New Report from RPT Details Barr’s Conflicts of Interest From His Corporate Background And His Fierce Loyalty to President Trump
WASHINGTON — Prior to the confirmation hearings of William Barr to serve as Attorney General, government accountability group Restore Public Trust sent a letter to the Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to thoughtfully consider the inherent conflicts of interest that will impede Mr. Barr’s ability to carry out the duties of Attorney General.
“We have uncovered serious questions about William Barr’s ability to carry out the obligations of Attorney General in a fair and unbiased way,” said Caroline Ciccone, Executive Director of Restore Public Trust. “How can the American people trust that Mr. Barr won’t tamper with Robert Mueller’s investigation when Barr has supported expansive presidential powers and criticized the investigation itself? How can they trust that Mr. Barr will hold his friends and corporate colleagues accountable when his record tells a different story? The truth is the American people can’t trust William Barr to be an arbiter for justice because his record shows a pattern of siding with large corporations and President Trump. Barr’s nomination should not advance.”
Along with the letter, Restore Public Trust today issued a report that, among other things, details Barr’s background of aggressive advocacy on behalf of large corporations, his substantial conflicts of interest, and the threat his past statements supporting Trump might pose if he’s confirmed.
Among the biggest concerns:
- Mr. Barr has criticized the Mueller investigation and has been vocal in his criticism of independent counsel law. How can the American people trust that the Mueller investigation won’t be tampered with if Mr. Barr is confirmed as Attorney General?
- Mr. Barr’s particularly extensive corporate background ties him to major issues still pending with federal agencies, including the Justice Department. Will Mr. Barr recuse himself from all cases involving Dominion Energy, Time Warner, Caterpillar, and Verizon/GTE?
- Mr. Barr was criticized for excessive compensation at Verizon, where he earned a total of $16 million in one year alone. Mr. Barr also approved large bonuses for executives on corporate boards despite, for example, missing safety goals. How can Mr. Barr defend the interests of Americans when he has rewarded executives who have disregarded worker safety?
- Companies tied to Mr. Barr have faced major environmental regulatory violations resulting in millions in fines. Will Mr. Barr favor large corporations who pollute over the clean air and clean water of Americans?
- A hedge fund tied to Mr. Barr faced serious charges involving bribery and fraud, one resulting in a $412 million fine. With colleagues like these, what else could Mr. Barr be hiding in his past?
- Mr. Barr is known for aggressive lobbying tactics on behalf of corporations. Will his decades-long career of favoring corporations lead him to an unfair and unjust preference towards big corporations over government regulations intended to protect smaller companies and individuals?
- Mr. Barr has supported President Trump, despite his controversial actions. How can Mr. Barr be a true arbiter of justice when Trump has repeatedly ignored and held contempt for the law?
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