Attorney General William Barr has made light of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s recommendation that he be held in contempt at least twice (that we know of).
During a farewell event for former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein earlier this month, Barr joked that he set a “record” for how quickly an attorney general had been held in contempt. On Wednesday, Barr reportedly approached House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and asked her if she brought “your handcuffs.”
Per bystander: While waiting for POTUS, AG Barr approached @SpeakerPelosi shook her hand saying “Madam Speaker, did you bring your handcuffs?” Pelosi smiled + indicated to AG the House Sergeant at Arms was present at ceremony should arrest be necessary. AG chuckled + walked away
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) May 15, 2019
And “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough isn’t having it.
“Actually, he’s laughing about breaking the law,” Scarborough said. “He’s laughing about being held in contempt of Congress. The White House is laughing. The attorney general is laughing about them breaking the law that requires the president of the United States, the IRS, to turn over the president’s tax returns to the Ways and Means committee. And, Mika, of course he committed perjury not just once but most likely twice while testifying before the United States House of Representatives and the Senate and he’s laughing about it.”
"Morning Joe" rams Barr for "laughing" about "breaking the law" pic.twitter.com/jshvHDOvzG
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 16, 2019
Pelosi has been vague about if or when she intends to bring a vote to hold Barr in contempt to the House floor, but the House Judiciary Committee remains in a gridlock with the White House over the committee’s demands to view the unredacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
