Senate sets Barr’s confirmation hearing

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 Grassley (R-Iowa) and incoming Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will take place on January 15 and 16.

{mosads}Barr was nominated last month to succeed former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who was ousted in November, as the top Justice Department official. Matt Whitaker 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 Mueller’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 Schumer (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 Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have signaled they want assurances on Mueller or expressed unrelated reservations about Barr.