Tag: William Barr

Trump’s AG Pick Sent Memo to Justice Department Criticizing Mueller Probe: Report

Credit: Time Warner via AP

Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, William Barr, sent an unsolicited, 20-page memo to the Justice Department this year denouncing special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into potential obstruction of justice by the president, The Wall Street Journal reports. Barr—who was nominated by Trump to take over for Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and would oversee Mueller’s investigation if confirmed—reportedly said the inquiry was based on a “fatally misconceived” theory that would damage the presidency. Barr reportedly sent the document, dated June 8, to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, writing that he thought his “views may be useful.”According to the Journal, Barr said he was concerned about the parts of the investigation examining whether Trump obstructed justice in requesting then-FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and by later firing Comey, because he believed the president had acted within his authority.

View the December 19 article on the Daily Beast website here.

Trump has blasted Mueller’s team for political donations. But attorney general nominee William P. Barr has given more than $500,000.

William P. Barr with President George H.W. Bush in 1991 after he was sworn in as attorney general. Credit: Scott Applewhite, AP

President Trump has repeatedly derided prosecutors investigating potential coordination between his presidential campaign and Russia as “angry Democrats,” pointing to their past political donations as proof of bias.

But William P. Barr, Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department and oversee the Russia investigation, would be by far the most prolific political donor to step into the country’s top law enforcement post in at least a quarter-century, according to a Washington Post analysis. Barr has donated more than $567,000 in the past two decades, nearly all to GOP candidates and groups, federal records show. His wife, Christine Barr, gave more than $220,000 over that time, records show.

Before he was nominated to be attorney general, Barr criticized past donations by prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

View the complete December 11 article by Shawn Boburg and Anu Narayanswamy on The Washington Post website here.

Trump’s new AG pick thinks Hillary, not Trump, should be investigated

Credit:  Time Warner via AP

William Barr, Trump’s choice for attorney general, has already called for Clinton to be investigated and downplayed any concerns about Trump. That’s probably why he was chosen.

Earlier this morning, President Trump nominated William Barr to be his next attorney general. Barr previously served in that same role under George H.W. Bush.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that Barr’s past experience means he’ll be an adult in the room and provide a check on Trump. Barr has already made outrageous public statements that show he is entirely in line with Trump’s way of thinking.

Although Barr might not have as tawdry or shady a past as acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, he’s just as committed to baselessly accusing Hillary Clinton of crimes while blithely dismissing any of Trump’s wrongdoings.

View the complete December 7 article by Lisa Needham on the ShareBlue.com website here.

The red flags on Trump’s new attorney general pick, William Barr

President George H.W. Bush listens as Deputy Attorney General William P. Barr speaks in the early 1990s. Credit: Dirck Halstea, /Getty Images

President Trump insisted when he made Matthew G. Whitaker his acting attorney general that he wasn’t familiar with Whitaker’s past commentary critical of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe.

But his new pick to be the attorney general has a record of making similar comments, and despite some favorable comments from Democrats, those could pose a problem in his coming confirmation fight.

President Trump confirmed Friday that former attorney general William P. Barr will be his nominee to head the Justice Department. Picking George H.W. Bush’s attorney general would seem a pretty safe and confirmable pick, on its surface.

View the complete December 7 article by Aaron Blake on The Washington Post website here.

DNC on William Barr’s Nomination To Be Attorney General

DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement in response to President Trump nominating William Barr as his next attorney general:

“Our next attorney general must be able to stand up to the president and act as an independent law enforcement official. Trump has consistently shown a corrupt disregard for the rule of law and used his office to undermine civil rights, workers’ rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights.

“William Barr must assure the American people that he will resist any attempt by the president to interfere in law enforcement matters, and he must unequivocally commit to protecting the special counsel’s investigation and defending our constitutional rights.”

Why Trump’s Call for ‘Overwhelming Bipartisan’ Vote for Barr Seems Unlikely

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., flanked by other Senate Democrats, at a news conference in March. The two senators have voiced concerns about President Trump’s pick, William Barr, to make his second run as attorney general. Credit: Tom Williams, CQ Roll Call

Donald Trump and acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker on Friday gave a full-throated endorsement to the president’s pick to fill the post, former Attorney General William Barr,  but Democratic senators and civil rights advocates are sounding alarms.

William Barr “deserves” from the Senate “overwhelming bipartisan support,” Trump said while addressing a law enforcement conference in Kansas City. “There’s no one more capable or qualified for this position,” he claimed.

Whitaker called the George H.W. Bush-era AG a “highly qualified” nominee-in-waiting to possibly return to the post for a second time. He said Barr’s confirmation would mark a “continuation of this law-and-order presidency.”

View the complete December 7 article by John T. Bennett on The Roll Call website here.

Trump picks William Barr as next attorney general

President Trump on Friday said he would nominate former Attorney General William Barr to once again helm the Justice Department.

The selection of Barr, who served as the nation’s top law enforcement official under President George H.W. Bush, could have implications for special counsel Robert Mueller‘s Russia investigation. Barr has recently criticized parts of the probe and defended Trump’s decision to fire James Comey as FBI director.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before leaving to speak to a police officers’ convention in Kansas City, Trump lauded Barr as a “highly respected lawyer” and a “brilliant man.”

View the complete December 7 article by Jordan Fabian and Morgan Chalfant on The Hill website here.