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Tags: dershowitz | william barr | judiciary | senate | ag

Dershowitz: 'Substantial Chance' Dems Will Vote for Barr

william barr
Attorney General nominee William Barr testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

By    |   Tuesday, 15 January 2019 12:43 PM EST

Attorney General nominee William Barr's confirmation hearing is so far a "home run," Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz said Tuesday, adding that he thinks there is a "substantial chance" that some or all of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote for him.

"I think the goal at this point is to get a unanimous committee vote," Dershowitz told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" during a break in the testimony. "Even the Democrats who were critical and raised questions seemed to be satisfied with his answers."

Many of the questions being asked of Barr were about an 18-page memo he wrote last year criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, noted Dershowitz, calling the document "brilliant."

"He felt very strongly, as I did, and what I put in two of my own books, it would be a terrible mistake to investigate a president for obstruction of justice for performing his constitutional duty," said Dershowitz. "He feels strongly, as I feel strongly, that a president is not above the law. It is the law under article 2 of the Constitution that the president may pardon and may fire and you can't both engage in constitutionally protected activities and also be guilty of a crime."

If Barr, who served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, is confirmed unanimously, that would be important, said Dershowitz, as it would mark one of the first times since President Donald Trump's election that there has been "bipartisan support for someone who deserves it."

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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Attorney General nominee William Barr's confirmation hearing is so far a "home run," Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz said Tuesday, adding that he thinks there is a "substantial chance" that some or all of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee . . .
dershowitz, william barr, judiciary, senate, ag
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2019-43-15
Tuesday, 15 January 2019 12:43 PM
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