Senate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing | TheHill – The Hill

The Senate Judiciary Committee announced on Wednesday that it will hold a two-day confirmation hearing for William Barr’s attorney general nomination this month.

The hearing, according to a release from outgoing Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing Exculpatory Russia evidence about Mike Flynn that US intel kept secret Key players in new fight over Trump tax returns MORE (R-Iowa) and incoming Chairman Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamGraham: Trump giving up on border wall fight would be the ‘end of his presidency’ Senate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing Compromise on border wall, our last line of defense MORE (R-S.C.) will take place on January 15 and 16.

Barr was nominated last month to succeed former Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsSenate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing A timeline of the Mueller probe’s biggest developments The Top Ten Democrats for 2020 MORE (R-Ala.), who was ousted in November, as the top Justice Department official. Matt WhitakerMatthew G WhitakerSenate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing Trump’s most memorable insults and nicknames of 2018 Schiff: Trump conversations with acting attorney general ‘wrong at every level’ MORE has been filling the post in an acting capacity.

Barr previously served in the role during the George H.W. Bush administration.

But his current nomination has run into controversy because of his criticism of special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE‘s investigation. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Barr earlier last year wrote in an unsolicited memo that the probe is based on a “fatally misconceived” theory and would do “lasting damage” to the presidency.

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerPoll shows voters blame Trump more than Dems for government shutdown Compromise on border wall, our last line of defense GOP lawmaker: Pelosi, Schumer have ‘American blood’ on their hands by not funding wall MORE (D-N.Y.) immediately called on Trump to drop Barr.

But nominations only need a simple majority in the Senate. With Republicans expanding their majority to 53 seats, Democrats will need to win over four GOP senators and keep their own caucus united if they want to sink Barr’s nomination.

Several Republicans, including Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsSenate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing What to watch: Five fights awaiting Trump, Congress Shutdown looms as Trump, GOP dig in on wall MORE (R-Maine) and Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulComey defends Romney for ‘calling out’ Trump Senate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing Rand Paul: No ‘appetite’ for Romney 2020 White House bid MORE (R-Ky.), have signaled they want assurances on Mueller or expressed unrelated reservations about Barr.