Attorney General William Barr argued Wednesday that coronavirus-related lockdown orders were surpassed only by slavery as the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in the nations history.
The remarks from the attorney general came during an event hosted by Hillsdale College, where Barr delivered a speech defending his intervention in high-profile Justice Department cases and comparing career prosecutors to preschoolers.
Its you know, other than slavery, which was a different kind of restraint, this is the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history, Barr said during a question-and-answer session following his remarks.
Barr also used the appearance to address the widespread criticism he has faced as the nations top law enforcement officer for allegedly interfering in criminal cases on behalf of President Donald Trumps political interests.
The attorney general specifically attacked Justice Department attorneys who had made prosecutorial decisions with which he disagreed.
Barr asserted that individual prosecutors can sometimes become headhunters, consumed with taking down their target, and charged that smart, ambitious lawyers have sought to amass glory by prosecuting prominent public figures since the Roman Republic.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows defended the attorney general Thursday morning amid fallout from Barrs remarks, saying the Trump administration was working to restore the integrity to the Department of Justice and the FBI.
House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn , however, fiercely condemned Barrs comment likening coronavirus restrictions to slavery, calling it one of the most ridiculous, tone-deaf, God-awful things Ive ever heard.
The four government attorneys who had shepherded Stones prosecution then withdrew from the case in protest, and Trump personally congratulated Barr for taking charge of the matter.
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