Barr declines to answer the question directly, instead repeating his previous statement that Judge Berman Jackson "agreed" with his lowered recommendation. "The president's friends don't deserve special breaks but they also don't deserve to be treated more harshly than other people," Barr said.Cicilline also asks Barr whether it's ever appropriate to accept or solicit foreign election assistance.
Asked what he would do if Trump loses but refuses to leave office, Barr answers, "If the results are clear I would leave office. "Let me ask you. "I think it's irresponsible to call these federal law enforcement officers storm troopers. "My decisions on criminal matters have been left to my independent judgment, based on the law and fact, without any direction or interference from the White House or anyone outside the Department," Barr said. "I don't agree there's systemic racism in police departments generally in this country," Barr said.Barr asks for a recess, and the House Judiciary hearing stands adjourned for approximately five minutes.Barr also criticizes Democrats for what he describes as their failure to condemn those who have sought to vandalize federal courthouses. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, held firm that he was not using his position to do the President’s bidding, as he sat before the House Judiciary Committee.
"Even where there are these kinds of riots occurring, we haven't had to put in the kind of reinforcement that we have in Portland because the state and local law enforcement does their job and won't allow rioters to come and just physically assault the courthouse. "In your time at the department, you have aided and abetted the worst failings of the president. And so we feel that we have to, in a place like Portland where we don’t have the support of the local government, we have to take a stand and defend this federal property. William Barr Vigorously Defends Federal Law Enforcement Response to Protests During House Testimony By MARY CLARE JALONICK, MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER / AP Could you point to one indictment?" "What enemies [of the administration] have I indicted? "Jordan then introduces a roughly 10-minute long video splicing clips from the media and other politicians referring to protests around the country as "peaceful protests" side- by-side with clips of violence and an emotional statement from a family member of retired St. Louis Police Captain David Dorn, who was shot and killed by looters in the city on June 2. That's why they are after you, Mr. Attorney General," Jordan said.He takes Barr to task for the department's recent actions against protesters and its handling of the unrest in Portland and Seattle, where Barr has defended the actions of federal officers sent to protect federal courthouses. ""We are not looking for trouble," Barr said.