A former United States attorney general, William Barr, faced a three-hour parliamentary inquiry in London today over the handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The session, convened at the request of the Home Office, underscored deepening cross-Channel tensions about the disclosure of evidence that could implicate British nationals. Barr, who served under President Donald Trump, repeatedly declined to answer questions about sealed grand jury materials, citing US federal law.
Committee chair Sir Edward Leigh described the responses as “evasive” and warned that the UK would pursue independent channels if full cooperation was not forthcoming. The prime minister’s spokesman later issued a statement insisting that “justice must be transparent, regardless of jurisdiction.” The exchange marks a rare instance of a senior American official being publicly scrutinised on British soil, and signals a hardening of Westminster’s stance on extraterritorial accountability.
Legal experts note that the UK’s insistence on full disclosure could set a precedent for future transatlantic investigations.
