Nadler: Barr's spying comments 'directly contradict' what DOJ has said

Democrats in Congress on Wednesday expressed bewilderment over Attorney General William Barr's statement that he believes spying on President Trump's 2016 campaign "did occur."

Barr made his comment during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday, saying he's looking into the FBI's investigation into the Trump 2016 campaign and Russia because "spying on a political campaign is a big deal" and "I think spying did occur." Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, tweeted that Barr's words contradicted previous Department of Justice communications. He has asked for an immediate briefing to clarify the issue:

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) also expressed confusion at Barr's statement. Asked by CNN's Manu Raju whether he has been told of spying on the Trump campaign, he said, "absolutely not." Warner went on to say that Barr "almost seems to be endorsing one of these theories that has been debunked time and time again," adding that his comments are "disrespectful" to Department of Justice employees.

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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, went even further, arguing "the top law enforcement officer of the country should not casually suggest that those under his purview engaged in 'spying' on a political campaign" and that Barr's "partisan talking point ... strikes another destructive blow to our democratic institutions."