Attorney General William Barr won't redact information from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report just because it would damage President Trump's reputation, he told Congress on Wednesday.
During his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Barr was asked about the reasons he has provided for redacting the report. One type of information he's concealing is content that would "unduly infringe on the personal privacy and reputational interests of of peripheral third parties," and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) asked if this means Barr will redact information to protect Trump's reputational interests.
"No," Barr responded. "I'm talking about people in private life, not public office holders."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Barr later in his testimony said it would be "unfair" to release information that harms the reputation of people who are not being charged with a crime — but only if they're private citizens. He added that he has not discussed any redactions with the White House, and he has not overruled Mueller on any redactions.
Outside of the reference to reputational interests, Barr previously told Congress he would redact grand jury materials, materials that intelligence agencies say reveal "sources and methods," and materials that affects ongoing criminal cases, per NBC News. CNN's Jim Sciutto described Barr's comment about not protecting the president's reputation as "bad news for Trump." Brendan Morrow
-
Homes with great fireplacesFeature Featuring a suspended fireplace in Washington and two-sided Parisian fireplace in Florida
-
Is $140,000 the real poverty line?Feature Financial hardship is wearing Americans down, and the break-even point for many families keeps rising
-
Film reviews: ‘The Secret Agent’ and ‘Zootopia 2’Feature A Brazilian man living in a brutal era seeks answers and survival and Judy and Nick fight again for animal justice
-
Trump’s Comey case dealt new setbackspeed read A federal judge ruled that key evidence could not be used in an effort to reindict former FBI Director James Comey
-
Moscow cheers Trump’s new ‘America First’ strategyspeed read The president’s national security strategy seeks ‘strategic stability’ with Russia
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
