PERRY, Ia. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said Saturday that, if he were a member of the U.S. House, he would move to hold William Barr in contempt after the attorney general refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee.

It was one of several issues the 2020 presidential candidate highlighted during his tour across Iowa on Saturday. Sanders started off his morning at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market before making campaign stops in Ames, Perry and Fort Dodge. He also hinted at a coming student debt forgiveness plan and urged students to stay active politically.

Attorney General William Barr should be held in contempt

Sanders said the U.S. House of Representatives should hold Barr in contempt for his refusal to testify in front of Congress.

On Wednesday, Barr testified for four hours in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he repeatedly clashed with Democrats who complained he misrepresented the findings within special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigative report to favor President Donald Trump.

But Barr refused to testify in the House after lawmakers insisted he answer questions from committee members' staffers as well as the representatives themselves.

“If I were a member of the House, I would vote to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt,” Sanders said in Perry. “We have a separation of powers … he was asked to testify … and that is unacceptable.”

The campaign event in Perry was the smallest yet for the Vermont senator during the 2020 campaign cycle in Iowa. About 120 people attended the town hall in a gymnasium at the McCreary Community Building.

At one point during his speech, Sanders said he didn’t want to dwell too much on the current president because that is “not a pleasant subject.”

But he said he was increasingly alarmed by the Trump administration, particularly given Barr’s refusal to testify.

“That is dangerous stuff,” he said. “We have a president who does not understand the Constitution of the United States, does not respect the Constitution of the United States and is a threat to the very fabric of American democracy.”

At least 10 other Democratic presidential candidates have said this week that Barr should resign.

Sanders hints at coming student debt forgiveness plan

Also in Perry, an attendee asked Sanders to elaborate on his plans to address outstanding student loan debt, which currently exceeds $1 trillion nationwide.

Sanders, who has proposed free college, hinted at a more expansive policy proposal he would unveil during the course of his campaign. The plan, according to aides, would cost about $900 billion over 10 years and address both his college-for-all plan as well as some debt forgiveness.

"So you'll be able to refinance that to the lowest interest rates that you can, and the federal government will put substantial sums of money in to reduce that debt," Sanders told one attendee, who said the interest rate on his student loans is 9%.

"OK, so it's not complicated," Sanders said. "It's a question of priorities. Trump and his friends decided that it was a priority to give over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the top 1% and private corporations. I think that it's a priority to substantially reduce your student debt. And that's what we will do."

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has proposed a massive student debt forgiveness plan, which she also highlighted during her trip through Iowa this weekend by a new calculator that shows Iowans how much they stand to save.

Sanders tells students to stop ‘moaning and groaning’

In Ames, Sanders urged students to get off the sidelines and get involved in the political process during a rally at Iowa State University’s Memorial Union.

After speaking for more than 45 minutes, Sanders wrapped up his stump speech with a call to action for students in particular. He urged them to join his “political revolution” by knocking on doors, posting on social media or just talking with friends ahead of the 2020 Iowa caucuses

“And don’t let your friends tell you that politics is all bullshit or I don’t have the time to get involved,” Sanders said. “Tell them you don’t want to hear them moaning and groaning about their student debt, or their $10-an-hour wage, or they can’t afford housing. Tell them stop moaning and groaning and get involved in the political process and help transform this country. That is what this campaign is about.”

Sanders said major societal change is only possible when millions of people stand up and fight for transformation.

“That is the way change has always taken place,” he said. “And that is the way change will take place today.”

Sanders told the crowd he’s “always impressed” with how seriously Iowans take their role in vetting presidential candidates ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

“Here in Iowa, you’re in a very special position,” he said.