Barr refused to appear at the hearing after Democrats insisted that staff attorneys be allowed to ask the attorney general questions. The Justice Department said Democrats put "unprecedented" conditions on his testimony.

The House hearing Thursday began without Barr, allowing for the empty chair split-screen to be presented to viewers.

.@RepCohen places a glass chicken in place of AG Barr https://t.co/ZcvGtfCcIz pic.twitter.com/r7BUKyRIkA — The Hill (@thehill) May 2, 2019

“That is the reason. The reason Bill Barr is not here today is because the Democrats decided they didn’t want him here today. That’s the reason he’s not here,” Collins said. “Not hearing from him is a travesty to this committee today.”