Attorney General William Barr shot back at Rep. Joe Neguse during congressional testimony Tuesday, saying, “I’m going to answer the damn question,” when Neguse continually cut him off.
AG Barr was asked by Neguse, a Colorado Democrat, to affirm under oath a statement he made earlier that the White House fully cooperated with the Mueller investigation to which AG Barr said he believed the statement to be true at the time and was cut off by Neguse when he attempted to elaborate.
“You said under penalty of perjury, I’m going to answer the damn question,” AG Barr responded.
AG Barr was often interrupted by Democratic House Judiciary Committee members during the hearing with the phrase “reclaiming my time,” which appeared to frustrate the attorney general and Republican members of the committee.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a hearing where the witness wasn’t allowed to respond to points made, questions asked, and attacks — attacks made. Not just in this hearing, not just in this committee, but in every committee I’ve been on,” Rep. Jim Jordan said at one point.
“Particularly when you think about the fact that we have the attorney general of the United States here,” Jordan added.
“I want the attorney general to be able to have enough time to respond to accusations and questions asked him, and you guys not cut him off.”
Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler called Jordan’s comment “irrelevant” and called out Rep. Jordan for “rudeness” during the hearing to which Jordan responded, “Rudeness is on the other side. Time after time, you refused to let the attorney general of the United States answer the questions posed to him.”
At another point in the hearing, after being cut off by Democratic Rep. Lou Correa, Barr wondered aloud why he wasn’t being heard at a hearing.
“This is a hearing. I thought I was the one who was supposed to be heard,” Barr said.
