Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is making a rare move as he is seemingly siding with Attorney General William Barr when it comes to the attorney generalâs criticism of President Donald Trumpâs tweeting habits.
Barr spoke to ABC News on Thursday where he said, âI think itâs time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases.â
The attorney generalâs remarks come after Barr and Trump found themselves swept up in controversy after the Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted a new recommendation after federal prosecutors suggested a seven to nine year sentence for former Trump adviser Roger Stone. This resulted in all four prosecutors quitting the case.
It sparked outrage from several Democrats, as the DOJâs announcement came shortly after Trump called it âa horrible and very unfair situationâ in a tweet.
âPublic statements and tweets made about the department ⌠make it impossible for me to do my job, to assure the courts and the prosecutors and the department that weâre doing our work with integrity,â Barr said.
Check out Barrâs comments below:
Speaking on Fox News Thursday evening, McConnell said regarding Barrâs comments, âThe president made a great choice when he picked Bill Barr to be attorney general. I think the president should listen to his advice.â
Asked if he has a problem with Trumpâs tweeting, McConnell responded, âMaybe the president should listen to the attorney general.â
Watch McConnellâs interview below:
Additionally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) expressed his support for Barr.
âAttorney General Barr has my complete confidence,â the South Carolina senator tweeted on Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grishamresponded in a statement to Barrâs interview, saying, âThe President wasnât bothered by the comments at all, and he has the right, just like any American citizen, to publicly offer his opinions.â
After the DOJâs announcement, Trump congratulated Barr âfor taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought.â
Since then, Democratic lawmakers have suggested Trump âengaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone.â
However, Barr told ABC News that the consideration of revising the recommendation was already happening before Trump tweeted.
âThis is an abuse of power, that the president is trying to manipulate federal law enforcement to serve his political interest,â House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said at Thursdayâs press conference.
Additionally, Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) told CNN on Thursday that she âwould not be surprisedâ if Barr and Trump were âin cahoots.â
Barr will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31, as IJR previously reported.
