(WXYZ) — U.S. Attorney General William Barr is claiming he was not aware of threats made against Governor Gretchen Whitmer by protesters who opposed her stay-at-home orders.
Barr was part of a heated back-and-forth on Capitol Hill Tuesday with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
The Democrat questioned Barr over the differences between the Trump administration's response toward protests against police brutality and the protests against coronavirus lockdowns in Michigan, when protesters took guns into the state capitol.
"You take an aggressive approach to Black Lives Matter protests but not to right wing extremists threatening to lynch a governor if it's for the president's benefit. Did I get it right, Mr. Barr?" said Rep. Jayapal.
"I have responsibility for the federal government and the White House, which is the executive branch," Barr responded.
Watch the exchange below:
Democrats are accusing Barr of politicizing the Justice Department, saying his actions have benefitted President Trump and his re-election campaign.
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