Democrats Demand Trump Attorneys General William Barr & Jeff Session Testify Before Congress

Media executives met with Attorney General Merrick Garland to discuss how to fix issues at the Justice Department that developed under former President Donald Trump‘s administration. The executives wanted to ensure that there will continue to be freedom of the press in the U.S. without the DOJ’s interference.

The meeting comes after it was revealed that Trump’s DOJ seized records from news organizations and lawmakers who had challenged the former president.

Three journalists at the Washington Post had their phone records seized in 2017, four New York Times reporters had their email records obtained in 2018 and CNN’s Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr‘s communication records were sought in 2017.

Democrats are demanding that Trump’s former attorneys general testify under oath and explain the reason why journalists’ logs were seized and gag orders covered up the efforts.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN: “What the administration did, the Justice Department, the leadership of the former President, goes even beyond Richard Nixon. Richard Nixon had an enemies list. This is about undermining the rule of law.”

Pelosi said that former Attorneys General William Barr and Jeff Session should testify.

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-California) and fellow Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) had their records seized as well. Both had challenged Trump during the Russian probe.

Additionally, Trump’s own White House Counsel Don McGahn had his Apple account records seized while he was still in his official position.

In his meeting with media executives, Garland reassured the group that he would work to strengthen the DOJ’s policies and procedures regarding obtaining records from the legislative branch of government. He also added that if the inspector general’s investigation warrants further action, he “will not hesitate to move swiftly.”