Lindsey Graham asks about debunked right-wing conspiracies in William Barr hearing

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the new Judiciary Committee chair, opened up the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s new attorney general pick with a series of questions about right-wing conspiracy theories related to the Russia investigation.

That doesn’t exactly bode well for the rest of the hearing — and perhaps his whole tenure at the committee’s helm.

Graham asked William Barr, Trump’s nominee for the country’s top legal post, about whether he would investigate the people investigating Trump. Barr will take over supervision of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation if confirmed.

Graham asked Barr about Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two former federal investigators, who texted each other messages bashing Trump and saying that they would “stop” his 2016 election victory.

There is still no proof that they inappropriately used their positions at the FBI to work against Trump — in fact, reviews of the texts show no conspiracy between them against the president. But when Graham asked, “How do these statements sit with you?” Barr said he was “shocked” when he saw the texts in public reports.

Graham then turned to Bruce Ohr.

Ohr works in the criminal division of the Justice Department, but within some conservative circles, he is considered a dirty official who knew about former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele and the salacious dossier Steele helped create. Ohr met and emailed multiple times with Steele, and they were in contact from 2002 to 2017. Ohr’s wife, Nellie Ohr, also worked at Fusion GPS, the company Steele worked for when writing the dossier.

But while the optics look bad, there’s no clear indication that Ohr somehow orchestrated the Steele report to embarrass and ruin Trump’s chances of a presidential victory. When Graham asked Barr if the Ohr’s connections to Fusion GPS and Steele bothered him, though, Barr responded, “Yes.”

Trump has tweeted his displeasure about Ohr on multiple occasions, mostly wondering aloud why Ohr still works for the government.

Graham then asked Barr what he thought about the special counsel. Barr, who said he’s known Mueller for three decades, said he didn’t believe Mueller would engage in a “witch hunt” against the president after Graham prompted him.

Put together, it’s clear that Graham used one of the most important moments of the hearing — the chair’s initial questions — to hear the attorney general’s views on right-wing talking points. What’s more, when it comes to Strzok, Page, and the Ohrs, it seems Barr shares some of Graham’s worries.

The moment illustrates that Graham’s tenure at the Justice panel’s helm may be a tumultuous one — and that Barr’s time at the Justice Department, if confirmed, may be just as turbulent.