken place in the United States since May 25 when George Floyd, a Black man, died under the knee of a white officer.

 

Barr has highlighted the arson and violence at some protests, blaming them primarily on far-left "antifa" elements - an assertion that is heavily disputed - and urging federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges whenever possible.

 

'TRUMP RE-ELECTION STRATEGY'

Committee Republicans - including ranking member Jim Jordan - highlighted the degree to which Democrats did not allow Barr to speak.

 

"I don't think we've ever had a hearing where the witness wasn't allowed to respond to points made, questions asked, and attacks made," Jordan said.

Some Democratic political commentators said the Democrats' style of questioning had made it easier for Barr to avoid major missteps, instead highlighting scenes of violence at protests that have factored prominently in Trump's campaign ads.

 

"Barr is having a great day re-announcing the Trump re-election strategy," said Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic Party political consultant. He said Barr's testimony likely would help Trump in his bid to win over crucial suburban voters.

 

Preet Bharara, the ex-U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, on Twitter called the hearing "disappointing."

 

Under questioning by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat who is Black, Barr also dismissed accusations of widespread racial discrimination in policing.

 

"You indicated that the killing of George Floyd was shocking. I disagree," Jackson Lee said. "You seem to have a difficult time understanding systemic racism and institutional racism that has plagued so many."

 

Barr replied: "I don't agree that there's systemic racism in police departments."

 

During U.S. Attorney General Barr's testimony to the House Judiciary, U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler says "shame on you" for the use of force on protesters in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. back in June.

 

Barr also incited Democrats' fury by saying a report being drafted by federal prosecutor John Durham that is expected to highlight missteps by U.S. intelligence agencies during their 2016 probe into collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia could be made public before the 2020 presidential election.

 

HOUSE INQUIRY

The House Judiciary Committee launched an inquiry last month into whether the Justice Department had become overly politicized after Barr intervened in several high-profile criminal cases involving people close to Trump.

 

In February, he moved to scale back prosecutors' sentencing recommendation for Trump's longtime friend Roger Stone, prompting four career prosecutors to withdraw. Trump later commuted Stone's sentence.

 

In May, Barr sought to drop the criminal charge against former national security adviser Michael Flynn, setting the stage for an ongoing legal battle with the federal judge who was due to sentence Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

 

Barr insisted that Trump "has not attempted to interfere in these decisions."

 

In June, Barr ousted the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, Geoffrey Berman, while that office was investigating Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani.

 

Berman later told the committee: "The irregular and unexplained actions by the attorney general raised serious concerns for me."

 

The hearing, which lasted about five hours, devolved into bitter snipping over petty issues, such as when to take a break.

 

"Can we take a five-minute break, Mr. Chairman?" Barr asked. "No," said Nadler, whose morning arrival was delayed by a car collision.

 

"I waited an hour for you this morning. I haven't had lunch," Barr retorted. "You're a real class act."

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Jan Wolfe in Boston; Editing by Scott Malone, Howard Goller and Matthew Lewis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-29

 

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[JusticeGB]

I think McCarthy would have been proud of the Democrats questioning of Attorney General Barr. They gave him no chance to answer their questions and indeed asked and answered their own questions. It was a disgrace. 

[Tug]

I watched it to me it’s clear as a bell he’s trumps ag not the people’s ag at least twice caught lying he’s a slippery swamp pig he’s going to be hard to catch but caught he will be he’s imo a disgrace to the doj

[Chomper Higgot]

Barr need be in no doubt about what’s coming his way.

[rabas]

Barr prepared for weeks to to provide information to the House committee, then not one Democrat allowed Barr to answer any of their questions (!), often drowning him out, using committee rules to silence him, or just plain insulting him. Wow. What was the 'hearing' for?  We all know.

 

[Zillod]

The Democrats support the rioters.   They are part of the problem.  It's their supporters kids now getting arrested.  Good work Feds!  Blue lives matter.

[Eric Loh]

35 minutes ago, rabas said:

Barr prepared for weeks to to provide information to the House committee, then not one Democrat allowed Barr to answer any of their questions (!), often drowning him out, using committee rules to silence him, or just plain insulting him. Wow. What was the 'hearing' for?  We all know.

