"The president can fire a US Attorney," Barr says — but if Trump fired a US Attorney to stop an investigation: "I would not allow an investigation to be stopped if it was a lawful investigation," Barr says.
Show this thread
-
"When you have violent gangs ... you can take out a gang on drug offenses," Barr says, because it's easier to prosecute than finding the elements of other crimes.
Show this thread
Shocking: "Overall," Barr says, he stands by the idea that the criminal justice system treats black and white people similarly.
-
-
Pretty stunning series of questions and answers between Booker and Barr on criminal justice. Booker notes that Barr has not yet met with him. Barr says he would welcome a meeting.pic.twitter.com/yPyOfBHDm2
Show this thread -
Sen. Blackburn wants more Backpage-like prosecution. Sen. Harris going to join in?pic.twitter.com/wF6QZws4lb
Show this thread -
-
Here's part of — not even all of — that Booker exchange:https://twitter.com/DavidWright_CNN/status/1085263759373991938 …
Show this thread -
Harris asks about the role of "a public health response" and "not just a lock 'em up" response to any drug crisis.
Show this thread -
Harris asks Barr to look at "more recent" information about drug addiction than that available when he was last AG. Barr says OK, but presses that DOJ is law enforcement not HHS. Harris shoots back that Barr himself talked about DOJ's policy advice role.pic.twitter.com/GVHZjgiN3Q
Show this thread -
Sen. Tillis is up — the last person in the first round, he says.pic.twitter.com/uoDvSo5Nhf
Show this thread -
BARR: "There hasn't been a special counsel removed since Archibald Cox, and that didn't work out too well."
Show this thread -
In round two, Grassley pushes on FOIA and government openness, noting that agencies too often come up with excuses to keep things quiet.
Show this thread -
Feinstein asks if Barr will give Mueller's report to Congress. Barr says his "goal" is to get as much to Congress and the public as is possible.pic.twitter.com/ogqQv7V0QC
Show this thread -
"Is waterboarding torture?" Barr sighs. He says that the law defined waterboarding as illegal. So, he said the issue is clear now. So, he didn't really answer?
Show this thread -
Leahy is up in round two, and Barr said he has not read the Carpenter decision — a decision from this past term that is one of the most important 4th Amendment decisions of the internet era.
Show this thread -
And,
@ZoeTillman is back and will be tweeting about what's happening now. I'm going to work on looking back on some of the earlier testimony!Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.