11:09 EST: Nadler calls Barr's session to order-- says he was in a minor car accident on his way in today OwO
11:11 Nadler's opening statement-- argues that while Barr himself is a "political appointee", the DOJ was established to create corps of a-political professional public servants "dedicated to the impartial administration of the law and an unbiased system of justice." Nadler says the DOJ was established to enforce the nation's civil rights laws. Accuses Barr of waging "persistent war against the department's professional corps" and "actively seeking out conflict with American citizens"-- essentially of shirking DOJ's responsibilities to act as Trump's patsy.
11:14 Nadler: "In your time in the department, you have aided and abetted the worst failings of the president. Let us recount some of the decisions that have left us deeply concerned about the DOJ. First, under your leadership the department has endangered Americans and violated their constitutional rights by flooding federal law enforcement into the streets of American cities ... to forcefully and unconstitutionally suppress dissent. Second.. dept officials have downplayed the effects of systemic racism and abandoned the victims of police brutality, refused to hold abusive police departments accountable for their actions, and expressed open hostility to the BLM movement. Third, in coordination with the white house, the department has spread disinformation about voter fraud, failed to enforce voting rights laws, and attempted to change the census rules to flaunt the plain text of the constitution and even defy court orders on this subject, all in the apparent attempt to assist in the presidents reelection. Fourth, at the presidents request, the department has amplified the presidents conspiracy theories and shielded him from responsibly by blatantly misrepresenting the Mueller report and a failing to hold foreign powers accountable for their interference in elections. Fifth, again and again, you personally have interfered with ongoing criminal investigations to protect the president and allies... The message these actions send is clear: in this justice department, the presidents enemies will be punished, and his friends will be protected, no matter the cost to liberty, no matter the cost to justice... most perniciously the department has placed the presidents political needs over the public health by challenging stay at home orders in the states hit hardest by the pandemic..."
11:18 EST: Nadler wraps up his opener, and R Jim Jordan. Jordan doesn't want to talk about what the DOJ has actually done-- he says the Dems are just witchhunting Barr because he was brave enough to say that Obama spied on Trumps campaign. "SPYING! That one word is why they're after you Mr. Attorney General... you had the courage to state the truth."
