Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) eats some KFC.

By PJ Grisar May 2, 2019

When Attorney General William Barr failed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee this morning, Representative Steve Cohen had the perfect rejoinder – unfortunately, it may come with a side of heartburn.

In a taunt sure to grease up the House floor, Cohen, a Democrat of Tennessee, produced a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and arranged a ceramic chicken prop at his desk. The message, of course, was clear: He thinks Barr’s a chicken for not showing up to the House hearing a day after his Mueller report testimony before the Senate.

Rep. Steve Cohen has moved “Bill” the ceramic chicken to the vacant witness chair designated for Attorney General William Barr following today’s House Judiciary Cmte. meeting. pic.twitter.com/4P6rDHrKNL

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— Tom Brenner (@tombrennerphoto) May 2, 2019

“He’s here,” Cohen said of Barr, pointing to the chicken bucket, before digging in to the Colonel’s secret recipe.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler appeared to enjoy the gag.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., left, laughs with Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., after Cohen arrived with a bucked of fried chicken and a plastic chicken as Attorney General William Barr will not appear before a House Judiciary Committee hearing. @ap pic.twitter.com/fLdpuWB13X

— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) May 2, 2019

Barr’s true motivations for skipping the hearing in the Democrat-controlled House (he cited his objection to questioning by staff lawyers) may be a mystery to us, but his playing hooky and risking contempt of Congress is almost as ill-advised as Cohen’s eating fried chicken at 9 AM.

PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture intern. He can be reached at [email protected].

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