A brief uncomfortable silence hung over the room Wednesday as Attorney General William Barr considered how to answer a question about whether he had talked to the White House about a dozen or so ongoing criminal investigations spun off from the Russia probe.
"No," Barr responded resolutely to his questioner, Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Oh shit, his inner perjury troll must have whispered in his ear. Even before Blumenthal could get through his next question, Barr was backtracking. "By the way, I'm not sure, you know, the laundry list of investigations," he said, buying himself a little room to later claim he didn't realize he was discussing an ongoing criminal case. On second thought, let's buy a little more room. "I certainly haven't talked the substance or been directed to do anything on any of the cases," Barr added.
Given a chance to clarify, he offered, "I don't recall having any substantive discussion on the investigations."
Have you had any nonsubstantive discussion? "It's possible that the name of a case was mentioned."
Have you provided any information whatsoever about those ongoing investigations? "I don't recall, no."
Wouldn't you recall whether you gave information to someone in the White House about an ongoing criminal investigation? "Yeah, I just don't recall providing any substantive information about a case."
Hoo boy. So General Cover Up might not know all the cases on which he may or may not have had discussions that, by his own personal estimation, weren't substantive. That's some epic sprinting away from "No" in about 60 seconds flat.
As former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance noted on MSNBC, "Look, if you're the AG and you're talking to the White House about criminal cases—which, by the way, may involve the president or his family members—it is very unlikely that you do not have precise, clear recall of those conversations."
The only acceptable answer for Barr should have been "No." He knew that, but then he also knew it was an answer he couldn't give.
Watch Barr equivocate below.