Body Language Analysis No. 4384: William Barr's Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 1 May 2019 - Part I - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Wednesday 1 May 2019, Attorney General William P. Barr testified under oath before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding the Department of Justice’s Investigation of Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election. Afterward, the Justice Department announced that the Attorney General would refuse to appear before the House Judiciary Committee - which was scheduled for this morning, 2 May 2019. Moreover, The Justice Department declared it will not be complying with the House's subpoena for the full Mueller Report.

What follows is a nonverbal analysis of a crucial portion of William Barr's Senate testimony.


KAMALA HARRIS (beginning at 0:00): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ah, Attorney General Barr, has the President or anyone at the White House ever asked or suggested that you open an investigation of anyone?

WILLIAM BARR: [lipsmack], Ahum, I wouldn't, I wouldn't, ahum -

KAMALA HARRIS: Yes or no?

WILLIAM BARR (quietly): Could you ah, could you repeat that question?

KAMALA HARRIS: I will repeat it. Has the President or anyone at the White House ever asked or suggested that you open an investigation of anyone? Yes or no please Sir?

WILLIAM BARR: Ahum [Lipsmack] The President or anybody else?

KAMALA HARRIS: Seems you'd remember something like that - 'nd be able to tell us.

WILLIAM BARR: Yeah, but I'm - I'm trying to [stammer] grapple with the word, 'suggest'. I mean a, a, a, a [stutter] there have been discussions of, of matters out there that ah, they have not asked me to open ah investigation, but -

KAMALA HARRIS: Perhaps they've suggested?

WILLIAM BARR: I don't know - I wouldn't say suggest, I -

KAMALA HARRIS (over-talking): Hinted?

WILLIAM BARR: I don't know

KAMALA HARRIS: Inferred?

KAMALA HARRIS: You don't know?

WILLIAM BARR (very quietly): No.

KAMALA HARRIS: Okay.

 

Just after Senator Harris asks, "Yes or no?" (0:13), we See Attorney General Barr display a Loose Tongue Jut.

A loose tongue jut signals the thought-emotion of:

• I've been bad
• I've been caught
• I've done a stupid thing

Note that this loose tongue jut begins just to the left of the mid-line and sweeps to his left. This additional sweeping dynamic tells us that Barr doesn't believe what he is saying in this particular moment. It's as if he's trying to wipe his mouth clean - attempting to wipe the lie from his lips.

Just after Senator Harris asks, "Yes or no?", we see William Barr display an episode of rapid blinking (0:14 sec). While not indicative of lying directly, rapid blinking - as well as an overall increase in blinking frequency - are reliable signals of heightened anxiety.

Barr the asks Harris, "Could you ah, could you repeat that question?" - in a common stalling tactic. A lying mind needs more time.

Kamala Harris answers, "I will repeat it. Has the President or anyone at the White House ever asked or suggested that you open an investigation of anyone? Yes or no please Sir?"

Barr then says, "Ahum" and proceeds to show a truncated form of a Forward Lip Purse accompanied by a Feigned Consideration Pout (0:28). As is often the case, we also hear a Lip Smack immediately following this nonverbal cluster - just prior to Barr saying, "the President or anybody else?"

A forward lip purse is a profoundly valuable indicator of a clandestine plan and/or an undisclosed disagreement. In this example, it's not fully formed because it's interrupted by his lip smack. Those individuals who display a forward lip purse have the belief that they are THE highest alpha-dog in the room. Moreover, they also believe that they have a good chance of successfully implementing and executing their plan. Whenever you see a forward lip purse - protect your flanks!

A lip smack is a sign of high confidence - here it's an amplifying signal - showing us Barr's confidence in the belief of his ability to successfully execute his plan.

At 0:31, we see Barr show a partial expression of Fear.

Just as Senator Harris says, "Seems" ("Seems you'd remember something like that - 'nd be able to tell us", 0:32), we see Barr slip for a split second to a deeper level of fear - displayed in a subtle, yet highly significant microexpression.

