William Barr Declines to Exonerate Trump

[piechartking]

https://newsnotpolitics.com/2019/11/07/ag-barr-declines-to-publicly-clear-trump-of-wrongdoing/

Attorney General (AG) William Barr declined to hold a press conference on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, one in which the AG would state that Trump did not break any laws on the controversial July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump has told confidants that he was disappointed that Barr did not hold such a press conference.

However, AG Barr’s Justice Department has declined to open an investigation into the matter, even after several criminal referrals from individuals working in agencies involved with the Ukraine scandal.

The President has denied that he made any such request, denouncing such reports as “fake news.”

NNP Quote: “The story in the Amazon Washington Post, of course picked up by Fake News CNN, saying ‘President Trump asked for AG Barr to host a news conference clearing him on Ukraine,’ is totally untrue and just another FAKE NEWS story with anonymous sources that don’t exist.

The LameStream Media, which is The Enemy of the People, is working overtime with made up stories in order to drive dissension and distrust!” – Tweet from President Donald J. Trump

NNP Background: William Barr has actively worked in Trump’s favor since assuming the helm as AG, skillfully blunting the effects of the Mueller Report’s release, and making clear that the Justice Department will do its utmost to avoid criminally investigating anything relating to President Trump.

In the Ukraine scandal, a number of agencies have sent criminal referrals to DOJ, which the department has declined to investigate. However, in recent weeks, the Department has distanced itself from the White House in matters related to Ukraine.

To get both perspectives on these events, we analyzed an article from a left-leaning media source and an article from a right-leaning media source below!

https://newsnotpolitics.com/2019/11/07/ag-barr-declines-to-publicly-clear-trump-of-wrongdoing/

[Cary]

1. I don't believe this

It is an effort to boost Barr's credibility before he releases his phony Russia investigation report.

[MadLinguist]

3. I'm inclined to agree. Barr is all strategy

and keeping a nominal distance from the scandal will allow him to portray the DOJ as an independent agency. POS POTUS is gonna need Barr to run interference as the impeachment process rolls on. This little catfight narrative is a cheap and cheesy way to prop up that stage board.

[Midnight Writer]

6. Yes, the leak is coming from inside Barr's phone.

He is protecting his own reputation.

[Hortensis]

2. Refusing the press conference to "exonerate" Trump was a big change for Barr.

Matthew Miller says it started when things started going public, and he suspects what could come out of the SDNY's investigations of Giuliani & co regarding Ukraine alarmed Barr and his JD people into backing away.

He also specifically stated his belief that these big behavior changes, including putting out three (!) statements distancing themselves from the Ukraine scandal, mean they're worried about something big that we don't know about yet.

If so, bet anything Nancy & co do.

[empedocles]

5. 'something big' - sounds good to me

[Hortensis]

7. Me too. At least,

that was my first reaction, then I had to knock wood and hope no one died or lost their homeland, or something else coming out that these very bad people did.

More ammo to shoot them in the heads with only, please.

[NewJeffCT]

4. He did not do it personally, but the DOJ spokeswoman DID

Kerri Kupec said the DOJ exonerated Trump some time around September 25

https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/11/07/after-engaging-in-multiple-overt-acts-benefitting-a-conspiracy-bill-barr-has-kerri-kupec-commit-the-most-overt-act/