Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

AG Barr has refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, citing issues with the use of an outside atty for questioning. His refusal, according to committee chairman @RepJerryNadler, means he might be held in contempt of congress. Hearing on deck for 9AM ET.

The chairman of this committee has what appears to be a bucket of KFC chicken placed before him., which, one can safely assume, will be used as a prop when Barr is called a chicken for not testifying.

This is an affront to delicious fried chicken everywhere! (I'm kidding, dont @ me)

For clarity, the chicken was not in front of Nadler's seat, so this might not be a Nadler prop, rather a prop to be used by Rep Steve Cohen.

Also, as I write this, I realize, yes, this is my life.

Nadler: "Since the redacted version of the Mueller Report was released, Trump has told Congress he plans to fight all of our subpoenas. The average person is not free to ignore a congressional subpoena, nor is the president...

"His promise to obstruct our work extends far beyond his contacts with the Russian government and of obstruction of justice [incidents cited in the MR["

Nadler: The choice is simple: we can stand up to this president in defense of the country and the Constitution and the liberty we love or we can let the moment pass us by. We have seen in other countries when you allow such moments to pass by.

"I do not know what AG Barr will choose. I do not know what my Republican colleagues will choose. But I’m certain there is no way forward for this country that does include a reckoning to this clear and present danger to our order.” - Nadler

Ranking Republican Rep Doug Collins is railing against Nadler, saying:
"There is only one reason and one reason only at this point we are not able to fulfill our constitutional role of oversight and that is the chairman’s demands. "

"He claims he wants staff to question AG because the five minute per member is not enough. Yet we approved a motion which said we could do a whole hour before the chairman and myself, he could have picked one of these member…and questioned AG any way they wanted to." - Collins

"Instead we go back to a circus political stunt to say we want it to look like an impeachment hearing because [Democrats] wont bring impeachment proceedings. The reason Bill Barr is not here today is because Democrats decided they did not want him here today." Rep Doug Collins

Doug Collins saying that timing has never barred appropriate questioning is inaccurate. I covered this committee when it was Republican majority held and as memory serves, if a minority member EVER went over time, they were wrangled in tout suite. And blasted for it.

And that's that, hearing adjourned. Nadler says: We didnt choose to have Mr. Barr not come, he chose. We cannot have him, or anyone else, determine the manner in which the committee functions.

The committee will get the information it needs to conduct constitutional oversight, Nadler says. We will make sure no president becomes a monarchy. We need the information without delay.

STORY HERE: courthousenews.com/%EF%BB%BFbarr-…