Pay close attention to the corners of Barr's mouth. Watch this portion of the video at regular speed, at 1/2 speed, at 1/4 - and then again at regular speed. Repeat this cycle several times. Such practice will improve your ability to spot this and other microexpressions in real time (and, of course, when no video is available). 

As he says, "grapple with the word", Barr's torso shifts back and forth (side-to-side) in his chair as he straightens his back and momentarily grows taller (0:36 - 0:37). This is another anxiety display - reminiscent of what a student may do in the principal's office - sitting at attention - and trying to appear to be above reproach. 

His use of the word "grapple" (a synonym for wrestle and struggle), while to some may appear melodramatic - in this context, it's a profound statement analysis/paralanguage tell for his inability to escape Senator Harris' questioning. 

Note immediately afterward, Barr also stutters, "I mean a, a, a, a - ", in another indication of his anxiety.

During 0:40 - 0:41, as he says, "of, of matters out there", he gestures loosely toward the ceiling with his right arm and hand in a palm-down, fingers splayed illustrator. This is an attempt on Barr's part to dismiss any suggestion of Harris' - with an air of non-seriousness (e.g., 'We may have briefly mentioned it - but only in passing').

During 0:44, as the Attorney General says, (with extra emphasis) "asked me" ("that ah, they have not asked me to open ah investigation"), the split screen shows us the following three expressions:

Senator Harris is displaying a Lateral Lip Purse along with a tensed Partial Eyelid Closure (a 'Squint'). This nonverbal cluster is a classic indication of a rebuffing of another person's attempted deception. Barr is lying and Harris knows it. She's not buying what he's selling.

Senator Booker's expression is an amalgam of a Suppressed Smile ('We caught you lying') along with suppressed Anger (Note his lips are thinned and nearly horizontal, increased tension in his 'mustache area', along with flared nostrils).

Helaine Greenfeld, seated behind Senator Harris, is displaying a more full expression of Anger with a secondary component of Disgust.

During 0:46 - 0:47, just prior to and during Barr saying, "but" ("that ah, they have not asked me to open ah investigation, but -"), he nods his head up-and-down, in a classic affirmation illustrator. FULL STOP. This dynamic simply screams deception. When a person is nodding 'yes' - simultaneous with a verbal denial - they are lying.

Please watch this portion of the video - as the dynamics are impossible to capture on a still image.

During 0:51, as he says, "I don't know", Barr shrugs both of his shoulders, which in this context is signaling:

• I don't care
• What does it matter?
• What could I do?

Barr once again displays a Feigned Consideration/Pout, just after Senator Harris asks, "Inferred?"
(0:53).

Note that at the very end of this exchange, when Senator Harris asks Barr, "You don't know?", his answer ("No") is so quiet as to be almost inaudible. Barr's near whisper is screaming with low confidence.

SUMMARY: Nonverbal, verbal, and statement analysis of the above-described portion of the video indicate that Attorney General William Barr lied to Senator Kamala Harris yesterday during his sworn testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Specifically, President Trump and/or other individuals at the White House have indeed asked and/or suggested to William Barr that the Justice Department open one or more investigation(s).

Media Inquires and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4383: William Barr's 27 March 2019 Senate Testimony 

Body Language Analysis No. 4382: Why is Donald Trump Leaning Forward?

Body Language Analysis No. 4381: Trump 'jokes' about staying in office for "at least for 10 or 14 years"

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years

Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4378: William Barr questioned regarding The Mueller Report (on 9 April 2019 before the House)

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4340: Ruby Rose gets Emotional regarding her new Role as Batwoman

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

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Body Language Analysis No. 4381: Trump 'jokes' about staying in office for "at least for 10 or 14 years" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Thursday 18 April 2019, in the East Room of the White House, President Trump hosted cyclists of the Wounded Warrior Project - Soldier Ride. This event took place after Attorney General William Barr's press conference regarding The Mueller Report.

