House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler says 'We didn't choose not to have Mr. Barr come, he chose.' 'We cannot permit him or anybody in the administration to dictate the manner in which we function.'
Attorney General William Barr was a no-show as the House Judiciary Committee met Thursday morning after the Justice Department said would he would decline to testify before the panel amid disagreements over the hearing's format, prompting a threat that he could be held in contempt of Congress.
Democrats, he said, would continue to negotiate for more access to the full Mueller report over the next few days but would have"no choice" but to hold Barr in contempt of Congress if the Justice Department fails to negotiate in"good faith." Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the top Republican on the panel, criticized Democrats for attempting to have committee lawyers question the attorney general."You can disagree with the attorney general all you want, but yesterday he sat for six hours of questions," he said."We’re not getting that opportunity today because the stunt and circus continues over here."
Nadler depicted Barr's move as"simply part of the administration's complete stonewalling of Congress.” He added that he felt Barr is “terrified" of having to face questions from members. Democrats vowed to plow forward with their investigations despite their struggles to obtain more access to the Mueller report and underlying documents. They are hoping to schedule a hearing with Mueller on May 15, and another with former White House counsel Don McGahn later this month.
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