Key moments from the House Judiciary hearing to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers clashed today during a hearing about holding Attorney General William in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over the full, unredacted Mueller report to the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans mostly denounced the Democrats' actions on the committee, and Democrats reiterated their demand that the Trump administration turn over the full report.

At the end of the hearing, after six hours of debate, lawmakers voted 24-16 — along party lines — to hold Barr in contempt. The contempt resolution will now be considered by the full House of Representatives, where it is likely to pass.

Here are some of the key moments:

Rep. Jordan: "Bill Barr is following the law"

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, slammed Democrats for holding the hearing and defended the attorney general's attempts to investigate the origins of the Mueller investigation.

"Bill Barr is following the law," Jordan said. "What's his reward? Democrats are going to hold him in contempt. I don't think today is about getting information. I don't think it's about getting the unredacted Mueller report....it's all about trying to destroy Bill Barr."

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Rep. Jackson Lee: Trump taking a 'wrecking ball to the Constitution'

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Tex., used her speaking time during the hearing to critique President Donald Trump's decision to exert executive privilege over the entire unredacted Mueller report.

"I'm pausing for a moment because I do think this is a moment in history," Jackson Lee said. "I can only conclude that the president now seeks to take a wrecking ball to the Constitution."

Rep. Scanlon: 'If you think there is no collusion and no obstruction, you haven't read the Mueller report'

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Penn., the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, slammed the administration's attempts to prevent the release of the full report.

"If you think there is no collusion and no obstruction, you have not read the Mueller Report. I am not afraid, I am profoundly saddened," said Scanlon. "We have an administration acting not just in contempt of Congress and the rule of law but the American people."

Rep. Jerry Nadler: 'Trump administration has taken obstruction of Congress to new heights'

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called for the full release of the Mueller report and denounced the "obstruction of Congress" by the Trump administration.

“But, no matter the fact that the law and history clearly support the release to Congress of this kind of information, the Trump Administration has taken obstruction of Congress to new heights," said Nadler. "Unfortunately, the Attorney General has been all too willing to support the President in this endeavor."

Rep. Doug Collins: 'Dems are afraid of what the AG will find'

The lead Republican on the committee, Doug Collins, R-Ga., argued that Democrats were attempting to "neutralize" Barr's investigations into alleged abuses at the Department of Justice.

"Democrats are afraid of what the AG will find regarding FISA abuses at DOJ, including how the Russia investigation began," said Collins. "Reports suggest those conclusions could be explosive and lead to criminal prosecution. Desperate, Dems have resolved to neutralize Barr by attacking his integrity."

Rep. Cohen: 'We're afraid of the loss of the rule of law'

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., struck a more somber tone, stressing the committee's oversight duties over the executive branch. Cohen had previously mocked Barr as "chicken Barr," bringing a bucket of fried chicken and a chicken figurine to represent Barr when he declined to testify before the committee last week.

"Somebody said we're afraid. Yes, we're afraid," said Cohen. "We're afraid of the loss of the rule of law. We're afraid of the loss of power to be an independent coequal branch of government — and we face that today if we don't stand up."

Rep. Nadler: United States now in a 'Constitutional crisis'

In a press conference after the hearing, Nadler said that the contempt resolution would soon be considered by the full House of Representatives and warned of the "Constitutional crisis" that the country faced in the standoff between the executive and legislative branches.

“We’ve talked for a long time about approaching a Constitutional crisis. We are now in it," said Nadler.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Key moments from the House Judiciary hearing to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt