Top 5 moments from first day of William Barr's confirmation hearing for attorney general

WASHINGTON – The nation had front-row seats to the first day of confirmation hearings for William Barr, President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general.

Barr, who previously served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, took on questions from everything on gun policies, civil rights and immigration to how he would oversee the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a probe that has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency.

Here are the top five moments from his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The hearings is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.

1. Barr won't halt Mueller probe

Barr asserted that President Donald Trump exacted no promises of favoritism and that he would not direct the Justice Department as an extension of the White House.

Throughout the all-day hearing, Barr provided unflinching assurances that he would allow special counsel Robert Mueller to complete the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

“I don’t believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt," Barr said, acknowledging a long professional association and personal friendship with the special counsel. He said it would be “unimaginable” that Mueller would engage in conduct that would warrant his removal.

Trump has repeatedly called Mueller’s investigation a “witch hunt” and accused Mueller of waging a politically charged campaign against him.

Barr committed to providing the necessary resources to the special counsel investigation, and when asked for a pledge to keep Mueller on the job, Barr told California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the panel’s ranking Democrat, “Absolutely.”

A big point of disagreement between the president and his last attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was Sessions' decision to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation.

Trump repeatedly voiced his frustration with Sessions' decision and his criticisms over how the investigation was being handled.

2. Unclear if Barr would recuse himself

Barr said he would seek the advice of Justice ethics officials on whether he should recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation, but he would not commit to following their recommendation.

“I make the decision,” Barr said, adding that he would take action “in good faith, based on the law and the facts.”

Questions about Barr’s recusal have been raised since last month after the disclosure of a 19-page memorandum he wrote that said Mueller’s inquiry into possible obstruction by the president was “fatally misconceived.”

Committee Democrats and some Republicans seized on the memo as a gauge of Trump’s possible influence over the nominee.

“If confirmed, the president is going to expect you to do his bidding; I can almost guarantee you he’ll cross the line at some point,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told Barr.

Late last year, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker refused to follow the recommendation of ethics officials that he recuse himself from involvement in Mueller’s inquiry because of public statements assailing the special counsel’s inquiry.

3. Barr supports a border wall

During much of the hearing, Barr presented himself as independent-minded and unworried about any pressure that might come from President Donald Trump if they were to disagree.

But when the subject of immigration came up, Barr on Tuesday sounded very much like Trump.

“We need a barrier system on the border in order to get control of the border,” he told lawmakers.

The federal government has been partially shut down for more than three weeks because President Trump demanded that his proposal for a border wall be funded before he would agree to any budget deal with Congress.

Democrats who control the House refuse to budge on Trump’s request, arguing that his wall proposal is impractical and a waste of money.

After his initial response, Barr seemed to make a point of repeating several times that a “barrier” was needed to stem these problems.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., sought to clarify Barr's view: "Are you advocating a wall?

"I am advocating a barrier system," Barr said. "In some places, it may not be necessary to have a wall."

4. 'Won't be bullied,' would resign

Throughout his hours answering questions from lawmakers, Barr sought to convey his independence from Trump and the White House.

Some of his answers when it came to Mueller's investigation and immigration didn't line up with some of the comments that have previously come from members of the president's cabinet.

"I’m in a position in life to provide the leadership necessary to protect the independence of this department," Barr told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I won’t do anything that I think is wrong; I won’t be bullied into doing anything I think is wrong."

Later when asked about protecting the president and the role of the attorney general in that regard, Barr told lawmakers that, "If I was ever asked to do something that I felt was unlawful and directed to do that, I wouldn't do it and I would resign rather than do it."

5. An unlikely star: Barr's grandson

While the nation tuned in to watch Barr's remarks, his 8-year-old grandson seemed to steal the spotlight for much of the day.

Barr's grandson, Liam, caught the attention of lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats alike, who offered him snacks, a chance to sit with them and even a bit of career advice.

Barr, while listing the list of attorneys in his family, introduced Liam as a future Justice Department employee to a crowded room of laughter.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. and chair of the committee, interrupted Barr, telling the 8-year-old boy, "Think about medical school, Liam. Somebody needs to make money in the family."

His feet dangling in the air, unable to reach the ground, Liam sat in the front row of the audience and used a pen and notepad to get through the all-day affair.

He wrote a sweet letter to his grandpa, telling him, "I love you so much. You are doing great so far." Liam wrote that he was "having so much fun."

After six hours on the Hill, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., paused before resuming questioning to say she was sending a “care package” from the dais that included a bag of chips, a Snickers candy bar and a granola bar to Barr’s grandson for making it so far into the hearing.

“He deserves a medal,” Feinstein said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top 5 moments from first day of William Barr's confirmation hearing for attorney general