President Trump was given a small statue. Just afterward, he said (beginning at 1:14:21 in the above video): "Well, this is really beautiful. This will find a permanent place - at least for six years [audience laughter] in the Oval Office. Is that okay? [audience laughter] I was going to joke, General, and say at least for ten or fourteen years, but we would cause bedlam [audience laughter] if I said that, so we’ll say six..."

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Donald Trump during several crucial moments of this exchange.

During 1:14:24, just prior to Donald Trump saying, "... at least for six years ...", he displays a Jaw Jut. A jaw jut is a signal of a surge of adrenaline. Watch the video at regular speed, then at 1/2 and 1/4 speeds - and then, once again at regular speed. Donald Trump often displays this nonverbal tell just prior to delivering what he perceives to be powerful words and phrases. It's a signal of him amplifying his mental-emotional tone to one of a higher alpha state (aka, "dialing up his alpha").

As he says, "six years" (1:14:26 - 1:14:27), Donald Trump displays what is known as a Lip Curl. In this example, we see it in a lateral profile.

A lip curl is a signal of:

• Braggadocio
• Bravado
• Hubris

Now look back, one-to-two seconds prior to this lip curl (1:14:25 - 1:14:26). Trump pulled on his microphone. This is another common MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) seen in conjunction with alpha up-regulation associated with an adrenaline surge. The President frequently exhibits this microphone false-adjustment.

During, 1:14:41, just after he says, "bedlam" - as he says, "if I said that" - Donald Trump clearly is suppressing laughter.

During 1:14:42, as he says, "say six", the President displays another, more pronounced lip curl. Trump is facing the camera, near-directly, in this angle.

This is not the first time Donald Trump has mentioned extending his presidency beyond the two-term limit allowed under the Twenty-Second Amendment. In 2018, during a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, Trump complimented Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding his abolishment of term limits, saying,  "He’s now president for life. President for life. No, he’s great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday."

SUMMARY: During this exchange, Donald Trump was not joking regarding presidential term limits. His nonverbal behavior clearly projects braggadocio, bravado, and hubris. Moreover, he's suppressing sincere laughter (joy-happiness) at his suggestion of public bedlam.

Trump's behavior is also passive-aggressive. But more specifically, and of profound importance, he's quite deliberately Trial Ballooning. He's thinking past a second term. He wants a third term. Suggesting this plan in a public forum gives him an adrenaline rush. He is planting seeds and pushing boundaries. This is a common manipulative technique used in many scenarios. In a political context, he can be said to be manipulating the Window of Discourse - also known as Overton's Window ("the range of ideas tolerated in public discourse").

Media Inquires and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years

Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4378: William Barr questioned regarding The Mueller Report

Body Language Analysis No. 4377: Donald Trump, "These aren't people, these are animals"

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4375: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Security Clearances

Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU

Body Language Analysis No. 4340: Ruby Rose gets Emotional regarding her new Role as Batwoman

Body Language Analysis No. 4312: South Korea Defeats Germany at The World Cup

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Body Language Analysis No. 4378: William Barr questioned regarding The Mueller Report (on 9 April 2019 before the House) - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday, 9 April 2019, Attorney General William Barr testified before the US House Appropriations subcommittee. The hearing was intended to address the Justice Department budget.  Democrats, however, took the opportunity to ask questions regarding other topics - including special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. What follows is a partial nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage analysis of a portion of AG Barr's questioning by Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

NITA LOWEY (beginning at 7:13): Did the White House see The Report, before you released your summarizing letter? Has the White House seen it since then? Have they been briefed on the contents beyond what was in your summarizing letter - to the, Judiciary Committee?

WILLIAM BARR (beginning at 7:30): Um, I've said what I'm going to say about The Report today. Ah, I've s- 've[stutter] issued three letters about it - annnd [sic] I'm - I was willing to discuss - ahhh the historic information of how Thee [sic] [pause] Report came to me and my decision on Sunday - buuut, I've already laid out the process that is going forward, ah, to release these reports, ah, hopefully ah within a week - and I'm not going to say anything more about it until the report is out and everyone has a chance to look at it.

