William Barr Defends Aggressive Response of Federal Agents to Curb Protests

The hearing comes during a tumultuous stretch in which the US Attorney General has taken actions cheered by President Donald Trump but condemned by Democrats and other critics.

Among them: the Justice Department’s decision to drop the prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn and William Barr’s urging for a more lenient sentence for Trump ally Roger Stone, a move that prompted the entire trial team’s departure.

Donald Trump later commuted the sentence entirely.

The top Republican on the panel, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, used his opening statement to show an eight-minute video that spliced together images of violence by protesters around the country.

Democrats retorted with a video of their own of more peaceful protesters, shown by Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline.

“We fought for democracy, for the right to speak freely and you are attempting to take that away,” David Cicilline told Barr.

“What’s worse, you’re doing it for the sole purpose of furthering the president’s political agenda and generating footage for Trump campaign commercials," continued David.

Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said the Trump administration had “twisted the Department of Justice into a shadow of its former self,” serving the powerful before average Americans.

Jerry Nadler said Barr had “aided and abetted” Trump’s worst impulses and excoriated him.

Jerry also stated that the Justice Department has turned a blind eye to necessary reforms to police departments, for dismissing Black Lives Matter protests and for flooding streets with federal agents to stop protesters.

Under combative questioning, William Barr acerbically defended himself.

However, he revealed little new information about his motivations or the Justice Department's recent actions on policing or otherwise.

His testimony underscored his department's ongoing effort to differentiate between increasing violence in some cities and George Floyd's death.

The murder of George Floyd has led to state charges against four officers and is under investigation by federal authorities.

Massive but peaceful demonstrations followed George's death in May.