 

Democrats done their homework not to allow Barr to waste their time to deflect and lie. It’s only a 5 hours hearing and the Dems simply want to lay out the case to the live public audience that Barr was working for the President instead of the people. They did just that very well. 

[Boon Mee]

Widespread "mostly peaceful" rioting attempting to burn down Federal Buildings and the Democrats appear to sanction this seditious behavior? 

 

<deleted>, Chuck? 

[riclag]

Americas wing man, not the far lefts !

 

  Yoo! Yoo  Mr. Bash! 

Edited July 29, 2020 by riclag

[stevenl]

I think these hearings are useless, both sides not willing to listen to or pay attention to anything the other has to say. Only point is to explain points of view to electorate, and I think the electorate knows already.

 

But that quack, omg. I really think the Trumps don't listen to what is being said before tweeting, this is even for them crazy talk.

Edited July 29, 2020 by stevenl

[jcsmith]

4 hours ago, rabas said:

Barr prepared for weeks to to provide information to the House committee, then not one Democrat allowed Barr to answer any of their questions (!), often drowning him out, using committee rules to silence him, or just plain insulting him. Wow. What was the 'hearing' for?  We all know.

 

That's not what happened. They'd ask him a question and he would turn it back into a question even though the original was obvious. They'd ask him if Trump ever ordered him to do something and he'd respond with something, "I'm not sure what you mean by order?" So they'd ask if Trump ever told them to do something and he'd respond, "directly or do you mean like was there a suggestion that maybe I heard from a third party?" when they would eventually remove all wriggle room he would say that he can't share private conversations with the president .

 

Amazingly he never fully understood any of the democrats questions, or when cornered he seemed unaware of simple things that everyone else in the country was aware of. So he'd ask more questions all the while trying to run out their time. So they stopped giving him the opportunity to do that. When questioned by republicans his memory was much improved. 

 

Barr's role is obvious. He enables Trump. But he also is pretty smart in how he handles questions. He's tough to corner.

Edited July 29, 2020 by jcsmith

[Isaan sailor]

Jerry Nadler thinks Antifa rioters in Portland are a myth...what’s he been smokin?

Edited July 29, 2020 by Isaan sailor

[jcsmith]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Widespread "mostly peaceful" rioting attempting to burn down Federal Buildings and the Democrats appear to sanction this seditious behavior? 

Who is sanctioning burning down buildings? The problem here is that 99.8% of the protesters are peaceful protesters, and then you have some troublemakers among them. The problem here is that Trump and Fox try to blur the lines so it seems like the thousands of people out protesting are all burning down buildings, looting, being violent. Where in actuality there have been a small number of actual incidents of that considering how widespread the protests are.

 

The people engaging in that activity should be prosecuted. But what shouldn't happen is that we start firing rubber bullets and gas into crowds of peaceful protesters or scoop them up in unmarked cars by unidentified officers. 

[UnkleGoooose]

Well if the Democrats deny that it is antifa thugs rioting and looting then it's regular Democrat supporters, which is something that decent people have known all along, but is still very worrying. Same boorish behavior displayed by their politicians in the house.

[thaichina]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

 

Well spoken means to convey clear, concise information accurately and intelligibly. It does not mean just 'sound good', perhaps surprising to msmers.  She did that and was quite clear sounding like any physician. Much clearer than the Dems emotional kiddy show and CNNs garble logic.

Do you consider Donald Trump well spoken?

 

[metisdead]

Posts using off topic videos, some from unapproved YouTube sources have been removed as well as the replies. 

 

Other off topic posts have been removed. 

[billd766]

8 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

I think McCarthy would have been proud of the Democrats questioning of Attorney General Barr. They gave him no chance to answer their questions and indeed asked and answered their own questions. It was a disgrace. 

If it were me in his position I would simply stop speaking and when they ask why the answer from, me would be "If you want me to answer a question, then have the decency to let me answer, it without interuptions".

