William Barr skips House hearing on the Mueller report
Tensions are rising in Washington over U.S. Attorney General William Barr's refusal to testify before Congress.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, we hear Barr was not happy with how he was set to be questioned on Thursday?
Yes Mark, Barr objected to the format of the House Judiciary Committee hearing that proposed long rounds of questions from the committee members' attorneys.
The Justice Department said it would be inappropriate and noted that Barr was grilled at a Senate hearing for more than 5 hours on Wednesday.
Barr was forced to defend his actions after Special Counsel Robert Mueller complained about Barr's summary of his report, writing in a letter to the AG that Barr took his findings out of context.
Now there are demands from House Democrats that Barr resign.
"He has failed to check the president's worst instincts. He has not only misrepresented the findings of the special counsel, he has failed to protect the special counsel's investigation from unfair political attacks. He has himself unfairly attacked the special counsel's investigation. He has failed the men and women of the Department of Justice by placing the needs of the president over the fair administration of justice."
Nadler said if there's no progress, they will hold Barr in contempt.
Nadler added that Barr has one or two more days to hand over the full Mueller report and the evidence gathered to compile it before he moves ahead with contempt proceedings.
When the Mueller letter was released by the Justice Department on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Barr for the testimony he'd previously given to Congress and accused him of perjury.
"He lied to Congress. He lied to Congress and if anybody else did that, it would be considered a crime. Nobody is above the law, not the president of the United States and not the attorney general. Being the attorney general does not give you a bath to go say whatever you want and it is that fact because you are the attorney general."
It's the latest sign of the escalating tension between the Democrats and the Trump administration.
As Barr refused to show up for the hearing, many are focusing on whether Mueller will testify before the American people in the coming weeks.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, we hear Barr was not happy with how he was set to be questioned on Thursday?
Yes Mark, Barr objected to the format of the House Judiciary Committee hearing that proposed long rounds of questions from the committee members' attorneys.
The Justice Department said it would be inappropriate and noted that Barr was grilled at a Senate hearing for more than 5 hours on Wednesday.
Barr was forced to defend his actions after Special Counsel Robert Mueller complained about Barr's summary of his report, writing in a letter to the AG that Barr took his findings out of context.
Now there are demands from House Democrats that Barr resign.
"He has failed to check the president's worst instincts. He has not only misrepresented the findings of the special counsel, he has failed to protect the special counsel's investigation from unfair political attacks. He has himself unfairly attacked the special counsel's investigation. He has failed the men and women of the Department of Justice by placing the needs of the president over the fair administration of justice."
Nadler said if there's no progress, they will hold Barr in contempt.
Nadler added that Barr has one or two more days to hand over the full Mueller report and the evidence gathered to compile it before he moves ahead with contempt proceedings.
When the Mueller letter was released by the Justice Department on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Barr for the testimony he'd previously given to Congress and accused him of perjury.
"He lied to Congress. He lied to Congress and if anybody else did that, it would be considered a crime. Nobody is above the law, not the president of the United States and not the attorney general. Being the attorney general does not give you a bath to go say whatever you want and it is that fact because you are the attorney general."
It's the latest sign of the escalating tension between the Democrats and the Trump administration.
As Barr refused to show up for the hearing, many are focusing on whether Mueller will testify before the American people in the coming weeks.