WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr plans to skip his second day of Congressional testimony before the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee, Chairman Jerrold Nadler confirmed.

“Although we have worked around the clock to address his concerns Attorney General Barr has just informed us that he will not attend tomorrow’s hearing,” Nadler told reporters Wednesday evening on Capitol Hill.

The sticking point was that members of the House Judiciary Committee wanted Barr to also answer questions posed by staff attorneys. Barr refused.

“Given his lack of candor in describing the work of the special counsel our members were right to insist that staff counsel be permitted to question the attorney general,” Nadler said.

On Wednesday, Barr spent hours testifying before the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee. At the same time, Nadler had his members vote to allocate more time for Thursday’s hearing so the lawyers’ questions could be posed.

The Department of Justice is expected to send a letter to the committee officially cancelling Barr’s appearance.

Nadler also said that the DOJ did not comply with the committee’s subpoena for the full unredacted Mueller report. The New York Democrat said he’d give Justice officials another day or two to comply before initiating contempt proceedings. Nadler said he wouldn’t subpoena Barr for his testimony yet, explaining to reporters that getting the full Mueller report was more important.

Nadler (D-Manhattan) also said he wants Special Counsel Robert Mueller to appear before his panel on May 15.

When Nadler was asked if staff attorneys were really necessary to question Barr in a hearing, he answered with an insult.

“He is terrified of having to face a skilled attorney,” Nadler said of Barr.