Democrats are edging closer to holding the attorney general of the United States in contempt of Congress, after William Barr ditched testimony in which he was expected to discuss his controversial handling of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report.

The threats to hold Mr Barr in contempt followed shortly after House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler gaveled in a nearly empty hearing on the report Thursday morning, and Democrats began decrying what they see as an administration running rough-shod over US democratic institutions.

With a seat assigned to the attorney general sitting vacant, Democrats railed against America’s top law enforcement officer for refusing to hand over the full Mueller report, and the underlying evidence, and questioned why he made false statements to Congress about the report in April.

“The attorney general must make a choice,” Mr Nadler said, as a colleague ate fried chicken nearby in a statement about the attorney general’s lack of courage before the committee.

“Every one of us must make the same choice,” the New York Democrat continued. “That choice is now an obligation of our office. The choice is simple: we can stand up to this president in defence of the country and the Constitution we love, or we can let the moment pass us by.”

Mueller investigation: The key figures Show all 12 1 /12 Mueller investigation: The key figures Mueller investigation: The key figures Robert Mueller is the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Mr Mueller has a pristine reputation in Washington, where he was previously in charge of the FBI. Throughout his investigation, he and his team have been notoriously tight lipped about what they know and where their investigation has led. REUTERS Mueller investigation: The key figures Former FBI director James Comey was the catalyst that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Comey was fired by the president after Mr Trump reportedly asked him to drop his own Russia investigation. Mr Trump has long maintained that the investigation is a "witch hunt". AFP/Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had authority over the special counsel investigation for much of the two years it has been active. Mr Rosenstein found himself with that responsibility after then-attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself from that oversight. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney general Jeff Sessions's decision to recuse himself from oversight of the special counsel investigation may have cost him his job in the end. Mr Sessions resigned last year, after weathering a contentious relationship with Donald Trump who vocally criticised his attorney general for taking a step back. Mr Sessions recused himself from the oversight citing longstanding Justice Department rules to not be involved in investigations overseeing campaigns that officials were apart of. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Attorney General William Barr is currently responsible for oversight of the special counsel investigation. Mr Barr's office will be the first to receive the Mueller report when it is finished. His office will then determine what portion or version of that report should be delivered to Congress, and also made public. EPA Mueller investigation: The key figures Michal Cohn is the president's former personal lawyer, who has been helping the special counsel investigation as a part of a plea deal over financial crimes, and campaign finance crimes, he has pleaded guilty to. Among those crimes, Cohen admitted to facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Cohen has said he did so at the direction of Mr Trump. Cohen has also admitted that he maintained contacts with Russian officials about a potential Trump real estate project in Moscow for months longer than Mr Trump and others admitted. The talks continued well into 2016 during the campaign, he has said. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Stormy Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, soon after Melania Trump gave birth to Baron Trump. The accusation is of particular importance as a result of the $130,000 hush money payment she received to keep quiet about the affair during the 2016 campaign. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Paul Manafort was Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. Manafort was charged alongside Rick Gates for a slew of financial crimes, and was convicted on several counts in a Virginia court. He then pleaded guilty to separate charges filed in a Washington court. Manafort has been sentenced to just 7.5 years in prison for his crimes — in spite of recommendations from the special counsel's office for a much harsher sentence. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures George Papadopoulos was one of the first individuals associated with the Trump campaign to be charged by the Mueller probe. He ultimately received a 14 day prison sentence for lying to investigators about contacts he had with Russian officials. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Roger Stone is a well known political fixer and operative, who has made a name for himself for some dirty tactics. He has been charged by the Mueller probe earlier this year, and he has been said to have had prior knowledge that WikiLeaks planned on publishing stolen emails from the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. Getty Images Mueller investigation: The key figures Rick Gates was charged alongside former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for a range of crimes. Gates, who worked alongside Manafort for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party. The two were charged with conspiracy and financial crimes. Gates pleaded guilty. AP Mueller investigation: The key figures Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was one of the first casualties of the Russia scandal, and was forced out of his position in the White House weeks after Donald Trump took office. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to "willfully" making fraudulent statements about contacts he had with Russian officials including former Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Flynn then lied to Vice President Mike Pence about that contact. REUTERS

Of particular concern for Democrats is the recently revealed letter from Mr Mueller to Mr Barr in March, in which he expressed concern about a four-page summary letter the attorney general sent to Congress shortly after receiving the special counsel’s full report. Mr Barr would later tell Congress, weeks later, that he was unaware that Mr Mueller had any misgivings on his portrayal of the report.

Later on Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the gravity of the scenario.

“What is deadly serious about it is the attorney general of the United States of America was not telling the truth to the Congress of the United States,” Ms Pelosi told reporters, referencing April testimony in which Mr Barr said he was not aware that Mr Mueller was uncomfortable with the way he had portrayed the report.

“That’s a crime,” Ms Pelosi continued.

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In response, the Justice Department released the following statement, according to The New York Times: “Speaker Pelosi’s baseless attack on the attorney general is reckless, irresponsible and false.”

During his Senate testimony on Wednesday, Mr Barr had attempted to explain away the letter from Mr Mueller by saying he had reached out directly to the special counsel to discuss his concerns. After that conversation, Mr Barr said, he came away with the impression that there was no real issue.

Democrats are also seeking to force the Justice Department to hand over the full Mueller report, and the underlying evidence uncovered by the nearly two year investigation.

It is unclear how they may force the attorney general’s hand, should he decide not to cooperate. But, following the release of the letter from Mr Mueller, some lawmakers have raised the potential of opening an impeachment inquiry, which would give the House the power to demand information from the executive branch.

Rep. Steve Cohen mocks William Barr's refusal to attend hearing with box of fried chicken: 'he's here!'

Others have raised the potential to hold Mr Barr in contemplate, which is not a punitive measure but would be a mark on the man’s record. The strategy was used in 2012 by House Republicans against then-attorney general Eric Holder after he refused to hand over internal Justice Department documents.

Republicans have pushed back on Democrat attacks of Mr Barr — and the president, who has also been the target if whispers of impeachment — and have said their Democratic colleagues are to blame for Mr Barr’s refusal to return to Congress for a second round of testimony on Thursday.

“The reason Bill Barr is not here today is because the Democrats decided they did not want him here today,” said Representative Doug Collins, indicating he thinks Democrats were creating a conflict for Mr Barr.

Mr Nadler has said that Mr Mueller has agreed to speak to the House Judiciary Committee sometime in May, although a specific date has not been set.