The White House went out of its way on Thursday to spin the fact that the attorney general refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee by lobbing an attack on Democrats’ intelligence.
During an interview with Fox News, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called it “frankly pathetic” that Democrats couldn’t question Attorney General William Barr themselves. Democrats voted Wednesday to allow extra time for a staff lawyer to attend the hearing to question Barr. The attorney would question Barr in addition to lawmakers. Barr refused to appear if it meant he’d be questioned by staff attorneys.
“The Democrats, frankly, they saw what happened yesterday and they’ve decided they are incapable of actually asking questions of the attorney general,” Sanders said. “Look, I lost confidence in Jerry Nadler a long time ago, but I was unaware that he had lost confidence in himself and his ability to do his job and that is to ask questions. The fact that he needs to staff that out is unbelievable. Frankly it’s pathetic. Democrats have to step up.”
WH: "Frankly pathetic" Dems can't figure out how to ask questions of Barr themselves pic.twitter.com/tt1hTcYdRf
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 2, 2019
