WASHINGTON – William Barr, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, told the Senate on Monday he would resign rather than fire special counsel Robert Mueller “without good cause," though he expressed doubt about how much the public might learn from the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The answers in written replies to questions from senators echoed what Barr told the Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing Jan. 15, but they added detail to his response about Mueller’s final report on the investigation.

The panel is scheduled to vote Tuesday on Barr's nomination, and the full Senate could vote as early as next week.

Under Justice Department regulations, Mueller will submit a confidential report to the attorney general summarizing his decisions to charge or not charge figures in the investigation. The attorney general will then decide what – if anything – to make public.

Through indictments and plea agreements, Mueller's office has revealed details about Russia's efforts to sway the election and efforts by Trump associates to conceal contacts with Russians. Whether the public might learn about the conduct of people who are not charged has remained an open question.

Barr, in his written answers, suggested the public might not. “It is also my understanding that it is department policy and practice not to criticize individuals for conduct that does not warrant prosecution,” Barr said.

Barr told senators at his confirmation hearing that he would make public as much as possible about the report. Several Democratic senators questioned why the entire report – other than confidential investigative material – wouldn’t be made public.

In response to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Barr said he didn’t recall any discussions about using executive privilege to prevent release of the report.

“If it turns out that any report contains material information that is privileged or confidential, I would not tolerate an effort to withhold such information for any improper purpose, such as to cover up wrongdoing,” Barr wrote.

In response to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Barr repeated his testimony that “it is very important that the public and Congress be informed of the results of the special counsel’s work.” Barr said he wouldn’t allow personal, political or other improper interests to influence his decision.

Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced legislation Monday that would require a special counsel to submit a report directly to Congress. Barr had suggested that any changes in special counsel regulations should wait until after Mueller completes his work.

Barr had written an unsolicited memo in June 2018 for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the Mueller investigation day to day, that questioned Mueller's authority to pursue obstruction-of-justice charges against Trump under a specific statute. In response to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Barr said Monday he briefly discussed a memo with Trump when he was offered the job of attorney general Nov. 27.

"I do not remember exactly what I said, but I recall offering a brief, one-sentence description of the memorandum," Barr wrote. "The President did not comment on my memorandum. There was no discussion of the substance of the investigation. The President did not ask me my views about any aspect of the investigation, and he did not ask me about what I would do about anything in the investigation."

Some senators were concerned about Trump firing Mueller for the investigation that the president labeled a “witch hunt.”

“I would resign rather than follow an order to terminate the special counsel without good cause,” Barr replied to Booker.

In response to a Feinstein question about the president's pardon power, Barr called the authority "broad," though "subject to abuse."

“A president who abuses his or her pardon power can be held accountable in a number of different ways by Congress and the electorate," such as prosecution after leaving office, Barr said. "If confirmed, I will consult with the Office of Legal Counsel and other relevant Department personnel regarding any legal questions relating to the President’s pardon authority.”

Barr repeated his commitment to consult with Justice Department ethics officials on whether he should recuse himself from deliberations on any pending matters, including the Russia inquiry. Barr said he already had one such conversation regarding a memo he prepared that was critical of Mueller's investigation, but he did not provide details. He maintained that any final decision would be his.

“If confirmed, I will consult with the Department’s career ethics officials, review the facts, and make a decision regarding my recusal from any matter in good faith based on the facts and applicable law and rules," Barr said.

Asked how he would respond if the president claimed executive privilege to cover up evidence of a crime, Barr said, “I would resign.”

Barr's predecessor as attorney general, Jeff Sessions, denied having meetings with Russians during his own confirmation process, but several meetings later came to light. Barr described a series of meetings, at the request of a federal judge for whom he clerked, with an officer of the Soviet Consulate in 1980.

Barr said he debriefed the FBI after each meeting and the meetings were reviewed as part of past background investigations. Barr served as attorney general in the early 1990s.

In the days after Trump ousted Sessions, Barr said, the White House counsel contacted him about his willingness to take on the job. Barr initially told the counsel Nov. 6 that he was “not then in a position to serve” as attorney general.

“At some point prior to Thanksgiving 2018, I communicated to the White House Counsel that I had reconsidered and would be willing to be considered for the position,” Barr wrote. “On Nov. 27, I participated in an interview at the White House with the White House Counsel and the President. During that interview, the President offered me the position, and I accepted.”

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