In a chaotic scene today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) lashed out at President Trump and Attorney General William Barr after Barr did not show up to a hearing following a dispute over the questioning format.
“The president of the United States wants desperately to prevent Congress from providing any check whatsoever on even his most reckless decisions,” Nadler said. “The challenge we face is that if we don’t stand up to him together, today, we risk not being able to stand up to any president in the future.”
He continued, “The very system of government of the United States, the system of limited power, the system of not having a president as a dictator, is very much at stake.”
Nadler then went on to slam Barr, saying he failed to protect the special counsel’s investigation.
“He has failed to check the president’s worst instincts,” he said. “He has not only misrepresented the findings of the special counsel, he has failed to protect the special counsel’s investigation from unfair political attacks.”
GOP Mic cut
Chairman Nadler also cut off a Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz’s (FL) microphone mid-sentence as he tried to challenge the leading Democrat on the committee:
Judiciary Democrats say AG Barr is "terrified." Yesterday he testified for over five hours in an open hearing.
Today, they cut off my microphone. #WhoIsTerrified? pic.twitter.com/xQhQR0HMwY
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 2, 2019
Chicken prop attends hearing
Democrats mocked Barr’s decision to not attend the hearing by having an empty chair for him and staging a ceramic chicken prop at the table.
Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) also brought fried chicken to the hearing. He told reporters “Chicken Barr should have shown up today and answered questions.”
