Attorney General Bill Barr recuses from the Jeffrey Epstein case — here's why

Attorney General Bill Barr has announced he will recuse from the Jeffrey Epstein case following an indictment of the billionaire on sex trafficking charges, CNN reported.

"He told reporters in South Carolina one of the law firms that represented Epstein long ago was a firm Barr subsequently joined," according to CNN.

Former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah reported that Barr had said during his confirmation hearing that this conflict could potentially lead him to recuse from an Epstein-related case.

I had argued that Barr should recuse from the investigation given Epstein's long friendship with Donald Trump, and the attorney general's demonstrated inclination to act as the president's defense lawyer rather than the chief law enforcement official when Trump is involved. It was unclear if Barr would follow through on recusal, given his steadfast refusal to recusal from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation despite widespread calls for him to do so. But having said he might have to recuse from the Epstein case during his confirmation hearing, it seems he was boxed in.