29.03.2024

Hearing delayed over Nadler car crash as Trumps AG defends himself in opening statement

Attorney General William Barr is expected to testify in a congressional hearing today, titled “Oversight of the Department of Justice”, in front of the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee.

The hearing was delayed, though, after Chairman Jerry Nadler was involved in a car crash on the way to the hearing.

His appearance on Capitol Hill will be Mr Barr’s first in front of the House Judiciary Committee despite multiple attempts by the Democrats to get the attorney general to appear in front of them.

In his open testimony, which was released to the committee prior to the hearing, Mr Barr vehemently defended his independence from the president after facing accusations of making decisions to appease Donald Trump.

Mr Barr also defended the decision for federal agents to be deployed to cities like Portland, calling demonstrators in the city “violent rioters and anarchists”.

Barr to defend his independence from Trump in opening testimony

The attorney general released his opening testimony prior to the hearing on Tuesday.

In the testimony, he addressed accusations of making decisions in the Department of Justice based on what Donald Trump wanted.

He said the president «has not attempted to interfere» in criminal cases within the department.

Mr Barr added: «Indeed, it is precisely because I feel complete freedom to do what I think is right that induced me serve once again as Attorney General.»

It was expected for House Democrats to grill Mr Barr about the criminal cases of Michael Flynn and Roger Stone, Both allies to the president.

House Judiciary Committee to grill Barr on Lafayette Square clearing and Michael Flynn case

The Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee has pushed for Attorney General William Barr to appear in front of them for a long time. Mr Barr will now face the committee for the first time about matters in the Department of Justice.

it is expected for Democrats to question Mr Barr about the Department of Justice’s role in the clearing of protesters in Lafayette Square in Washington DC so the president could have his infamous church photo-op.

Other topics to come up today include the deployment of federal agents to cities like Portland and Chicago, the Michael Flynn case, the Roger Stone Case, and Mr Barr’s independence from President Donald Trump when making decisions.

Reports indicate Republicans are prepared to defend the attorney general throughout the hearing for how Mr Barr’s handled his role in the Department of Justice throughout Mr Trump’s presidency.

Top Democrat Jerry Nadler’s car crash delays testimony of William Barr

Attorney General William Barr was expected to start his testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee at 10am EST.

But Chairman Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the committee, was in a car crash on his way to Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning. The chairman was not injured in the crash, but it has postponed the start of the hearing.

The hearing is now scheduled to start around 10:45am EST, according to CNN.

More details about the car crash here: 

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Attorney General William Barr’s testifying in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

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