Congressman Jerry Nadler on May 2. Image by Getty Images

By Josh Nathan-Kazis May 2, 2019

In fiery remarks delivered early Thursday morning, Congressman Jerry Nadler said he would hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress if Barr “fails to negotiate in good faith” over a Congressional subpoena of an unredacted version of the Mueller report.

Nadler delivered his speech from a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, shortly after Barr failed to appear to discuss his actions connected to the release of the Mueller report. Barr testified yesterday before a Senate committee.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler: “Late last night the Department of Justice wrote to inform us they will ignore our subpoena for the unredacted Mueller report and the underlying evidence.” https://t.co/nSiTDuaUJV pic.twitter.com/7c8EGd6NKi

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— ABC News (@ABC) May 2, 2019

“Yes, we will continue to negotiate for access to the full report for another couple of days,” Nadler said. “And yes, we will have no choice but to move quickly to hold the Attorney General in contempt if he stalls or fails to negotiate in good faith.”

Nadler said that the terms proposed by the Department of Justice under which members of Congress could access the full report were unacceptable. “History will judge us for how we face this challenge,” Nadler said. “We will all be held accountable in one way or the other, and if he does not provide this committee with the information info it demands and the respect it deserves, Mr. Barr’s moment of accountability will come soon enough.”

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis

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