Trump's attorney general pick faces Senate hearing

Attorney general nominee William Barr said it would be "a crime" for a president to give a pardon to someone in exchange for a promise not to incriminate the president.

The question came up after Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy described how Barr supported former President George H.W. Bush's decision to pardon six people who were targets in the Iran-Contra scandal.

"Do you believe a President could lawfully issue a pardon in exchange for the recipient's promise to not incriminate him?" Leahy asked.

"No. That would be a crime," Barr responded.

Some background: Bush granted pardons to six former government officials in the arms sales scandal days before the trial of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, which threatened to reveal new evidence of lies that members of the Reagan administration had told Congress about the deal.

Some Democrats also see parallels between Barr's support of the pardons that capped the Iran-Contra scandal and potential moves by Trump in the waning days of the Mueller probe.

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William Barr said he would “faithfully enforce” the new bipartisan criminal justice reform law, which President Trump signed, despite a record of tough-on-crime policies and harsh sentences for violent criminals in his past tenure as attorney general.

Here's what Barr said about his views at that time:

In a nod to criminal justice reform advocates concerned about his record, Barr recognized that the crime rate has "substantially fallen" since he left the department in the early 1990s and says that he would "diligently implement" the First Step Act, a bill that Congress overwhelmingly passed last year to overhaul prison laws.

Yet he also put himself in the same category as his tough-on-crime predecessor, saying, "like Attorney General Sessions, I believe we must keep up the pressure on chronic, violent criminals."

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Ahead of the Senate committee hearing for attorney general nominee William Barr, at least two Democrats on the committee suggested that Barr should recuse himself from overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Sen. Kamala Harris told CNN that she’s inclined to think Barr should recuse himself. Harris — who is widely viewed as a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate — said “we’re going to find out” about Barr’s conversations with President Trump while being considered.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Barr should recuse himself unless he “completely disavows that view that he expressed in his memo that the President cannot be held accountable for obstructing justice.” 

Blumenthal also said he’s looking for reassurance that Barr will “be absolutely independent and provide strong, specific, iron-tight commitment” that he will make the Mueller report public. 

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, asked William Barr today if he would commit to not interfere in the special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.

Here's that exchange:

Feinstein: Will you commit to no interference with the scope of the special counsel’s investigation?

Barr: "I will -- the scope of the special counsel’s investigation is set by his charter and by the regulations, and I will ensure those are maintained."

Feinstein: "Will you commit to providing Mr. Mueller with the resources, funds and time to complete his investigation?"

Barr: "Yes."

Feinstein: "Will you commit to ensuring that special counsel Mueller is not terminated without good cause, consistent with department regulations?

Barr: "Absolutely."

Barr said he talked about joining Trump's legal team once in 2017, but he didn't think he could take it on.

Sen. Feinstein pressed Barr on whether he could resist pressure from the White House.

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Attorney general nominee William Barr, speaking in his opening remarks, said he would remain independent if confirmed.

Barr said he held the same standard while working as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

President Trump, he said, hasn't asked him for any assurances, adding that he hasn't given Trump any as well.

William Barr said he was a good friend of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Responding to a question from Sen. Lindsey Graham, Barr also said Mueller would not be "involved in a witch hunt."

President Trump has frequently called Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt."

Here's Barr's full exchange with Sen. Graham:

Graham: Would you say you have a close relationship with Mr. Mueller? 

Barr: I would say we were good friends. 

Graham: Would you say that you understand him to be a fair-minded person? 

Barr: Absolutely. 

Graham: Do you trust him to be fair to the President and the country as a whole? 

Barr: Yes. 

Graham: When his report comes to you, will you share it with us as much as possible? 

Barr: Consistent with the regulations and the law, yes. 

Graham: Do you believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt against anybody? 

Barr: I don't believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt. 

Watch the exchange:

Attorney general nominee William Barr promised that, if confirmed, he will allow special counsel Robert Mueller to continue his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

He continued: "I will follow the special counsel regulation scrupulously and in good faith. And on my watch, Bob will be allowed to finish his work."

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsay Graham, in his opening remarks at William Barr's hearing, warned that the nominee for attorney general "will be challenged."

Ranking member Dianne Feinstein also referenced the memo in her remarks

"I spent the weekend on your 19-page legal memo to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein criticizing Mueller's investigation, specifically the investigation into potential obstruction of justice," she said.

About that memo: Barr authored a memo to senior Justice Department officials last year, calling the special counsel Robert Mueller's obstruction probe "fatally misconceived."

In the memo, Barr reached a decisive and controversial conclusion that Trump's interactions with ex-FBI Director James Comey would not constitute obstruction of justice.

The fact that Barr weighed in on such a sensitive issue (and would be poised to oversee special counsel Mueller's work, if confirmed as attorney general) has been a topic of controversy in his nomination.

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Former Sen. Orrin Hatch just introduced William Barr, President Trump's attorney general nominee, during today's confirmation hearing.

Hatch referenced Barr's work as attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush during his remarks.

"Bill Barr was a lawyer's lawyer, talent, merit and performance. Those were the reasons President Bush selected him to be the attorney general at that time," Hatch said.

Hatch continued: