House Judiciary Committee Democrats announced on Wednesday that Attorney General William Barr is set to testify before their committee at the end of March to address a variety of complaints that Democrats have.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerold Nadler (D-NY) confirmed Barr's scheduled testimony in a letter signed by 23 Committee Democrats and sent to the attorney general on Wednesday.
"In your tenure as Attorney General, you have engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee," the letter declares. "In the past week alone, you have taken steps that raise grave questions about your leadership of the Department of Justice."
The letter cites complaints regarding Rudy Guiliani's "process" of feeding the Department of Justice information "about the President's political rivals," the reduced sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone and the removal of U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu who oversaw the prosecution of Stone, Rick Gates and Michael Flynn.
"These are not the only issues that our Committee intends to discuss with you when you appear," the letter warns, "but they are enough to require our immediate attention."
On Wednesday, President Trump dismissed criticism from Democrats after the Justice Department overruled the sentencing recommendation of federal prosecutors. The prosecutors had recommended a 9-year sentence for Roger Stone, a longtime friend of the president. Attorney General Bill Barr has overruled the prosecutors' request, recommending an unspecified term of incarceration for Mr. Stone instead.
The president congratulated the Attorney General's intervention on Wednesday, thanking Barr "for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought."
Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said neither the president nor any White House official spoke with the attorney general about Mr. Stone's sentencing recommendation.