Why did Bill Barr leave his job a month early?

[kentuck]

Was he being pressured to say the election was "corrupt"?

His replacement, Jeffrey Rosen, was called by Trump almost every day, it has been reported. When Trump was told by Rosen and his Deputy that the Justice Dept could not call the election for Trump, Trump insisted that they only had to call it "corrupt" and he could take it from there, along with a few Republican Congressmen. They refused. But, they never reported it. They may have prevented 1/6 if they had been just a little courageous?

But, knowing what we know now, it stands to reason that was why Bill Barr left early. He did not think he could pull it off? After all, it was not as easy for him as closing down the Mueller investigation. Or setting up pardons for all of Trump's criminal friends. This was different and Barr did not want to be set up to take the fall.

Under these circumstances, wouldn't Bill Barr make a good witness for the Select Committee? It is hard to imagine that he would be in any mood to defend Trump again? If he was subpoenaed, he would probably come in to testify? He would not fight it since the Rosen story has already been broken. Why would he try to tell them anything differently?

Also, if he answered a subpoena, it might make it a little more difficult for others to try and ignore? After all, if the former Attorney General were to answer a subpoena, who are you to claim any special privilege?

[marble falls]

1. A feeble attempt at distance. He finally figured out all that crazy talk was as serious as treason.

[Tomconroy]

2. Now that's an interesting question!

I'm waiting for Bob Woodward's book, due in September.

[tblue37]

3. Barr is quite comfortable lying under oath, though.

[kentuck]

4. Yes, he is very adept at lying...

But it would be very valuable for the investigation if he were to answer the subpoena.

[empedocles]

6. Suspect that a number of key trump players have such considered, and possibly gamed, at length,

vaious srategies , tactics, and options.

[kentuck]

7. This is definitely no time for checkers.

For sure. For just about everything we see or is reported, there is an ulterior motive.

[wcmagumba]

5. I don't expect any of them to comply with a subpoena, they'll ignore and drag it out in court...

this is the drumph way...

[kentuck]

8. That is why they are meeting at Bedminster.

Last edited Sun Aug 1, 2021, 09:18 PM - Edit history (1)

They are advising everyone to not obey the subpoenas. They are the "real" government in exile. This is what they tell their followers on August 13th. This is what Mark Meadows meant when he was talking about the "Cabinet". The plan is being put in place.

[BigmanPigman]

9. That makes sense.

[emulatorloo]

10. Probably because he publicly said there was no evidence of fraud found in the 2020 election

Was discussed here at DU quite a bit.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Barr won't testify to support Federalists and conservatism

I don't see what Barr has to add other than his own motives for leaving the AG position early.

[Johonny]

12. Barr was put into place because he'd previously save Bush Sr. bacon with Iran Contra

He was a known quantity with little morals against hiding presidential crimes.

He left early because

A) Trump lost and he was no longer needed.
B) like most people, he was appalled by Trump as a human being.

Barr was about party over country. He no doubt saved the GOP from having the first removed from office president in history and buried most likely many GOP crimes. He however, wasn't into Trump over country and saw that as pointless. Clearly now out of power Barr like many GOPers would love it if someone stuck the stake into Trump's heart. But so far, no one's had the guts to arrest and try to convict Trump of the many crimes he committed.

[brush]

19. Yes, a republican is needed to step up and take on trump.

If anyone of them had the guts and stood up at a new conference and call out trump as the loser he is and the big lie a big lie, he/she would get immediate push back from the trump loyalists but would also be immediately embraced by much of the rest of the nation.

They'd have to be wealthy enough to not need the job though because sure as hell they'd be primaried.

If Romney did he'd survive and be admired for his courage, and maybe even bolster his chances for another presidential run once the stake is finally and firmly driven into the orange turd's heart.

Same thing with Liz Cheney.

A republican somewhere needs to stand up.

[crickets]

24. That's a good read on the situation.

For trump, Barr was only willing to go so far and no more than that. For himself and for his party, Barr has already shown he is quite willing to lie. Serving him a subpoena is of somewhat dubious use for getting to the truth, but it should be done anyway. Make him lie again. Either way, the truth is coming out. Catching him in a lie in the process would be its own reward.

[CanonRay]

13. Bill "I cannot recall" Barr would be a great witness

but they should call him anyway

[mnmoderatedem]

14. easy answer

trump demands the justice department to find evidence of a rigged election, which Barr himself termed, and I quote him directly, as "bullshit".

