Attorney General Barr faces House scrutiny on handling of protests, cases involving Trump allies

U.S. Attorney General William Barr faces tough questioning on Tuesday by a Democratic-controlled House of Representative committee whose members believe he abused his power to bolster President Donald Trump’s allies and silence his political enemies.

The hearing’s start was delayed after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler was involved in a car collision, CNN reported, citing sources. CNN said Nadler was not injured and had not been driving.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the collision, but a Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed the hearing’s start would be delayed.

The hearing will mark Barr’s first testimony before the House Judiciary Committee since he took office in February 2019, and comes as the Justice Department faces criticism for its role in sending federal officers to forcibly disperse protesters in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.