During a pair of closed-door meetings Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, the committee decided that it would probably make a push for a Barr contempt citation if he skips a scheduled Thursday hearing or ignores their subpoena for the full report by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

Lawmakers and officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss private deliberations, cautioned that no final decision has been made. Barr has until the end of the day to hand over the full Mueller report but is not expected to comply.

Barr on Friday threatened to ignore the Judiciary Committee hearing over objections to the format in which a counsel would question him along with lawmakers. As of noon Wednesday, the committee has yet to receive an answer about whether he is coming, panel officials said.