The comments come in light of a recent New York Times report that found both former attorneys general Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr subpoenaed Apple in order to access data from over a dozen people, including several Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, after hearing about leaks within the Trump administration.
Comparing Nixon’s scandal over the Pentagon Papers to Trump’s DOJ actions, Dean said that “Nixon didn’t have that kind of Department of Justice.”
Dean also criticized Barr, saying it was apparent from the start that he wanted to do Trump’s bidding.
“The memo he wrote to get the job says, 'I’m ready to execute your presidency like a unitary executive presidency should be, which means no bars hold,'” Dean said during the interview with CNN anchor Erin Burnett. “We now know there are countless examples of norms he was willing to break.”
Dean said that he thinks Barr has to testify, and said he was surprised the Department of Justice hasn’t come out with a statement.
“I hope they’re getting their act together because this is going to be very troublesome. My Twitter feed is just blazing with people disappointed with Justice and their response to this so far,” he said.