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I'm back!
Noting the broad powers of the president on pardons, Barr says: "Yes, he does have the power to pardon a family member" — but could be held accountable, including potentially face violating an obstruction statute.
Noting the broad powers of the president on pardons, Barr says: "Yes, he does have the power to pardon a family member" — but could be held accountable, including potentially face violating an obstruction statute.
Here's my longread on that point —> buzzfeednews.com/article/chrisg…
Blackburn is up and talking immigration and sanctuary cities, specifically.
"I personally am very skeptical of the commandeering argument," Barr says of the argument against the feds re: sanctuary cities.
Blumenthal is up and is talking pardons. He asks whether the president can be prosecuted while in office. Barr notes longstanding DOJ policy that the answer is no and says, "I see no reason to change them [those opinions]."
Blumenthal is now asking about the Gitmo policy regarding Haitian refugees, including those with HIV. We wrote a bit about this in 2016 — buzzfeednews.com/article/lester… — and @scottbix wrote more here re: Barr specifically: thedailybeast.com/trumps-attorne…
"Given the abuses of the asylum system now," Barr says he'd prefer that processing be done outside the US.
BARR: "I am perfectly fine with ... gay marriage, but ... I want accommodation to religious communities."
Barr thinks firing people because they're LGBT are wrong, and supports legislation banning such discrimination.
Barr thinks firing people because they're LGBT are wrong, and supports legislation banning such discrimination.
He does, however, appear to think that Title VII's sex discrimination ban does not cover discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity.
All said, that — overall — was QUITE a change from the Sessions view.
And it could have been much clearer had Booker been more clear about what he was saying. Barr actually seemed more up to date on the Title VII issues than Booker.
Hirono asks about Zarda, but doesn't know that cert has already been sought. (And Barr seems to think it's been granted.) On the DOJ position that LGBT people aren't protected, though, Barr seems definitively in favor of DOJ's view, "It's been common understanding for 40 years."
(Zarda is a Title VII case, and the cert petition is pending at SCOTUS.)
Blumenthal is now asking about Barr's answer about the Uranium One issue this morning, and read this tweet and Barr's email —>
Barr doesn't have good answers here. He justifies his answer to the NYT by saying he had seen "articles" about the Uranium One issue and thought there were "tax" issues about the Clinton Foundation, which is a weird attempted hedge between this morning's answer and that quote.
And, that's that. Barr's testimony is done. Tomorrow: Witnesses!
