House Judiciary Committee Votes to Hold AG Barr in Contempt of Congress
Democrats vote to attorney general in contempt for withholding Mueller report
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The House Judiciary Committee, led by Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress for withholding sensitive information from the Mueller report.
All Democrats in attendance voted Wednesday to hold AG Barr in contempt after he refused to hand over special counsel Robert Mueller’s full, unredacted report to the committee.
The attorney general was originally given until 9 am Monday to give the committee the full report with no redactions.
Many Republicans have taken issue with this request, however, believing it would be dangerous due to the risk of the possibly sensitive material being leaked.
The congressional contempt vote was scheduled by Nadler for Wednesday at 10 am, with Democrats voting to hold Barr in contempt of Congress in the contempt resolution.
Another vote to hold Barr in contempt will occur later on Wednesday.
“If the committee decides to proceed in spite of this request, however, the Attorney General will advise the President to make a protective assertion of executive privilege,” Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote in a Tuesday letter to Nadler.
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According to the Daily Caller, the White House said Wednesday the president would use executive privilege to prevent Democratic lawmakers from getting the materials they’re requesting.
“Even in redacted form, the Special Counsel’s report offers disturbing evidence and analysis that President Trump engaged in obstruction of justice at the highest levels,” Nadler said in a statement Monday.
"Congress must see the full report and underlying evidence to determine how to best move forward with oversight, legislation, and other constitutional responsibilities.
“The Attorney General’s failure to comply with our subpoena, after extensive accommodation efforts, leaves us no choice but to initiate contempt proceedings in order to enforce the subpoena and access the full, unredacted report.
"If the Department presents us with a good faith offer for access to the full report and the underlying evidence, I reserve the right to postpone these proceedings,” Nadler continued.
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House Judiciary Committee ranking member Doug Collins blasted Nadler in a Monday statement, saying Nadler’s request would require Barr to break the law.
“Chairman Nadler knows full subpoena compliance requires Attorney General Barr to break the law,” Collins, a Georgia Republican, said in a statement Monday.
"Yet, instead of introducing legislation allowing the attorney general to provide Congress grand jury material, Democrats move to hold him in contempt.
“They know the Justice Department is working to negotiate even as they pursue contempt charges, making their move today illogical and disingenuous,” Collins continued.
"Democrats have launched a proxy war smearing the attorney general when their anger actually lies with the president and the special counsel, who found neither conspiracy nor obstruction."
Democrats and cable news pundits have said the Mueller report is a cover-up.
