Democrats 'are prepared' to win the battle against AG Bill Barr: Judiciary senator

On Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a prominent member of the Senate Judiciary, reiterated his call for Attorney General William Barr to step down amid allegations he distorted special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report and misled Congress.

"The attorney general is indeed continuing to block and tackle for the White House," Blumenthal told MSNBC's Chris Hayes, adding that his "credibility was shattered yesterday. He needs to resign."

"Do you understand yourself as locked into a constitutional death match with the president at this point?" asked Hayes, noting that Blumenthal and others have rarely gone this far in criticizing members of President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

"There certainly right now is a constitutional confrontation," said Blumenthal. "It's a slow-moving conflagration that has to be taken to the courts. We need to present this case to the court through a contempt citation. That's the right way to do it. We also need to present the case to the American people."

"Are you prepared to take it where it goes?" Hayes asked.

"I am prepared and I believe my colleagues are prepared," replied Blumenthal.

When Hayes suggested to Blumenthal that he and his colleagues might be "scared" to pursue the matter, he pushed back.

"We should be respectful and deliberate and determined. That means thinking through the strategy before we simply take the action or fire the gun," said Blumenthal. "Number two, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. My colleagues who say we care about health care and taxes and jobs and economic progress. Absolutely right ... At the same time we have to hold Donald Trump accountable."

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