Rep. Steve Cohen Stephen (Steve) Ira CohenTennessee Rep. Steve Cohen wins Democratic primary Democrats exit briefing saying they fear elections under foreign threat Texas Democrat proposes legislation requiring masks in federal facilities MORE (D-Tenn.) on Thursday brought Kentucky Fried Chicken and a fake chicken into a House hearing room as a statement directed at Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE.

"The message is that Bill Barr is a chicken," Cohen told MSNBC, holding the fake chicken prop.

"He was chicken to come to the House Judiciary Committee, face the members of the committee, and also face 30 minutes from counsel that would have been difficult for him to respond to because he stands on shaky ground."

“The message is that Bill Barr’s a chicken,” Rep. Cohen tells @HallieJackson after AG Barr declines to testify at House Judiciary Cmte. hearing.



More: https://t.co/mLO4blXlj9 pic.twitter.com/hhv10Od3Bt — MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 2, 2019

Barr refused to testify before the House Judiciary Committee after the panel said it would allow staff attorneys to question him during the hearing. Barr was slated to answer questions about the findings and his own summary of 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 Russia investigation.

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His appearance would have followed reports that Mueller objected to Barr's initial handling of his report.

A Department of Justice (DOJ) spokeswoman said in a statement that the committee's Democratic chairman was making "unprecedented and unnecessary" demands by asking Barr to answer questions from committee counsel. The DOJ argued that only members of Congress should be asking questions.

The committee left an empty chair for Barr at the hearing on Thursday. Cohen sat the fake chicken near the chair, telling reporters it represented "Chicken Barr."

Cohen put Barr’s name and the chicken near the empty chair he’d be sitting in had he come pic.twitter.com/tnpogiSzb9 — Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) May 2, 2019

The White House has argued that House Democrats are not showing the attorney general the respect he deserves for his position, while Democrats argue that Barr is acting like a defense attorney for the president rather than the attorney general of the United States.

"I think the attorney general deserves no respect," Cohen told MSNBC. "He has lowered the bar for lawyers and the attorney general."