Hinshaw Special Counsel Bill Roberts Calls on U.S. Senate to Confirm William Barr as Attorney General

Hinshaw special counsel Bill Roberts discussed with Bernard Schoenburg of The State Journal-Register his longtime relationship with William Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee for Attorney General. Earlier this week, Barr testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing.

Roberts, who worked under Barr while serving as chairman of the attorney general's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys from 1990-1993, called for the Senate to confirm Barr as Attorney General. Barr had previously served as Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush from 1991–1993.

"[Barr is] a smart guy," Roberts said. "He's an honorable guy. He's a fair guy. He is decisive. I admired him as the attorney general when I watched him, and I have no reason to believe he would be anything other than an outstanding attorney general [this time around]."

Roberts also recalled regular morning meetings with Barr, Robert Mueller, Ken Starr and other Justice Department division directors during his time in Washington D.C. He said he thought Mueller and Barr are "pretty close" and "know each other well" and from everything he observed "there was a deep respect between the two of them." Mueller is currently investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election as Special Counsel—a topic on which Hinshaw's David Weinstein has provided regular analysis on regional and national media.

"Bernard Schoenburg: Roberts lauds AG nominee Barr as honorable, fair, decisive" was published by The State Journal-Register, January 16, 2019.