While taking questions in front of the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Bill Barr was asked by Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) about federal agents firing teargas at protesters and "using brutal tactics to crush demonstrations."
As she spoke, Powell played a video clip of some of the unrest in Portland, saying that it's hard to distinguish the images from an event happening in the U.S. to an event happening in dictatorships around the world.
"How do you restore the trust in our democracy," she asked Barr.
According to Barr, the use of force in the video was being used against "rioters," and not peaceful protesters.
"Most of the protests have been peaceful, Mr. Barr, you know that," Powell said. "You're just using language for political purposes."
Barr tried to answer, but Powell pressed on, turning to the subject of healthcare in the midst of a global pandemic, accusing him of working to "strip" people's healthcare at "the worst possible moment when the coronavirus is killing thousands of people in my state."
When Powell tried to get Barr to answer if he agreed with President Trump's past comments saying Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was doing an "incredible job" combating the virus in the state, Barr switched the subject to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"Did Cuomo do an incredible job in New York?" Barr shot back.
Watch the full exchange below:
