President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's pick to serve as his next top cop said Tuesday that former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE made the right decision when he recused himself from overseeing the Russia probe.

When asked by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamThe Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Senate Democrats' campaign arm announces seven-figure investment to boost Graham challenger Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation MORE (R-S.C.) whether he agreed with Sessions's choice, William Barr said he believes so.

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"I'm not sure of all the facts, but I think he probably did the right thing recusing himself," Barr told Graham.

Graham, an ally of Trump's in the upper chamber, agreed.

"I think he did the right thing to recuse himself," Graham replied.

Before Sessions resigned from his post in early November, at Trump's request, the president repeatedly attacked him over the decision to recuse himself from overseeing the high-profile probe that has cast a shadow over his administration.

The line of questioning at Tuesday's confirmation hearing came after Barr made the case that there are times when a special counsel is needed to investigate matters.

He said special counsels, when there are "good reasons" to have a prosecutor from outside the department investigate a matter, "provide additional assurance of nonpartisan" work.

He said he appointed three when he served as attorney general in the early 1990s during the George H.W. Bush administration.

Trump has criticized special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, calling his Russia investigation a "witch hunt."

The probe is said to be nearing its end amid reports Mueller is trying to interview Trump about key events during the 2016 presidential election.