William Pelham Barr, commonly known as Bill Barr, is an American attorney and government official who served as the 77th and 85th United States Attorney General under Presidents George H. W. Bush and Donald Trump. Born on May 23, 1950, in New York City, Barr comes from a prominent family; his father, Donald Barr, was an educator and author who served as headmaster of the Dalton School and the Spence School. Barr earned his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College in 1971 and his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1973. Early in his career, he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1973 to 1977, followed by private legal practice and various roles in the Department of Justice during the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, including Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel from 1989 to 1990.

Barr's first tenure as Attorney General came under President George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993, where he oversaw significant operations, including the investigation into the Panama invasion and the pardon of several Iran-Contra figures. After leaving government, he held executive positions in the private sector, such as general counsel at GTE Corporation and Verizon, and was a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis. He returned to public service in 2019 as Attorney General under President Donald Trump, a role marked by controversies including his handling of the Mueller investigation into Russian election interference, the prosecution of Michael Flynn, and the federal response to protests following George Floyd's death. His second term also included overseeing the Department of Justice during Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 arrest and death in custody. Barr resigned in December 2020, citing disagreements over Trump's election fraud claims. Post-resignation, he has been critical of some Trump actions while maintaining conservative Republican affiliations.

Throughout his career, Barr has been a key figure in legal and political circles, known for his conservative jurisprudence and Catholic faith. He has faced criticism for allegedly politicizing the Justice Department during his second AG term, including accusations of interfering in cases to benefit Trump allies. Barr has also been involved in media, such as being interviewed on 'Verdict with Ted Cruz.' His influence extends through networks in government, law, and business, reflecting a career bridging public service and corporate America.