‘No One Can Say He Isn’t Qualified’

Judiciary Committee Democrats On William Barr: ‘I Was Broadly Encouraged,’ ‘His Answers Were Good,’ ‘I Think He’s Held Up Well,’ ‘Certainly Been Responsive To The Questions’

REPORTER: “How do you think the proceedings have gone so far?”

SEN. FEINSTEIN: “I think they’re going very well, as a matter of fact. I think the candidate is answering questions and, I think, doing well. And the questions cover a fairly wide range…. [H]e’s certainly been responsive to the questions. He hasn’t ducked them and he’s answered them as fully as he can…. I think he’s held up well.”

REPORTER: “And so you see this as a pretty easy road for him to confirmation?”

FEINSTEIN: “Oh I think so. We’ll see.”

(Sen. Feinstein, Press Conference, 1/15/2019)

• SEN. FEINSTEIN: “His answers were good. He clearly understands the need for independence …” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1/16/2019)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “[T]hey asked me about your statements this morning, your testimony and I thought they were good …” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1/15/2019)

CNN’S WOLF BLITZER: “Did you find, Senator, [Mr. Barr’s] public testimony today reassuring?”

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): “Well, broadly speaking, yes. He made forceful statements about his respect for Robert Mueller, his long relationship with him, and his belief that it is in the country’s best interest to ensure that he has the resources and the independence to complete his investigation without interference…. I was broadly encouraged by his tone, his forcefulness, his determination to be independent of the president and to protect the Department of Justice and Mueller’s investigation.…” (CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” 1/15/2019)

• CNN’s MANU RAJU: “Democrat Chris Coons just told me this on supporting Bill Barr: ‘I’m going to consider it seriously.’” (CNN’s Manu Raju, @mkraju, Twitter, 1/15/2019)

“Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI] said Barr ‘did pretty well.’” (“‘Did Pretty Well’: Boost For Trump As William Barr Impresses Democrats In Marathon Confirmation Hearing,” Washington Examiner, 1/15/2019)

‘Barr Displayed A Grasp Of Policy And Demonstrated His Experience,’ ‘Came Across As Highly Qualified,’ Gave An ‘Assured Performance’

THE WASHINGTON POST: “Confirm William Barr …” (Editorial, “Confirm William Barr — And Hold Him To His Pledge Of Independence,” The Washington Post, 1/15/2019)

• “[Mr. Barr] came across as highly qualified and committed to the traditions, procedures and mores of the Justice Department…. ‘I can be truly independent,’ Mr. Barr declared Tuesday. The Senate should quickly confirm him and hold him to that pledge.” (Editorial, “Confirm William Barr — And Hold Him To His Pledge Of Independence,” The Washington Post, 1/15/2019)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Mr. Barr … pointed to his age and background — he served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993 — as buffers to potential intrusions on the Justice Department’s traditional independence. He suggested he had no further political aspirations that might cloud his judgment, the way that future ambitions might give pause to a younger nominee, as well as the experience to fight political interference…. ‘I will not be bullied into doing anything I think is wrong — by anybody, whether it be editorial boards or Congress or the president,’ Mr. Barr said. ‘I’m going to do what I think is right.’” (“William Barr Vows To Let Mueller Finish Investigation,” The New York Times, 1/15/2019)

• “Over hours of testimony, Mr. Barr displayed a grasp of policy and demonstrated his experience as a Washington hand and member of the Republican legal establishment.” (“William Barr Vows To Let Mueller Finish Investigation,” The New York Times, 1/15/2019)

“William Barr, President Trump's nominee to be the next attorney general, not only survived his eight-hour Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday but left it with a strong chance of picking up Democratic votes. Barr's assured performance on day one before the Senate Judiciary Committee was a welcome relief …” (“‘Did Pretty Well’: Boost For Trump As William Barr Impresses Democrats In Marathon Confirmation Hearing,” Washington Examiner, 1/15/2019)