“I Thought I Was Supposed To Be Heard”: Full Highlights From Barr ‘Hearing’
Tyler Durden
Tue, 07/28/2020 – 17:17
Today’s ‘testimony’ by Attorney General William Barr in front of the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee was, as the Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross puts it, an unmitigated shit show.
That was an unmitigated shit show
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) July 28, 2020
The session consisted of Democratic lawmakers shouting hyperbolic questions at the Attorney General, then cutting him off when he would begin to respond.
“This is a hearing, I thought I was the one who was supposed to be heard,” Barr said at one point.
“This is a hearing, I thought I was the one who was supposed to be heard?”
— Attorney General Bill Barr pic.twitter.com/cqk5RoB0dm
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) slammed Democrats on the Committee, saying “I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where the witness wasn’t allowed to respond to points made, questions asked, and attacks — attacks made. Not just in this hearing, not just in this committee, but in every committee I’ve been on,” adding “Particularly when you think about the fact that we have the attorney general of the United States here.”
“I want the attorney general to be able to have enough time to respond to accusations and questions asked him, and you guys not cut him off,” Jordan added.
Rep Jim Jordan: “I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where the witness wasn’t allowed to respond…”
Nadler: “The gentleman does not have the time”
Jordan: “I don’t want the time. I just want the attorney general to have enough time…”
Nadler: “What you want is irrelevant” pic.twitter.com/5c7GVk0kOz
— The Hill (@thehill) July 28, 2020
While Barr kept his cool throughout most of the theatrics, at one point he said “I’m going to answer the damn question” during a particularly heated exchange with Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO).
“I’m going to answer the damn question.”
After being reminded by @RepJoeNeguse that he was “under penalty of perjury” Barr insists on answering a question after Neguse tried to move on. pic.twitter.com/YFyNyMnNHk
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Then, during a round of ‘questioning’ by Rep. Madeline Dean (D-PA), Barr asked her to explain a DOJ policy on the use of less-than lethal weapons, which she couldn’t do – to which Barr bursts out laughing.
AG Barr: “What’s the policy?”@RepDean: “Well, I showed it to you.”
Barr: [Laughter] pic.twitter.com/7BVVfdqHS9
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Barr was then cut off as he explained his sympathy for cancer survivors.
.@RepLucyMcBath cuts of AG Barr while he discusses his children who are cancer survivors.
“I’m not playing politics, I’m the lawyer. I’m not in charge of healthcare policy.” pic.twitter.com/WGnwZQHr6r
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Things became particularly contentious in an exchange with Rep. Pramila Jaypal, who began to ‘lose her temper’ at Barr.
AG Barr: “I don’t accept your characterization of what happened [at Lafayette Park]…”@RepJayapal: “I just asked for a yes or no. So let me just tell… I’m starting to lose my temper” pic.twitter.com/57IusPjyLD
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Rep. Eric ‘Nukem’ Swalwell wouldn’t let Barr finish either:
AG Barr insists that @RepSwalwell let him finish answering a question about Roger Stone. pic.twitter.com/dTle41eIPi
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Rep. David Cicilline is just an asshole:
“Sorry you had to struggle with that one, Mr. Attorney General.”
— @davidcicilline pic.twitter.com/YoTOs38XXi
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 28, 2020
Even Slate had to admit the Democrats blew it:
Throughout the day, when Democratic representatives questioned Barr about specific allegations of abuse of power, they either quickly stepped over their own lines of questioning or interrupted Barr. This tactic may have been effective in preventing Barr from filibustering, but it did nothing to get any answers whatsoever from him. –Slate
Perhaps Barr wasn’t allowed a word in edgewise because of tidbits such as this:
“What makes me concerned for the country is that the leaders of one of our great 2 political parties, the Democratic Party, are not coming out condemning mob violence and the attack on federal courts”
– AG Bill Barr on 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iacAI70wcO— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 28, 2020
Towards the end, Barr asks Nadler for a five-minute break, which Nadler denied. After eventually relenting, Barr called him a ‘real class act.’
AG Barr to Rep. Nadler: “You’re a real class act.” pic.twitter.com/HMY7TSF0EY
— The Hill (@thehill) July 28, 2020
Class act indeed.