TODAY, ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE WILLIAM BARR RECEIVED EXTENSIVE PRAISE FOR HIS "IMPRESSIVE" PERFORMANCE DURING HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING
Today, The Senate Judiciary Committee Held A Hearing On The Nomination Of William Barr To Become Attorney General Of The United States
Today, The United States Senate Judiciary Committee Held A Hearing On The Nomination Of William P. Barr To Be Attorney General Of The United States. ("Hearings & Meetings," Senate Committee On The Judiciary , Accessed 01/15/19)
- Barr Previously Served As The 77th Attorney General Of The United States From 1991 To 1993 And As Deputy Attorney General And As Assistant Attorney General From 1990-1991 And 1989-1990 Respectively. "Bill served as the 77th Attorney General of the United States from 1991 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush and, prior to that, as the Deputy Attorney General (1990-1991) and as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel (1989-1990)." ("William P. Barr," Kirkland & Ellis , Accessed 01/15/19)
- In 1991, The Democrat Controlled Senate Unanimously Confirmed Barr To Be Attorney General Under The George H.W. Bush Administration. "In November 1991, the Democrat-controlled Senate unanimously confirmed Barr to become attorney general under the George H.W. Bush administration. Barr, who had been serving as acting attorney general, won bipartisan support from lawmakers." (Jen Kirby, "Mueller's Investigation Will Dominate Bill Barr's Confirmation Hearing," Vox , 01/15/19)
Democrats And Republicans Alike Have Lauded Barr And His Nomination Performance, Saying He Is "Eminently Qualified" And "A Principled Man" With "Integrity"
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Il) Said Barr Has "Made It Clear He's Focusing On The Integrity Of The [Justice] Department." (Igor Bobic, Twitter Feed , 01/15/19)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE): "Barr Has Significant Prior Experience." "Like Richardson, Barr has significant prior experience, having served as attorney general and in other senior positions at the Justice Department in President George H.W. Bush's administration." (Chris Coons, Op-Ed, "Here Are The Commitments William Barr Needs To Make To Be Attorney General," The Washington Post , 01/14/18)
- Coons To Barr During The Hearing: "I Am Encouraged By The Things You've Said." SENATOR CHRIS COONS (D-DE): "You also said at that hearing that Robert Mueller in that investigation had the full cooperation, full support. Could he expect a similar level of support from you as attorney general?" ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE WILLIAM BARR: "Yeah. He will -- as I said, I'm going to carry out those regulations, and I want him to finish this investigation." COONS: "I think we all do, and I am encouraged by the things you've said about this and just want to make sure we've had as clear a conversation as we can." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Confirmation Hearing, 01/15/19)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): "Mr. Barr Is Eminently Qualified And Widely Respected." "So it's beyond safe to say that Mr. Barr is eminently qualified and widely respected. I look forward to Mr. Barr's testimony today, and to the testimony of those who know him and his work. I hope every Senator will afford Mr. Barr the fair consideration he so obviously deserves." (Press Release, "William Barr: Eminently Qualified, Widely Respected," Sen. Mitch McConnell , 01/15/19)
- McConnell: "It Is The Nation's Good Fortune That The President Has Selected Such A Completely Qualified And Thoroughly Prepared Leader To Fill This Vacancy." "So it is the nation's good fortune that the president has selected such a completely qualified and thoroughly prepared leader to fill this vacancy. First and foremost, of course, is the fact that Mr. Barr has served in the position before." (Press Release, "William Barr: Eminently Qualified, Widely Respected," Sen. Mitch McConnell , 01/15/19)
- McConnell: During His Past Service, Barr "Was Widely Regarded As A Capable Administrator And As A Strong, Independent, And Principled Advocate For Fairness And For Following The Law." "He was widely regarded as a capable administrator and as a strong, independent, and principled advocate for fairness and for following the law." (Press Release, "William Barr: Eminently Qualified, Widely Respected," Sen. Mitch McConnell , 01/15/19)
