USA TODAY International Edition
Nominee Barr: ‘I won’t be bullied’
Attorney general pick declares independence
WASHINGTON – William Barr, nominated to succeed ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, strongly proclaimed his independence from political influence Tuesday.
Barr asserted that President Donald Trump exacted no promises of favoritism and that he would not direct the Justice Department as an extension of the White House.
In a confirmation hearing remarkable for its congeniality, the 68-year-old nominee and attorney general under President George H.W. Bush provided unflinching assurances that he would allow Russia special counsel Robert Mueller to complete the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
“I’m in a position in life to provide the leadership necessary to protect the independence of this department,” Barr told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I won’t do anything that I think is wrong; I won’t be bullied into doing anything I think is wrong.”
At one point, Barr conceded the president had broad authority to pardon, including family members. Trump has indicated pardons are among his considerations for targets of Mueller’s inquiry. But Barr warned that such actions would likely result in “political accountability for abusing his power.”
“I don’t believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt,” Barr said, acknowledging a long professional association and personal friendship with the special counsel. He said it would be “unimaginable” that Mueller would engage in conduct that would warrant his removal.
Trump has repeatedly called Mueller’s investigation a “witch hunt” and accused Mueller of waging a politically charged campaign against him.
Barr said he would seek the advice of Justice Department ethics officials
on whether he should recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, but he would not commit to following their recommendation.
“I make the decision,” he said, adding that he would take action “in good faith, based on the law and the facts.”
Questions about Barr’s recusal have been raised since last month after the disclosure of a 19-page memorandum he wrote that said Mueller’s inquiry into possible obstruction by the president was “fatally misconceived.”
Committee Democrats and some Republicans seized on the memo as a gauge of Trump’s possible influence over the nominee. “If confirmed, the president is going to expect you to do his bidding; I can almost guarantee you he’ll cross the line at some point,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told Barr.
Barr committed to providing the resources to the special counsel investigation, and when asked for a pledge to keep Mueller on the job, Barr told California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the panel’s ranking Democrat, “Absolutely.”
Although the hearing was dominated by exchanges involving the Russia inquiry, Barr also weighed in on abortion, gun rights, marijuana legalization, election protection, recent criminal justice legislation and the incendiary debate over immigration and border security that is at the heart of the government shutdown.
Acknowledging that he was testifying as government employees, including his own children, went without pay, Barr urged government leaders to broker “a deal” for border security funding. That money, Barr said, should provide support for “barriers, walls, slats … anything that makes sense.”
Democrats have refused to fund a physical barrier, and Trump has not budged from a demand for $5.7 billion to pay for walls and other barriers.
“They call it the Trump shutdown, but it takes two to tango,” Barr said. “Not having a wall also has an effect on law enforcement,” and federal law enforcement officers are not being paid during the government closure.
“As we open our front door and try to admit people in an orderly way, we cannot allow others to flout our legal system by crashing in through the back door,” Barr said in his opening statement. “Countenancing this lawlessness would be grossly unfair to those abiding by the rules. It would create unsafe conditions on our borders for all involved. It would permit an avenue for criminals and terrorists to gain access to our country.”
Barr said the process for asylum was being abused and in need of reform, though he acknowledged he had not visited the border since he was attorney general about 30 years ago.
“We need to change the laws,” Barr said. “We need to run a lawful immigration system.”