So now he's looking at Hair Furher demanding he overturn the election, says to himself, gee that is not insane at all, I'm outta here, good luck to the acting AG.

[Tomconroy]

15. I could be wrong, but I get the impression Barr

Doesn't like Trump and, in an effort to save his reputation, would testify. He may not know much about 1/6 though

[LetMyPeopleVote]

16. It was a resign or be fired

[kentuck]

18. But why?

He was Trump's Boy up to that point?

Was he asked to do something that he could not do? What was that?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

23. Barr told TFG that there was no evidence of voter fraud

Barr then told Congress and the press the same thing

[kairos12]

17. He jumped from the burning dumpster before fully engulfed.

[FakeNoose]

20. Chump and Barr had a meeting in early December

Chump told Barr about the "Stop the Steal" demonstration and he wanted Barr on board. Barr said no I'm not going along with this. So he was told to quit or be fired. Barr didn't waste any time at all thinking it over. He quit almost immediately.

The story was rehashed in the media pretty soon after he left DoJ. I don't believe Barr has ever spoken publicly about it, but he has leaked the story to enough people that it got out. We talked about it on DU quite a bit in December. But at the time none of us knew about the "Stop the Steal" debacle. That all happened later, and it became obvious exactly why Barr quit.

[kentuck]

21. As I recall...

It was a pretty heated discussion.

[FakeNoose]

22. I have a feeling this is all going into a book

I really hate Bill Barr, he's a weasel of the highest caliber.
But I'd be interested in reading his book, if there ever is one.

[GulfCoast66]

25. Many may disagree and honorable people can. I think even he had limits.

And the extent to which he would bmanipulate justice, which he certainly did, had limits.

Lie and hide evidence to protect a president that while personally hated was advancing his agenda? Yeah. He was into that. He is a Christian Dominionist.

But lie to overturn an election? Especially heading an agency that would publicly explode and push back hard? More than he signed up for.

Had he been a man of ethics he would have had a press conference and say the president is trying to get the justice department to fabricate evidence the election was stolen. And let trump fire him. But we know he is not a man of ethics.

Bernie Madoff did not shoot anyone. But was still an ethical monster. That’s how I see Barr. A monster but not will to totally kill democracy. Besides, he’s smarter than trump. He realized the Supreme Court judges trump supported would do it over time.

[malaise]

26. THIS

Had he been a man of ethics he would have had a press conference and say the president is trying to get the justice department to fabricate evidence the election was stolen.

[GulfCoast66]

27. Good evening, Malaise.

We’re catching a break on hurricanes this year. Hope it continues. Had to replace my roof 3 years ago. Don’t want to do that again.

I hope you are getting the rains we are here in Florida. Tonight is glorious! 78 degrees after a late rain and a lightning show in the distance.

[malaise]

29. No break coming

Peak season begins towards the end of August - there is rain around the island although not much in Kingston.

[GulfCoast66]

30. Yeah. September is the worst in my opinion.

October is not as bad but still threatening.

Ironically, you just learn to roll with it.

I’ve lived almost all my life in states threatened by hurricanes.

But here in Florida I’m 60 miles from either coast. That helps.

My pepper plants are doing better than they have in years. I guess the rain cools down the evening enough that they get some relief.

Have a nice evening.

[malaise]

32. You are correct re the peak month

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/images/peakofseason.other day

By the way the Eastern Pacific is quite active tonight..
It's a holiday weekend here, but with all the Covid lock downs it's just another day. Hope you also enjoy the night.

[ShazamIam]

28. Barr a, "good," witness, hasn't he lied and hedged to Congress? There was the giant whopper that

Last edited Sun Aug 1, 2021, 10:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Trump was exonerated by the Mueller report, and remember how all the media echoed it for the SOBs.

edit: the to there.

[GulfCoast66]

31. The worst was when then Senator Harris questioned him.

If I remember correctly about trump pressuring him to investigate people. He could not remember. Like you would forget that situation.

He’s an unethical SOB. But a Christian dominionist. It’s all justified if doing it for god.

[ShazamIam]

33. During the Kavanaugh hearing I think and I loved how she kept jabbing him to respond.

[panader0]

34. It's a good question, but I don't think it was because he was pressured to say it was corrupt.

I think it was because he knew of the insurrection planning and for once, had the sense to
think that was a step too far, even for him. He must be called to testify under oath.

[kentuck]

35. You could be right.

He should be called to testify.