William Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, was reassuring with his statements about protecting the independence of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Sen. Chris Coons said Wednesday, while adding that he has a chance to get his vote.
"I'm keeping an open mind," the Delaware Democrat told Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
"Bill Barr is a seasoned experienced former attorney general. He served in the administration of George H.W. Bush and he handled - what was a very long day of questioning yesterday - well."
However, Coons said Barr "hedged" on questions he'd asked about whether Mueller would be allowed to pursue whatever testimony he feels necessary, about whether he'll release the full, final Mueller report, and whether he'd seek and follow guidance from the Justice Department's ethics counsel, so he has questions he wants to add in writing.
Coons also commented on the ongoing government shutdown, saying he believes Trump's next move should be to reopen the government while work goes on toward an agreement about the border wall.
"I don't expect the president to capitulate," said Coons. "I do expect him to compromise. You have got a speaker of the House who is completely dug in. A president who is completely dug in, and clearly there is going to have to be a compromise."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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