Donald Trump should not like that: The future US Attorney General William Barr finds that the investigation into the Russia affair is not a "witch hunt". He contradicted in his hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday the President's view: Trump denounced the investigation of the Special Investigator Robert Mueller on possible illegal collusion between the Trump team and Moscow regularly as a "witch hunt". "I do not think Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt," Barr said.
In a prepared statement for the hearing, which he had already published on Monday, Barr also argued that Mueller can bring his investigation to an end. He considers it "extremely important that the Special Investigator be allowed to complete his investigation".
Barr also advocated that Mueller's final report be published. In his view, it was very important that Congress and the public were informed about the results. With his remarks, Barr apparently tried to dispel the worries of the opposition Democrats, he could strangle on behalf of Trump, the Mueller investigation.
Barr was nominated in early December by Trump to succeed Jeff Sessions, whom the president had forced to resign shortly after the November congressional election. Barr served as Minister of Justice from 1991 to 1993.
Barr defends Mueller
Worries that Mueller might be thwarted were fueled by Barr's remarks from last year. In a memo he had noted that Mueller had exceeded his powers with the investigation of the disability. He calls the Mueller investigation in the paper "fatefully misconceived".
Barr now explained to the memo that he was not concerned with the "core" of the Mueller investigation, namely the charge of Russian electoral intervention. Nor did he argue that a president could never be guilty of judicial disability.
Barr's hearing by the Judiciary Committee was scheduled for two days, so it continues on Wednesday. Without the approval of the Senate, the 68-year-old can not start the ministry. He is expected to successfully complete the nomination process as Trump's Republicans have the majority in the Senate.
The predecessor Sessions Trump had forced out of office, because he made this responsible for the establishment of the Special Investigator. Shortly after taking office in the Russia affair, Sessions had been biased and withdrew from the investigation. He did so because he had contacts with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 election campaign, which he had left unmentioned in his nomination process.
After Sessions' retreat was the supervisor of the investigation into the Russian affair of his deputy Rod Rosenstein. This set then shortly after the expulsion Comeys the Special Investigator. Rosenstein should also be according to media reports before the departure.