The dispute centers on whether the House Judiciary Committee’s lawyers would be allowed to question William Barr after lawmakers do so, congressional aides say.
By Karoun Demirjian and Karoun Demirjian Congressional reporter focusing on national security Email Bio Follow Ellen Nakashima Ellen Nakashima National security reporter Email Bio Follow April 28 at 11:05 AM Democrats and the Justice Department are in a standoff over the terms of Attorney General William P. Barr’s planned testimony before the House Judiciary Committee this week, raising the prospect that the hearing might not go forward at all.
A Justice Department official said discussions are ongoing. “Our position is the attorney general agreed to appear before Congress,” the official said, “therefore, members are the ones who do the questioning.” Democratic members felt it was important, given Barr’s past testimony and what they viewed as his attempt to shape the narrative on Mueller’s report, that he be subjected to extended questioning, including by committee lawyers, said one congressional aide familiar with the matter. Ordinarily, each member gets five minutes for questioning.
But according to Nadler aides, Barr’s team objected to that proposal as well, and said such a demand would prevent Barr from delivering his testimony as anticipated. The committee staff have researched other instances in which committee lawyers have questioned cabinet officials during open congressional hearings, the aide said. The last time was during the 1980s, when President Reagan’s attorney general, Edwin Meese, gave testimony during the Iran-contra hearings, the aide said.
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