Barr says Pelosi's charge that he lied to Congress is 'laughable'
Attorney General William Barr on Friday dismissed allegations that he lied to Congress, speculating Democrats are accusing him of doing so to undermine his election review.
Barr spoke with Fox News in an interview that aired Friday morning and said that the charge from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and others that he lied to Congress is "laughable."
"I think it's largely being made to try to discredit me, partly because they may be concerned about the outcome of a review of what happened during the election," he said.
Subscribe to 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 is conducting a review into the origins of the Russia probe, which he told The Wall Street Journal could bring about rule changes. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that his 2016 campaign was improperly "spied on" and that this amounts to "treason," while FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that he has seen no evidence that illegal spying occurred.
Pelosi had previously accused Barr of lying to Congress, and Democrats took issue with his testimony that he was unaware of concerns from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team with his summary of their findings, even though he received a letter from Mueller expressing concern. Barr has argued his testimony was accurate because he only heard from Mueller himself and because he claims Mueller privately told him his summary didn't misrepresent the report's findings.
Barr during this Fox News interview also dismissed Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee voting in favor of holding him in contempt of Congress, The Hill reports, saying it's "part of the usual game" and calling it a "political circus" while adding, "I don't feel threatened." Brendan Morrow
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
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 Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The future of X
Talking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
By The Week UK Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published