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Jerry Nadler thinks Antifa rioters in Portland are a myth...what’s he been smokin?

Perhaps he’s not willing to point the finger until the Police catch and investigate the culprits:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/28/minneapolis-protests-umbrella-man-alleged-white-supremacist

 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, billd766 said:

If it were me in his position I would simply stop speaking and when they ask why the answer from, me would be "If you want me to answer a question, then have the decency to let me answer, it without interuptions".

The allocation of time to speak is fixed.

 

The person speaking has the right to use their allotted time as they wish.

 

Barr should focus on telling the truth and keep in mind he serves the nation, not the President.

[Damual Travesty]

23 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Barr should focus on telling the truth and keep in mind he serves the nation, not the President.

Bill Barr has told nothing but the truth since he took office that is the issue that the Democrats have with him. He tells the truth.

Edited July 29, 2020 by Damual Travesty
sp

[seajae]

really have to wonder at the idiots that support the dems and actually believe that these are mostly peaceful protests, nadler even says there are no protests and that they are fictional. Guess all the building set on fire, all the police and public killed/blinded, all the shops looted etc dont count, what makes it even more obvious is the fact it is dem run cities all these protests are happening in with the mayors giving them all the green light and stopping police from doing their jobs. Politics has always been  two sided but watching what the dems are allowing in the US and the total BS and lies they are telling is beyond a joke. Shouldnt matter which side of politics you follow, what antifa and the blm groups are doing is simply domestic terrorism, anyone that would support this can not call themselves an american, you should be ashamed of yourselves, lets see how much you enjoy/still support it if your families are the next ones killed, burnt out or looted by them

[metisdead]

Some off topic deflection posts about the news sources and the replies have been removed. 

 

Some other off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[metisdead]

An off topic trolling post about Russia and Ukraine has been removed, please stop with the off topic deflection tactics. 

[Sujo]

24 minutes ago, Damual Travesty said:

Bill Barr has told nothing but the truth since he took office that is the issue that the Democrats have with him. He tells the truth.

No he is a proven liar as prior testimony has proved.

[Sujo]

15 minutes ago, seajae said:

really have to wonder at the idiots that support the dems and actually believe that these are mostly peaceful protests, nadler even says there are no protests and that they are fictional. Guess all the building set on fire, all the police and public killed/blinded, all the shops looted etc dont count, what makes it even more obvious is the fact it is dem run cities all these protests are happening in with the mayors giving them all the green light and stopping police from doing their jobs. Politics has always been  two sided but watching what the dems are allowing in the US and the total BS and lies they are telling is beyond a joke. Shouldnt matter which side of politics you follow, what antifa and the blm groups are doing is simply domestic terrorism, anyone that would support this can not call themselves an american, you should be ashamed of yourselves, lets see how much you enjoy/still support it if your families are the next ones killed, burnt out or looted by them

There is no evidence antifa is involved in the protests.

[Damual Travesty]

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

There is no evidence antifa is involved in the protests.

I will believe the attorney General of the United States before I will believe you. Don't be offended.

[rabas]

13 minutes ago, Sujo said:

There is no evidence antifa is involved in the protests.

Of God. Even the New York Times says antifa is involved.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/us/portland-protests.html

 

"Demonstrators in Portland, including some who identify as antifa, the loose coalition of self-described anti-fascist activists, have had years of conflict with law enforcement."

 

Tell your masters they need to change the script.

[metisdead]

Some posts with personal comments toward other members have been removed.  

 

Some troll posts have been removed. 

[Cryingdick]

A world with no police except for the Dems which are the supreme moral authority. Scary times these people are absolutely full of themselves. Long ago I always thought it would be the evangelicals that would be likely to be so power hungry.

 

Long live the second amendment.

Edited July 29, 2020 by Cryingdick

[riclag]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

Of God. Even the New York Times says antifa is involved.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/us/portland-protests.html

 

"Demonstrators in Portland, including some who identify as antifa, the loose coalition of self-described anti-fascist activists, have had years of conflict with law enforcement."

 

Tell your masters they need to change the script.

Brilliant