William Barr, President Donald Trump’s handpicked nominee to become Attorney General, has just said he would not commit to recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation. Like the current Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Barr said he would consult with the Dept. of Justice ethics officials but would make the decision to recuse himself.
“Under the regulations, I make the decision,” Barr said emphatically.
Whitaker was advised to recuse by DOJ ethics officials but chose to ignore them.
Former DOJ spokesperson under Attorney General Eric Holder, and frequent MSNBC Justice and Security Analyst Matthew Miller says Barr would be “breaking precedent” to not recuse.
Monday night Miller also said, “There is no world in which he doesn’t need to recuse.”
Former chief White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter says “Barr has no choice but to recuse from the Russia investigation.”
Watch Barr’s remarks on not recusing: