Watch William Barr confirmation hearing – live updates

FAN Editor

It’s a big day for William Barr, President Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Senate Judiciary Committee members are grilling him in his first day of confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill.

Barr, who served as attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush, is expected to say he values transparency and wants special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to continue to completion unimpeded, according to his prepared testimony. Barr is also expected to be questioned about his long friendship with Mueller.

The hearing can be watched in the live player above.

Graham brings up FBI investigations related to Trump

Sen. Lindsey Graham then launched into a line of questioning expressing concern over the recent New York Times report claiming the FBI opened a counterintelligence probe into Mr. Trump after FBI Director James Comey was fired.

Graham questioned whether the FBI has any oversight to ensure it is appropriate in opening up any investigations. He also brought up Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, the then-FBI officials who produced anti-Trump text messages. Mr. Trump has repeatedly bashed the officials for their conduct.

Barr: It is “vitally important” that Mueller be able to complete his investigation

Barr said he believes it is “vitally important” that special counsel Robert Mueller be able to complete his investigation.

Barr said he expects the special counsel is “well along” in his investigation. But at the same time, Barr said, Mr. Trump has been firm that he was not involved in Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 investigation.

“The country needs a credible resolution to these issues,” Barr said, adding he won’t let politics, personal interests or any other improper interest interfere in the investigation.

“On my watch, Bob will be allowed to finish his work,” Barr said.

Barr introduces his family and begins testimony

Barr began his remarks by introducing his family. All three of his daughters present are lawyers, either working on Capitol Hill or in the Justice Department.

Barr then expressed regret that he comes to Capitol Hill when much of the government is shut down.

Barr then expressed that there should be no political involvement in the Justice Department. Americans should be able to have confidence that some areas of government are untouched by politics.

“If confirmed, I will serve with the same independence that I did in 1991,” Barr said.

Orrin Hatch offers testimony in support of Bill Barr

Orrin Hatch, who until last month served as the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman himself, served as a character witness for Barr, praising his “vast” experience and judgement.

“Bill Barr was a lawyer’s lawyer,” Hatch said in support of Barr’s nomination.

Feinstein opens hearing by talking about women on the committee

Before launching into her thoughts on the Russia investigation, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, recalled watching the Anita Hill hearings decades ago when Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas was accused by Hill of harassment. At the time, there were no women on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

During the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings last year, Republicans had no women on the Senate Judiciary Committee as they grilled Christine Blasey Ford. Republicans have since added two women to the committee — Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Lindsey Graham opens the hearing: “You will be challenged”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, began the hearing by laying out some of the agenda items he and other members of the committee have.

Some of those agenda items include cybersecurity reforms, privacy on social media platforms and criminal justice reform, among other things.

He praised Barr’s record, but told him he “will” and “should” be challenged — particularly on the unsolicited memo Barr sent to the Justice Department that was critical of Mueller’s probe.

“You will be challenged, You should be challenged. The memo, there will be a lot of talk about it, as there should be,” Graham said.

What is Barr expected to say?

Barr’s opening statement revealed some of how he’s expected to testify Tuesday. Given his past skepticism of Mueller’s investigation, he is expected to defend the investigation. Democrats are still sure to have plenty of questions for him along those lines.

“I believe it is vitally important that the Special Counsel be allowed to complete his investigation,” Barr wrote in his prepared testimony.

CBS News correspondent Paula Reid reports Barr has been studying every day since Mr. Trump nominated him to prepare for the confirmation hearing. He has been working closely with a group of lawyers from the Office of Legal Policy, and even though he has gone through this before, he held a mock hearing.

How is the hearing structured?

Senators on the committee will have 10 minutes each to question Barr, followed by another round of five-minute questioning, for a total of 15 minutes each. Questions will rotate between Democratic and Republican senators.

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