I won’t be bullied, says US attorney general nominee
WASHINGTON: William Barr, the nominee for US attorney general, assured senators during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that he will allow special counsel Robert Mueller to complete the Russia meddling probe and will not shut it down if instructed by President Donald Trump. He also said that he will not be bullied.
Barr was peppered with questions from both sides on his position regarding the special counsel’s probe, which he had been critical of earlier, and faced questions on how he would deal with Trump, who had forced Jeff Sessions, the previous attorney general, to quit by publicly berating him and humiliating him for recusing himself from the probe that has dogged the presidency.
“I believe it is in the best interest of everyone... that this matter be resolved by allowing the special counsel to complete his work,” he said in his remarks. “On my watch, Bob (Mueller) will be allowed to finish his work.”
Asked if the special counsel was conducting a “witch-hunt” as has been alleged by the president repeatedly, Barr clearly said, “I don’t believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt.”
In response to another questions, Barr said, “I’m not going to do anything that I think is wrong. I will not be bullied into doing anything that I think is wrong by anybody, whether it be editorial boards, Congress or the president. I’m going to do what I think is right.”
Queried if he will shut down the Mueller probe without “good cause”, Barr said, “I would not carry out that instruction.”
Barr is testifying before US Senate as Trump’s nominee for the role of attorney general, the top law enforcement position in the country, which he had held once before, during the administration of George H W Bush in the 1990s.
American lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including some Senators allied to the president, have been worried that Barr would come under pressure to either shut down the probe altogether or alter its brief or its final report, when it arrives.
In an unsolicited memo, the attorney general nominee wrote to Trump’s lawyers earlier this year. He noted in strong language that Mueller will be wrong to pursue an obstruction of justice case against the US president.
“Mueller should not be permitted to demand that the president submit to interrogation about alleged obstruction,” he wrote. “Apart from whether Mueller (has) a strong enough factual basis for doing so, Mueller’s obstruction theory is fatally misconceived.”