U.S. Attorney General Barr not to appear before u.S. House panel

U.S. Attorney General William Barr will no longer appear as planned before the Democratically controlled House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, after its Chairman Jerrold Nadler insisted on allowing committee staff members to participate in public questioning, a Justice Department spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"Chairman Nadler placed conditions on the House Judiciary Committee hearing that are unprecedented and unnecessary," Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said in a statement. She added that Barr "remains happy to engage directly with members on their questions" concerning Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.