WASHINGTON (AP) —The Justice Department says the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee is trying to place “unprecedented and unnecessary” conditions on the attorney general.

William Barr was scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday but will not show up.

The attorney general was asked to testify before the committee about special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the Russia investigation.

Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec says committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler’s insistence that congressional staffers be allowed to question Barr is “inappropriate.”

Kupec says the attorney general “remains happy to engage directly” with members of the committee to answer their questions.

Nadler accused Barr of canceling his appearance because he’s “terrified” of facing questioning from the panel.

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