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 BarrSupreme Court comes to Trump's aid on immigration Words matter, except to Democrats, when it involves impeaching Trump Justice OIG completes probe on FBI surveillance of ex-Trump campaign aide 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 NadlerWords matter, except to Democrats, when it involves impeaching Trump Nadler: Impeachment inquiry a 'made-up term' but it's essentially 'what we are doing' DOJ files brief arguing against House impeachment probe 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 NadlerWords matter, except to Democrats, when it involves impeaching Trump Nadler: Impeachment inquiry a 'made-up term' but it's essentially 'what we are doing' DOJ files brief arguing against House impeachment probe MORE: President TrumpDonald John TrumpHarris bashes Kavanaugh's 'sham' nomination process, calls for his impeachment after sexual misconduct allegation Celebrating 'Hispanic Heritage Month' in the Age of Trump Let's not play Charlie Brown to Iran's Lucy 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 MuellerFox's Cavuto roasts Trump over criticism of network Mueller report fades from political conversation Trump calls for probe of Obama book deal MORE's report.

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Rep. Steve CohenStephen (Steve) Ira CohenTrump probes threaten to overshadow Democrats' agenda Ocasio-Cortez renews impeachment call amid probe involving Trump's Scotland property The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump digs in on Hurricane Dorian projection 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 CollinsJustice OIG completes probe on FBI surveillance of ex-Trump campaign aide Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers ramp up Silicon Valley antitrust probe | Treasury sanctions North Korean cyber groups | Thiel to host Kobach fundraiser House antitrust panel seeks internal records from Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook MORE (R-Ga.) declared Nadler was only staging a “circus political stunt” to make the House hearing appear like an impeachment hearing.