William Barr, 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 be the next attorney general, takes the hot seat Tuesday for two consecutive days of grilling by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It will be somewhat familiar territory for Barr, a corporate lawyer who served as the nation’s 77th attorney general during the George H.W. Bush administration.

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Barr has been nominated to succeed 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 following his Nov. 7 resignation, at Trump’s request, that culminated a months-long feud with the president over his decision to recuse himself from oversight of the Russia investigation.

Given Trump’s reputation for demanding loyalty from his Cabinet members, Barr’s commitment to the president is sure to be highly scrutinized.

Here are five things to watch for during the hearings.

Barr’s stance on the Mueller probe

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’s investigation into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign will be front and center as senators try to nail down where Barr stands on the probe and his views regarding the investigation.

The nominee, who has been trying to defuse tensions in private meetings with senators, is expected to tell the committee that it’s in the “best interest of everyone” to let the probe finish and that he will make as much of Mueller’s report public “as I can consistent with the law,” according to his prepared testimony.

Democrats will try to poke holes in his stance by bringing up his past criticisms, and have publicly said he should recuse himself from oversight of the probe. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Barr wrote in an unsolicited memo in June that the probe is based on a “fatally misconceived” theory and would do “lasting damage” to the presidency.

Barr explained in his prepared remarks that the memo was narrow in scope and based on a specific obstruction of justice theory under a single statute he thought the special counsel might have been considering.

Barr will also face questions about legislation that would protect Mueller from being fired without “good cause.” In a potential point of tension, Barr indicated to Sen. Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Del.), one of the bill’s sponsors, during their one-on-one meeting that he didn’t support a “judicial remedy” for Mueller if he is fired.

Trump’s influence on the nominee

The biggest shadow looming over the hearing, second to Mueller, is Trump himself.

Barr will use part of his opening statement to harken back to his 1991 confirmation hearing, when he warned against “political interference” in the Department of Justice.

But Democrats want to hear specifics on whether he thinks Trump is above the law, if the president demanded loyalty from him and what his views are when it comes to presidential pardons.

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Trump has not ruled out a pardon for his former campaign chairman,, who was convicted of bank and tax fraud last year.

Barr argued in a 2017 Washington Post opinion piece that Trump made the right decision in firing then-FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyTrump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' MORE, a move viewed by some as an attempt to obstruct the agency’s investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential

election.

“The notion that the integrity of this investigation depends on Comey’s presence just does not hold water,” Barr wrote.

Any lingering Kavanaugh tensions

The confirmation hearings will mark the committee’s first high-stakes public vetting since last year’s fight over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh Brett Michael KavanaughSenate Democrats' campaign arm announces seven-figure investment to boost Graham challenger Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Conservatives see glaring omission on Trump's Supreme Court shortlist MORE’s nomination.

The Kavanaugh hearings were contentious from the very beginning because he was succeeding Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court’s perennial swing voter. But the battle turned into a war when Kavanaugh was hit with sexual misconduct allegations, leading to a second round of hearings that exposed deep divisions within the panel.

In a call with reporters Monday, Coons said there is still tension among committee members.

He referred to Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing as “one of the most divisive and charged” he’s participated in and said he hopes “everyone will conduct themselves in appropriate, professional ways.”

2020 Dems

Democrats eyeing the White House in 2020 are searching for ways to distinguish themselves as the party braces for a crowded presidential primary field. Barr’s confirmation hearing will give those hopefuls one of their first high-profile chances to battle for media attention as 2020 jockeying kicks into high gear.

Democratic Sens. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerDHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility Black Voters Matter Fund deploying voter outreach caravans in 12 states to drive turnout MORE (N.J.), Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisScott Walker helping to prep Pence for debate against Harris: report California family frustrated that governor, Harris used fire-damaged property for 'photo opportunity' Moderna releases coronavirus vaccine trial plan as enrollment pushes toward 30,000 MORE (Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (Minn.) — all members of the committee and viewed as potential White House candidates — managed to capture part of the spotlight during Kavanaugh’s hearing last year.

Booker rankled his Republican colleagues by leaking information marked “committee confidential” and comparing himself to Spartacus. Klobuchar’s interaction with Kavanaugh went viral when, in response to a question about whether he had ever blacked out while drinking, he responded by saying: “I don’t know, have you?”

Klobuchar on Monday said she was planning to press Barr on a range of topics during the hearing.

“I will be questioning him tomorrow about his views on executive power and the proper role of the Attorney General,” Klobuchar said in a tweet.

Sen. 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.)

Tuesday’s hearing will be the first time Graham has helmed a Judiciary Committee meeting since he became chairman last week.

The South Carolina Republican, who is up for reelection in 2020, has seesawed between moderating deal-maker and firebrand ally during the Trump administration — raising questions about which persona he’ll don during Barr’s hearing.

Some have questioned Graham’s temperament to run the committee after he lashed out at Democrats during the Kavanaugh hearings.

“If you wanted a FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh, you could have come to us,” Graham said at the hearings as he pointed across the dais at Democrats, his face reddening. “What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020. You’ve said that. Not me.”

Coons told reporters Monday that a Democratic request for a third day of hearings for Barr had been denied, suggesting a change from how Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Trump spikes political football with return of Big Ten season MORE (R-Iowa) ran the committee before Graham took the gavel.

Coons said Grassley was always patient about allowing members to ask whatever questions they had and that it often helped ease tensions on the committee.

“I would certainly recommend to Chairman Graham that he be gracious and understanding,” Coons said, “that there are quite a few questions that members generally want answered.”