Barr argues Trump didn't obstruct by 'discouraging' witnesses from 'flipping'


Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday defended President Trump's praising of witnesses for not "flipping" on him.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Wednesday asked Barr during his congressional testimony about whether Trump may have obstructed justice by encouraging witnesses to change their testimony, such as by going after his former lawyer Michael Cohen's father-in-law. Barr said this would not "pass muster" as subordination of perjury.
Klobuchar also asked about Trump publicly calling his former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, a "brave man" for "refusing to break." This does not constitute obstruction, Barr said. Trump has also made numerous public comments discouraging "flipping," as when he told Fox & Friends that doing so "almost ought to be outlawed."
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.
"I think what the president's lawyers would say ... is that the president's statements about flipping are quite clear and express and uniformly the same, which is by flipping, he meant succumbing to pressure on unrelated cases to lie and compose in order to get lenient treatment," Barr said.
Barr subsequently argued that "discouraging flipping, in that sense, is not obstruction." Klobuchar, clearly, was not happy with this answer, shooting back, "Look at the pattern, here." Brendan Morrow
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Week contest: Rock grandfather
Puzzles and Quizzes
-
Magazine solutions - September 5 / September 12, 2025
Puzzle and Quizzes Issue - September 5 / September 12, 2025
-
6 laid-back homes for surfers
Feature Featuring a home near a world-renowned surf spot in Hawaii and a house built to withstand the elements in South Carolina
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other cities
speed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore