House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY) is expected to subpoena Attorney General Bill Barr ahead of the Trump official’s hearing on July 2.
Ranking committee member Jim Jordan (R-OH) sent a letter to Nadler on Monday evening indicating that the Judiciary chair had informed him, per committee rules, of an impending subpoena to Barr.
In the letter, which was first obtained by Axios, Jordan says Nadler’s staff had “indicated” that the Democrat was going to send a subpoena, which Jordan vehemently opposed.
Jordan told Nadler there was “no legitimate basis” for a subpoena and accused him of adopting a “an odd and decidedly partisan posture” toward Barr.
“I urge you to set aside your animosity, choose cooperation over confrontation, and work collaboratively to find a mutually agreeable date for Attorney General Barr to testify,” the Republican wrote.
Nadler spokesperson Daniel Schwarz told Axios that the committee is ready to subpoena the attorney general should he refuse to show up to the hearing.
Barr initially had been slated to testify on March 31 to discuss the Justice Department’s involvement in the criminal cases of President Donald Trump’s associates. However, COVID-19 forced the committee to postpone the hearing.
Nadler’s plans come about amid outrage over Barr’s abrupt dismissal of U.S. Attorney Geoff Berman in the Southern District of New York this past weekend. The attorney general, Trump and the White House have all given conflicting narratives over Berman’s ouster, which drew suspicion among Democrats given that the SDNY is currently investigating Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
“America is right to expect the worst of Bill Barr, who has repeatedly interfered in criminal investigations on Trump’s behalf,” Nadler tweeted on Friday night while announcing that his committee will invite Berman to testify.
