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Utah’s Sen. Mike Lee leaves Russia probe to others, focuses on criminal justice reform, antitrust and civil asset forfeiture in questioning attorney general nominee

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, made no mention of President Donald Trump or the ongoing investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Tuesday during questioning of William Barr, Trump’s nominee to replace Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General.

While other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee pressed Barr on his willingness to protect Mueller’s investigation and his deference to presidential authority, Lee used his time seeking assurances on civil asset forfeiture, antitrust protections, criminal justice reform and prosecutorial discretion.

Lee is a frequent critic of asset forfeiture, in which money or property is seized from individuals suspected of committing a crime.