House Democrat Nadler vows to bring Barr to Capitol Hill, after dropping Flynn case

'Rest assured, we are going to reschedule that hearing,' Nadler said about cancelled Barr testimony

Published: May 8, 2020 1:07pm

Updated: May 8, 2020 1:39pm

House Democrats immediately criticized Attorney General William Barr’s move Thursday to drop the Justice Department case against former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and signaled a new round of investigations.

New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said Barr’s decision was “outrageous” and that he would summon him to Capitol Hill as soon as possible – with Election Day just six months away.

Barr, nominated to his post by President Trump in 2018, was supposed to testify in March before the committee, but the hearing was cancelled because of the coronavirus.

“Rest assured, we are going to reschedule that hearing, ASAP, and demand answers! Flynn PLEADED GUILTY to lying to investigators,” Nadler tweeted. “The evidence against him is overwhelming. Now, a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.”

Flynn admitted to lying to FBI agents in the federal Russia collusion probe as part of a plea deal, then in December moved to vacate the plea amid revelations that agents appeared to manipulate him into a confession.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who cautiously agreed to impeachment proceedings in 2019, after assuming control of the chamber about eight months earlier, on Thursday also criticized Barr but didn’t call for a new probe.

“Attorney General Barr’s politicization of Justice knows no bounds,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators in the face of overwhelming evidence – but now, Attorney General Barr’s Justice Department is dropping the case to continue to cover up for the president.”

A top congressional Republican is also saying he’ll hold an investigation.

“As soon as this case is dismissed, we will pursue the Flynn investigation and try to explain how it got so far off the rails," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday on Fox News. “We’ve (first) got to have a coherent story here. We’re dealing with some pretty slippery character. I’m going to do my homework.”