CNN, Fox, MSNBC air split-screens of Nadler and empty chair for Barr

Cable news outlets opted Thursday to show an empty chair where Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrDems plan marathon prep for Senate trial, wary of Trump trying to 'game' the process Pentagon to place new restrictions, monitoring on foreign military students Parnas: Environment around Trump 'like a cult' MORE would have sat for the morning's House Judiciary Committee hearing.

CNN, Fox News and MSNBC all featured split-screens of Judiciary Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerMcConnell locks in schedule for start of impeachment trial Pelosi: Trump's impeachment 'cannot be erased' House to vote Wednesday on sending articles of impeachment to Senate MORE (D-N.Y.) and the empty chair that Democrats had set aside for Barr despite the announcement Wednesday night that he would not appear.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerMcConnell locks in schedule for start of impeachment trial Pelosi: Trump's impeachment 'cannot be erased' House to vote Wednesday on sending articles of impeachment to Senate MORE: President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE “wants desperately to prevent Congress, a co-equal branch of government, from providing any check whatsoever to even to his most reckless decisions” pic.twitter.com/sNVzo5qqQP

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 2, 2019

Democrats hammered Barr on Thursday for not showing up to the hearing, which was slated to be held a day after the attorney general appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a four-hour grilling over his handling of special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerSchiff: Trump acquittal in Senate trial would not signal a 'failure' Jeffries blasts Trump for attack on Thunberg at impeachment hearing Live coverage: House Judiciary to vote on impeachment after surprise delay MORE's report.

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Rep. Steve CohenStephen (Steve) Ira Cohen2019 in Photos: 35 pictures in politics Gabbard under fire for 'present' vote on impeachment Gabbard votes 'present' on impeaching Trump MORE (D-Tenn.) placed Kentucky Fried Chicken on Barr's microphone stand while referring to Barr as a coward after the hearing ended. 

.@RepCohen places a glass chicken in place of AG Barr https://t.co/ZcvGtfCcIz pic.twitter.com/r7BUKyRIkA

— The Hill (@thehill) May 2, 2019

Rep. Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsThe five dumbest things said about impeachment so far Pelosi accepts Collins's apology for saying Democrats are 'in love with terrorists' Trump's legal team gets set for impeachment trial MORE (R-Ga.) declared Nadler was only staging a “circus political stunt” to make the House hearing appear like an impeachment hearing.