Breaking from WaPo about 6:20 PST:
Barr has told those close to Trump he is considering quitting over the president’s tweets about Justice Dept. investigations
Attorney General William P. Barr has told people close to President Trump — both inside and outside the White House — that he is considering quitting over Trump’s tweets about Justice Department investigations, three administration officials said, foreshadowing a possible confrontation between the president and his attorney general over the independence of the Justice Department.
Say what???
I was just watching Rachel Maddow explaining in great and painful detail just how thoroughly Barr has been dismantling the rule of law on behalf of the Great Orange Shitgibbon. And how well it’s working. Now, Trump might be embarrassing Barr with his tweets stating openly what Barr is doing, but Barr hasn’t been doing it all that quietly either. Just this afternoon there was a memo leaked that had been issued a month ago directing ALL Ukraine-related investigations to be handed over to the Eastern District of New York, presumably run by a Barr crony. Barr’s flunky is now running the DC district. Barr has a hand-picked team going over some other cases of interest to Trump. These are not the actions of a man who cares how they look.
Two things come to mind: First, and more likely, is that Barr is making noises about quitting to drive home to Trump that he has to shut up about what he, Barr, is doing on Trump’s behalf. Far less likely, but I have to throw it out anyway, is that the pressure of the former DOJ officials and the judges’ association and other calls for his resignation is getting to him. Hard to believe, I know. Maybe that judges’ association is about to announce something with teeth, perhaps?
Let me add one other speculation I just thought of : Barr is facing an internal revolt from career lawyers who actually care about the rule of law. Again, unlikely, but if true, it would be a very good thing indeed!
Your speculations invited below.
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2020 · 4:28:36 AM +00:00 · Dan K
Here’s a piece updated a few minutes ago from the New York Times:
President Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr agree on one thing at least: The president is making the attorney general’s job much harder. What they don’t agree on: Mr. Trump sees no reason to stop.
Defying Mr. Barr’s pleas, the president renewed his public attacks on law enforcement on Tuesday, denouncing the prosecutors, judge and jury forewoman in the case of his longtime friend Roger J. Stone Jr. and defending his convicted former adviser Michael T. Flynn against Mr. Trump’s own Justice Department.
Explicitly rebuffed, Mr. Barr was left by the end of the day to consider his own future. He expressed dissatisfaction to associates and his irritation soon fed news reports that he was considering resignation if the president continued to publicly weigh in on individual prosecutions of his own associates. But it was unclear whether that would persuade Mr. Trump to back off or only get his back up.
. . .
Even as he refused to take Mr. Barr’s advice, Mr. Trump expressed no anger toward his attorney general and some officials said he understood why Mr. Barr felt the need to complain last week to ABC News about the presidential tweets. But The Washington Post reported on Tuesday night that Mr. Barr was thinking about stepping down if the president’s tweets continue, a story confirmed by an administration official and seemingly aimed at an audience of one.
I clipped a large piece because it’s all needed in order to fit together; also, the Times is hinting here that the stories Barr may quit are perhaps extrapolations by people he’s groused to. OTOH, all the stories including CNN, here) may be shiny objects to distract us squirrels. As though we can’t walk and spit gum at the same time.
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2020 · 3:15:23 PM +00:00 · Dan K
WaPo has column by Aaron Blake this morning — How long will Barr let Trump make him look like a stooge? — that raises an interesting point:
In other words, this appears to be as much about a calculation as Barr’s own exasperation. It perhaps shouldn’t be taken completely at face value.
But it’s also worth noting the position Barr has put himself in: If Trump keeps doing what he’s doing, Barr could either make good on his threat or look like Trump is walking all over him.
And to be clear, Trump is a man who doesn’t really heed such advice. Indeed, he has already disregarded Barr’s requests repeatedly — and continues to do so. [emphasis added]
So whom is Barr posturing for? Trump, or history? Submitted for your consideration.