Attorney General William Barr surprised the U.S. Attorneys’ National Conference Wednesday morning with a bagpipes performance before delivering remarks.

At a gathering of U.S. attorneys at the Justice Department, Barr grabbed a set of bagpipes to join the Emerald Society of the New York Police Department’s pipe band, which was already performing for the conference. 

{mosads}Barr was greeted with applause from the crowd. 

“How was that for an icebreaker,” Barr quipped to open his speech.

Barr joked that he “discovered the plot” to invite the band and wanted to “counter surprise” his colleagues at the Justice Department.

“As you know, I’m very proficient at, dare I say the word, spying,” Barr said.

VIDEO:
Before delivering remarks this morning to a gathering of U.S. attorneys at the Justice Department, Attorney General William Barr played the bagpipes: pic.twitter.com/4OGLmlenUc

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 26, 2019

Mueller is testifying, and Attorney General Bill Barr is bagpipin’ pic.twitter.com/LGCwP66Nno

— Matt Zapotosky (@mattzap) June 26, 2019

Barr said the last time he played the bagpipes was Dec. 8 at his daughter’s wedding. Barr’s nomination was announced Dec. 7, and he said his daughter joked he would “upstage her” at her wedding, to which he responded that she was changing her name, “just before the name Barr is dragged through the mud.” 

Barr complimented the “great results” of the U.S. attorneys’ work in his remarks, calling it a “privilege” to work with the group.

He said he is focused on continuing “full speed ahead” on the agenda set by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, addressing issues like violent crime, drugs, immigration and national security.

“We still see persistent violent crime, growing national security threats, record threats from illegal drug distribution and the increasing reach of transnational criminal organizations and a crisis on our southern border, all despite the department’s record-breaking efforts.”