
The hashtag "ImpeachBarr" was trending on Twitter on Friday after the Justice Department announced Thursday night that it was opening a criminal inquiry into its own Russia probe.
After former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerTrump says he'll release financial records before election, knocks Dems' efforts House impeachment hearings: The witch hunt continues Speier says impeachment inquiry shows 'very strong case of bribery' by Trump MORE closed the official investigation months ago, a new criminal inquiry will proceed to figure out how the investigation of Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election and President Trump
Donald John TrumpRepublicans consider skipping witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Bombshell Afghanistan report bolsters calls for end to 'forever wars' Lawmakers dismiss Chinese retaliatory threat to US tech MORE’s alleged collusion with Russia began.
Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrHillicon Valley: Apple, Facebook defend encryption during Senate grilling | Tech legal shield makes it into trade deal | Impeachment controversy over phone records heats up | TikTok chief cancels Capitol Hill meetings Giuliani: Trump asked me to brief Justice Department, GOP lawmakers on Ukraine trip Apple, Facebook defend encryption during Senate grilling MORE, who has closely reviewed how the department handled the Russia investigation, is under fire for shifting the administrative review to a criminal inquiry and allowing the prosecutor presiding over the inquiry, John DurhamJohn DurhamBarr criticizes FBI, says it's possible agents acted in 'bad faith' in Trump probe Democrats rip Barr over IG statement: 'Mouthpiece' for Trump Barr: Horowitz report shows FBI launched Trump campaign investigation on 'thinnest of suspicions' MORE, to subpoena for witness testimony and documents, put together a grand jury and file charges.
More than 69,000 people had tweeted using the hashtag as of Friday afternoon.
Actor Jon Cryer tweeted, “Attorney General William Barr willfully misled the American public about the damning contents of the Mueller Report. He must be impeached and removed from office.”
Attorney General William Barr willfully misled the American public about the damning contents of the Mueller Report.
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) October 25, 2019
He must be impeached and removed from office. #ImpeachBarr https://t.co/hP3l5J6XDg
Peter Daou, a Democratic strategist who has advised figures including former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump trade deal likely to sow division in Democratic presidential field Trump supporters at Pa. rally 'upset' after Democrats introduce impeachment articles Hillary Clinton documentary to premiere at Sundance MORE, tweeted that Barr is a “danger to US democracy.”
Hundreds of others slammed Barr over the probe and said he should be removed from office.
So William Barr secretly buried the criminal referrals filed against Donald Trump by his own appointees but is now opening up criminal investigations against the president’s perceived political enemies.
— Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) October 25, 2019
We no longer have a republic.
This is a dictatorship.
This is not the action of a man with nothing to hide.
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) October 25, 2019
BREAKING: Trump plans to appeal House Democrats' subpoena for financial records to Supreme Court #impeachtrump #impeachbarr #fridayfeeling #fridaymorning #fridaythoughts #fridaymotivation https://t.co/6WZeQXHlUM pic.twitter.com/8pSCCjOH9V
A Twitter spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.