[A]fter President Donald Trump nominated William Barr to be the new attorney general on Friday, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., voiced concern that Barr would not protect the special counsel’s investigation.
Almost a month to the day after former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced out, Trump called announced his new pick for the post. The president called Barr a “highly respected lawyer” by both Republicans and Democrats and “a terrific man” on the White House lawn on Friday.
Barr, a well-known conservative lawyer, held the role of attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush, who died last week, from 1991 to 1993.
After the news of the nomination broke, Leahy, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, posted on Twitter that Barr’s background should be carefully scrutinized in the course of the confirmation process.
“He has a long record in both the private sector and public service that needs to be thoroughly vetted by the Senate,” Leahy said, “This includes recent, troubling comments about investigations of keen interest to the President who is nominating him.”
I have known Bill Barr a long time. He has a long record in both the private sector and public service that needs to be thoroughly vetted by the Senate. This includes recent, troubling comments about investigations of keen interest to the President who is nominating him.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) December 7, 2018
Leahy’s misgivings about Barr stem from the belief that Barr is in favor of expanded presidential powers and may try to neuter the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller into collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election.
Leahy said he hopes if Barr is confirmed that he will commit to protecting Mueller’s investigation.
I look forward to discussing these issues and others at Mr. Barr’s hearing. I hope he will use the opportunity to unambiguously commit, should he be confirmed, to upholding the rule of law and protecting the Special Counsel’s investigation against any interference.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) December 7, 2018
Reached for further comment, David Carle, a Leahy spokesperson, said the Vermont senator would not divulge more personal opinions on Barr before the confirmation hearings take place. As of yet there is no scheduled date for the hearings.
In an interview with VTDigger, Welch, a 12-year member of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Barr’s view on congressional authority and presidential powers is concerning to him.
But Welch said the the bottom line is, before Barr is confirmed, there must be an assurance he will respect the independence of the Special Counsel’s investigation.
“My hope is that the Senate will be very demanding that the Attorney General safeguard its independence,” Welch said, “The Senate of course will have confirmation hearings and I fully expect Sens. Leahy and Sanders will bore into that question with great energy.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., did not respond to requests for comment.
If Barr is confirmed by the Senate after his official nomination, he will replace the current acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker.
Since Whitaker was chosen as interim attorney general, he has also been criticized for being hostile towards Mueller.
