Sen. Mazie Hirono Mazie Keiko HironoDemocrats unveil plan declaring racism a public health issue Overnight Defense: US, Russia trade blame over Syria incident | Pentagon calls out China's 'counterproductive' military exercises, missile test | Democrats press Esper on COVID-19 response Democrats press Esper on 'concerning' rise in Pentagon's COVID-19 cases MORE (D-Hawaii) on Thursday criticized William Barr Bill BarrProsecutor says no charges in Michigan toilet voting display Judge rules Snowden to give up millions from book, speeches The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE, saying it is "astounding" that the attorney general said he thinks "spying" on President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE campaign occurred.

Hirono, appearing on CNN's "New Day," said the remark shows that "when Barr opens his mouth, Trump’s words come popping out."

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"I’m sure that made Trump very happy because it totally played into the Trump narrative that this is all some kind of a plot to get him," Hirono said.

“I found it astounding that the attorney general would use a highly-charged word like 'spying.’ But he sounded like the president to me," she added.

"I found it astounding that the Attorney General would use a highly-charged word like 'spying,'" says Democratic Sen. @maziehirono.



"It totally played into the Trump narrative that this is all some kind of a plot to get him." https://t.co/2j7UxWIkOo pic.twitter.com/sBl4r7if2W — New Day (@NewDay) April 11, 2019

Barr made the remark Wednesday during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, adding that he needs to "explore" the issue.

“I think spying did occur,” Barr said. “But the question is whether it was adequately predicated and I’m not suggesting it wasn’t adequately predicated, but I need to explore that.”

“I am going to be reviewing both the genesis and the conduct of intelligence activities directed at the Trump campaign during 2016,” Barr added. “A lot of this has already been investigated and a substantial portion that’s being investigated is being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the department.”