Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono tells Barr he tried to 'cover up for Donald Trump' and 'should resign'


Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) demanded Attorney General William Barr resign during his congressional testimony on Wednesday, accusing him of lying under oath.
Hirono opened her line of questioning for Barr by telling him he is "no different" from any of the other people who "sacrificed their once-decent reputation for the grifter and liar who sits in the Oval Office" and that he sided with Trump "over the interests of the American people."
Hirono proceeded to blast Barr for his handling of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, including his four-page summary of its findings, which it was recently revealed Mueller was unhappy with. She also accused him of lying to Congress when he previously suggested he did not know about the special counsel's office dissatisfaction with his summary of its findings.
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.
"But you knew," she said. "You lied."
Congress now knows about Barr's "deep involvement in trying to cover up for Donald Trump," Hirono then said, also directly telling Barr he betrayed the trust that comes with the office of attorney general. "America deserves better," she said. "You should resign."
After a testy exchange with Barr, during which Hirono tried to get him to say that Trump's actions were not acceptable if not illegal, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cut in, angrily telling Hirono, "You have slandered this man from top to bottom." 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.
-
Groypers: the alt-right group pulled into the foreground
The Explainer The network is led by alt-right activist Nick Fuentes
-
10 concert tours to see this upcoming fall
The Week Recommends Concert tour season isn't over. Check out these headliners.
-
How to put student loan payments on pause
The Explainer If you are starting to worry about missing payments, deferment and forbearance can help
-
Is Kash Patel’s fate sealed after Kirk shooting missteps?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The FBI’s bungled response in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting has director Kash Patel in the hot seat
-
Russian drone tests Romania as Trump spins
Speed Read Trump is ‘resisting congressional plans to impose newer and tougher penalties on Russia’s energy sector’
-
Trump renews push to fire Cook before Fed meeting
Speed Read The push to remove Cook has ‘quickly become the defining battle in Trump’s effort to take control of the Fed’
-
Will Donald Trump’s second state visit be a diplomatic disaster?
Today's Big Question Charlie Kirk shooting, Saturday’s far-right rally and continued Jeffrey Epstein fallout ramps-up risks of already fraught trip
-
Air strikes in the Caribbean: Trump’s murky narco-war
Talking Point Drug cartels ‘don’t follow Marquess of Queensberry Rules’, but US military air strikes on speedboats rely on strained interpretation of ‘invasion’
-
Calls for both calm and consequences follow Kirk killing
TALKING POINTS The suspected assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk has some public figures pleading for restraint, while others agitate for violent reprisals
-
Why does Donald Trump keep showing up at major sporting events?
Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day