WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr will testify before Congress about the protests following the death of George Floyd and denounce the violent unrest that has erupted across the country.
In his opening statement issued before the House Judiciary Committee hearing, Barr says that Floyd’s death at the hands of the police in May “understandably shook the entire country and forced us to reflect on longstanding issues in our nation”.
And while it was a “shocking event,” Barr will say, “The fact is, such events are fortunately quite rare.”
“According to statistics compiled by the Washington Post, the number of unarmed black men killed by the police so far this year is eight. The number of unarmed white men killed by the police during the same period is 11,” he said. .
Barr says in his statement that the decision to deploy federal agents in various cities in the country where demonstrations are taking place “has nothing to do with the problem of violent mafia riots” and, instead, is “designed to help State and local law enforcement agencies to meet their basic responsibility to solve crimes and keep their communities safe. “
However, the attorney general specifically addresses the situation in Portland, saying: “After George Floyd’s death, violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests to wreak havoc and senseless destruction on innocent victims. The current situation in Portland is one saying example “.
Barr will also discuss the Russia investigation, which he describes as a “false Russiagate scandal” that involved “serious abuse.”
Barr will also say that the president has not interfered in any decision and that all matters have been left to his “independent judgment.”