As soon as Representative Lowey says, "White House" ("Did the White House see The Report" ...), Attorney General Barr Displays an Inward Lip Roll (7:13 - 7:17). An inward lip roll is the psyche's attempt to suppress both the inner crescendo of strong emotions as well as their corresponding facial expressions.

In this context, an extended blink and/or increase of blinking frequency, while not required as part of an inward lip roll (ILR), acts as a nonverbal amplifier.

Note that Barr's forehead muscles are also contracting (across the entire width) and elevating. This is in the opposite direction of his eyelids during a blink (downward). These adjacent tissues moving in opposite directions are yet a further signal of blocking behavior - a manifestation of psychological push-back.

Just after Rep. Lowey says, "Has the White House seen it" (and as she is saying, "since then?"), AG Barr's jaw (mandible) moves to his right (7:20 - 7:21). This is what is known as a Jaw Confessional.

A Jaw Confessional is a nonverbal signal characterized by a quick and short-duration sideways (lateral) movement of the jaw. It indicates shame, regret, embarrassment. However, it's of profound importance here that these emotions are NOT expressed verbally.

Please view the video, as this dynamic is somewhat subtle and not captured well in a single image.

During 7:30, just before he begins speaking (just prior to him saying, "Um, I've said what I'm going to say about The Report today"), Bill Barr displays what is known as a Loose Tongue Jut (Not to be confused with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut). A loose tongue jut indicates the though-emotions of:

• I've been bad
• I got caught
• I've just done a stupid thing

This next expression (immediately above), which Barr makes just prior to saying, "issued three letters about it" (7:36) is one of Feigned Consideration and is NEVER made by a person who's in a state of a beta mindset, rather only by individuals who are feeling superior to the others around them. It indicates a classic alpha emotional tone and a not-so-subtle arrogance.

During 7:58, as he says, "not going" ("I'm not going to say anything more about it until the report is out"), Barr displays a Microexpression of Contempt combined with a partial smile of Schadenfreude. Barr is taking true joy-happiness in snubbing Congresswoman Lowery.

Just after he says, "everyone has a chance to look at it", AG Barr displays this expression (during 8:03). This facial configuration is indicative of Disgust combined with Impatience.

From a Statement Analysis standpoint, what's most obvious in this exchange is that AG Barr didn't answer any of Congresswoman Lowey's questions. He stonewalled her.

Barr's use of the word, "hopefully" - is noncommittal and indicates a verbal nonchalance/dominance display. 

Also, take note of Barr's pronouncing the word "the" as "thee" - with a "long e" (ē) - "Thee [pause] Report". This verbal pattern is a subconscious/edge-of-consciousness stalling tactic which is associated with deception and inflated/false importance.

Note also, Barr's use of the phrase "going forward". This word combination is used by those who perceive themselves to be alpha relative to whom they're speaking - and who are also pursuing their agenda. It's a strong signal that the speaker is trying to appear as if they're being objective - yet they're being highly subjective.


SUMMARY: Attorney General Barr's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior during this exchange with Congresswoman Nita Lowey indicates, with extremely high probability, that President Trump has seen the Muller Report in full.

Moreover, William Barr is taking pleasure (Schadenfreude) in his stonewalling - by not releasing Robert Mueller's Report. In addition, he displays contempt, impatience, and disgust toward Congresswoman Lowey. He believes he is highly alpha to her beta.

Media Inquires and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4377: Donald Trump, "These aren't people, these are animals"

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4375: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Security Clearances

Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU

Body Language Analysis No. 4373: Matthew Whitaker's Press Conference regarding Robert Mueller's Investigation

Body Language Analysis No. 4371: "Mr. President ... have you ever worked for Russia? Yes or no?" - Donald Trump's Reaction

Body Language Analysis No. 4370: Donald Trump, Fist-Pumping, and Vladimir Putin at 2017 G20

Body Language Analysis No. 4360: GE's CEO Larry Culp's CNBC Interview and Subsequent Stock Sell-off

Body Language Analysis No. 4278: Jaws - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" - vs. A Real Shark Encounter on a Paddleboard

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