[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NOMINATION OF WILLIAM BARR

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, last night we received some 
extraordinarily concerning news regarding the President's nominee for 
Attorney General, Mr. William Barr.
  According to reports earlier this year, Mr. Barr sent the Justice 
Department an unsolicited memo criticizing what he believed to be an 
avenue of investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mr. Barr's 
memo reveals that he is fatally conflicted from being able to oversee 
the special counsel's investigation and that he should not be nominated 
for Attorney General.
  Mr. Barr believes Presidents, in general, and, more frighteningly, 
President Trump, who has shown less respect for rule of law than any 
President, are above the law--much like Justice Kavanaugh--because he 
has an almost imperial view of the Presidency--as almost a King, not an 
elected leader. That much comes across in the memo because it doesn't 
allow legal processes to work against the President, who might be 
breaking the law.
  We will see what Mueller finds out if that is true, but we should let 
him go forward. The fact that Mr. Barr holds these deeply misguided 
views and chose to launch them in an unprovoked written attack on the 
special counsel unquestionably disqualifies Mr. Barr from serving as 
Attorney General again.
  Since Mr. Barr hasn't been formally nominated yet, the President must 
immediately reconsider and find another nominee who is free of 
conflicts and will carry out the duties of law impartially.

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