Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) became the first of the three Democratic presidential candidates on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday. She had a bevy of questions for him relating to Robert Mueller's Russia investigation and obstruction of justice charges. In his 4-page summary of the over 400-page Russia report, Barr concluded that President Trump neither colluded with Russia nor obstructed justice.
Yet, Klobuchar challenged Barr to clear up several potential instances when Trump (according to her) could have corrupted justice, such as when his former lawyer Michael Cohen testified about his business dealings with him. Around that time, Trump and his associates told the press that Cohen's family members may have committed crimes. Klobuchar said this was perceived as a threat and could have affected Cohen's testimony.
No, Barr answered adamantly. Those comments, he said, "would not pass muster." Trump's "general public statements" did not amount to obstructive acts.
The senator also told Barr that she joins several of her Democratic colleagues in refusing to accept Barr's 4-page summary of Robert Mueller's Russia report. She wants the man himself to testify.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar to Attorney General William Barr: "I think your 4-page letter was clearly a summary and that's why Director Mueller called it a summary ... we must hear from Director Mueller" https://t.co/Rrau4OVK0X pic.twitter.com/9nRDr0hRR6
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 1, 2019
Klobuchar, as mentioned, is running for president. But she did not seem to win over all viewers today.
Listening to Senator Klobuchar peddle her legal theories is a reminder how lucky the nation is she is not the attorney general.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) May 1, 2019
You can read more about the 2020 contender here.