Attorney General William Barr asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi whether she planned to arrest him when he appeared on the west front of the Capitol to commemorate the National Peace Officers Memorial service on Wednesday.

Barr, who was on a platform with congressional leaders as they awaited President Trump’s arrival, approached Speaker Pelosi and shook her hand, a bystander said. Apparently joking, he said loudly: "Madam Speaker, did you bring your handcuffs?"

The bystander said: “The speaker, not missing a beat, smiled and indicated to the attorney general that the House sergeant at arms was present at the ceremony should an arrest be necessary. The attorney general chuckled and walked away.”

[Related: Barr jokes about Democrats' contempt vote]

The House Judiciary Committee cited Barr for contempt last week after he refused to turn over the unredacted Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Pelosi, D-Calif., has not scheduled a floor vote, but it will likely include a criminal and civil contempt citation against Barr.

Few expect Barr’s Department of Justice to pursue the criminal contempt charge. Barr is prohibited from releasing the unredacted report because it contains classified and other sensitive material.

But some Democrats have called for Barr to be jailed and Pelosi joked last week that the House basement houses a small jail. She continued to rib Barr about the matter during the ceremony, according to a witness.

[Also read: Marco Rubio calls on Barr to investigate John Kerry]