Former Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT): Barr Has "Earned A Reputation As A Fierce Advocate For The Rule Of Law, As A Principled And Independent Decision-Maker And As A Lawyer's Lawyer." SENATOR ORRIN HATCH (R-UT): "Throughout his time at the Justice Department, Bill earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for the rule of law, as a principled and independent decision-maker and as a lawyer's lawyer. He has shown his commitment to the Constitution time and time again while serving. That is why he has been confirmed by the Senate unanimously three times." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Confirmation Hearing, 01/15/19)
- Hatch: "There Is No Question, None Whatsoever, That Bill Is Well Qualified To Serve As Attorney General." HATCH: "There is question, none whatsoever, that bill is well qualified to serve as attorney general. He has held this position before and won high praise during his tenure for his fairness, his tenacity, and his work ethic." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Confirmation Hearing, 01/15/19)
Former U.S. Attorney And Senior FBI Official Chuck Rosenberg On William Barr: "I Think He's A Principled Man, A Man Of Integrity." MSNBC'S BRIAN WILLIAMS: "Chuck, a two-part question to you. What do you make of what you've heard this far? And what is most important for you to hear by close of business today?" FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY AND SENIOR FBI OFFICIAL CHUCK ROSENBERG: "So far Brian, I think Bill Barr has acquitted himself well. The questioning, as is often the case in Congressional hearings, has not been particularly good nor particularly precise and while I don't share Mr. Barr's view of the law in many instances, I know him, not well, but I know him well enough to tell you I think he's a principled man, a man of integrity, and also this may be damning with faint praise but my goodness he is a better Attorney General than either Matt Whittaker or Jeff Sessions." (MSNBC's "MSNBC Live," 01/15/19)
- Rosenberg: "I Don't See Anything In These Hearings To Suggest To Me He Won't Be Confirmed." ROSENBERG: "I don't see anything in these hearings to suggest to me he won't be confirmed." (MSNBC's "MSNBC Live," 01/15/19)
CNN's Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger "I Think [Barr] Has Been Doing Quite Well." CNN'S KATE BOULDUAN: "Gloria, how do you think Bill Barr has been doing?" CNN'S CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST GLORIA BORGER: "I think he has been doing quite well. I think he has made it very clear as he said he will not be bullied by anybody." (CNN's "At This Hour With Kate Bolduan," 01/15/19)
CNN's John King: "Bill Barr Helped Himself This Morning Without A Doubt." CNN's JOHN KING: "Number one, we'll see what happens this afternoon. It's like anything, you get this break, everybody resets, and they go in a room and pull out a strategy. Bill Barr helped himself this morning without a doubt." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 01/15/19)
- King: Senior Democrats "Like [Barr]" And "They Respect [Barr]." KING: "If you know Barr and some of the Senior Democrats do know him. It will be interesting to see how they vote because they like him. They respect him. They know him socially around town, they've known him for 30-something years." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 01/15/19)
CNN's Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin: "I Thought He Was A Very Impressive Witness." CNN'S CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST JEFFREY TOOBIN: "He's going to get confirmed in any case but I thought he was a very impressive witness. He was plain-spoken. He didn't try to hedge in any obvious way." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 01/15/19)
Fox News' Laura Ingraham: "Barr Is Independent, Brilliant And Strong." (Laura Ingraham, Twitter Feed , 01/14/19)
- Ingraham: Barr Is A "Consummate Professional." (Laura Ingraham, Twitter Feed , 01/14/19)
Fox News' Contributor Sara Carter Called Barr's Testimony "Incredible" And That His Knowledge Of The Issues Concerning The Border Was "Thorough." (Sara Carter, Twitter Feed , 01/15/19)
Rich Lowry , Editor Of The National Review, Said Barr "Is Incredibly Sure-Footed And Knowledgeable - An Exemplary Choice For AG." (Rich Lowry, Twitter Feed , 01/15/19)
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