Schumer: Barr Refused to Provide Assurances on Mueller in Meeting
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emerged dissatisfied from a private meeting with William Barr on Wednesday, saying the attorney general nominee’s answers did not assuage his concerns.
Schumer said Barr refused to provide assurances he would not interfere in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, would not guarantee issuing a full report at the conclusion of the probe and provided few specifics with regard to preserving the inquiry's transparency.
“Despite the fact that there were some nice words at the hearing, he would not have the kind of strong and clear commitments to the report being issued and there being no interference in the investigation that are needed, particularly now, with President Trump treating the Justice department as he has,” Schumer said. “I wanted to give him a chance and maybe he could undo my opposition.”
Barr assured the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday during the first day of his confirmation hearing he would provide “transparency” and make “as much information available as I can, consistent with the rules and regulations that are part of the special counsel regulations.” However, that could mean an edited or summarized report from Barr, rather than the full, unedited report from Mueller.
“You would have to make unequivocal in public that you would not interfere with the... you would issue the full report, except if intelligence sources said that certain portions should be redacted,” Schumer said. “He would not give that assurance. Very disappointed.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/schumer-barr-refused-to-provide-assurances-in-meeting/ar-BBSlGSs?li=BBnb7Kz
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