William Barr was sworn in as the 85th attorney general of the United States on Thursday, immediately assuming leadership of a Justice Department in the midst of multiple criminal investigations that have shadowed President Donald Trump’s administration and ensnared a half-dozen former Trump aides.
Barr took the oath at a closed White House ceremony with his family after the Senate voted to confirm him on a largely party-line vote of 54-45, allowing him to become only the second person in history to serve twice as the attorney general. His confirmation came despite concerns from some Democrats about how Barr planned to oversee special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders called the confirmation “a major victory for justice and the rule of law.”
Barr steps into a difficult job as the country’s top law enforcement officer, three months after Trump ousted his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who endured more than a year of criticism for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, which the president has repeatedly derided as a “witch hunt.” Trump complained to the newspaper The Hill in September that “I have no attorney general.”
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
UK Probes Lindab’s Acquisition of HAS-Vent Amid Fears of Market Monopoly
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Shein Faces EU Regulations Over User Data
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Google Fights Back Against US Antitrust Lawsuit
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
US Homeland Security Establishes Blue-Ribbon Board with Tech CEOs to Advise on AI
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
FTC Accuses Amazon Executives of Using Disappearing Messaging Apps to Conceal Evidence
Apr 28, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI