Sen. Hirono Tells AG William Barr to Resign

Listen to Senator Mazie Hirono's scathing critique of Attorney General William Barr at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Transcript

00:00You lied to Congress. You lied. And now we know.

00:06America deserves better. You should resign.

00:23But I wasn't surprised. You did exactly what I thought you'd do.

00:27It's why I voted against your confirmation. I expected you would try to protect the President, and indeed you did.

00:33From the beginning, you were addressing an audience of one, that person being Donald Trump.

00:38That's why, before the bombshell news of yesterday evening,

00:4311 of my Senate colleagues and I called on the Department of Justice Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility

00:51to investigate the way you have handled the Mueller report.

00:55We know more about your deep involvement in trying to cover up for Donald Trump.

00:59Being Attorney General of the United States is a sacred trust.

01:02You have betrayed that trust. America deserves better. You should resign.

01:08I have some questions for you. Do you think all of the things that President Trump did are okay?

01:14Are they what the President of the United States should be doing?

01:17For example, do you think it's okay for a president to fire an FBI director

01:22to stop him from investigating links between his campaign and Russia?

01:27It may not be a crime, but do you think it's okay?

01:30Well, I think the report is clear that...

01:33No, I'm not talking about the report and its analysis of whether a crime occurred. I'm asking you.

01:38This is not a crime, but do you think it's okay for the President to do what he did,

01:42to fire the special counsel to keep him from investigating?

01:46I do think it's okay for the President to do what he did, and I don't think the evidence supports the proposition...

01:49So I guess you think it's okay.

01:52Do you think it's okay for a president to ask his White House counsel to lie?

01:57Well, I'm willing to talk about what's criminal.

02:02No, we've already acknowledged that you think it was not a crime.

02:05I'm just asking whether you think it's okay.

02:07Even if it's not a crime, do you think it's okay for the President to ask his White House counsel to lie?

02:15Look, if you're just going to go back to whether or not it's a crime, you're telling me that it's okay.

02:19Let me ask you the last question that I have in 17 seconds.

02:23Do you think it's okay for a president to offer pardons to people who don't testify against him,

02:28to threaten the family of someone who does?

02:32Is that okay?

02:35When did he offer a pardon to someone?

02:39I think you know what I'm talking about.

02:41Please, Mr. Attorney General, give us some credit for knowing what the hell is going on around here with you.