Add this OpEd to the vigorous media campaign that criticizes the investigation by highly regarded Connecticut United States Attorney Durham into the origins of the Russian investigation, and to the unfortunate statements from the Chairmen of the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees criticizing that investigation if it has in fact become a criminal probe. (“These reports, if true, raise profound new concerns that the Department of Justice under AG Barr has lost its independence and become a vehicle for President Trump’s political revenge.”) Ms. Bazelon , now echoing Chairmen Schiff and Nadler, criticizes pursuing “Trump’s pet theories” as the New York Times previously (October 6, 2019) labeled the investigation. So what are these people contending -- that the Durham investigation should never have been started and now should be dropped because Trump wants to see it pursued, and because he may benefit politically? Do they not realize that there are many people in this country, including those who do not support Trump or his policies, who want to see any possible abuse of power by the Justice Department or the CIA or the NSA fully investigated? Stopping or limiting this investigation now would only support the view that the game in Washington is fixed. The Democrats and the media should stop their coordinated campaign to discredit it particularly at this stage. It is exposing their hypocrisy.
14
@JB
No. You haven't acknowledge the criticism.
The complaint is that Barr is not neutral and should not be involved. That the Department should insulate any investigation from partisan bias and political utility. You think it should?
33
JB seems to think that criminal investigations of law enforcement for simply doing their job is the natural order of things. I'm 61 years old, and I don't recall anything like this. Everyone, even Mitch McConnell, agrees that the Russians interfered with our election. Was it somehow inappropriate to investigate that?
This is all pretty typical of Trump's inability to hold onto a single idea. He maintains that the investigation exonerated him, yet at the same time, it was a "witch hunt" and a "failed coup". How can he have it both ways?
53
@JB You will never be satisfied, just as Trump won't. The Mueller report and the Senate Intel committee report found Russian interference. Mueller found over 100 communications between Trump officials and Russians, which Trump and his staff denied. The DOJ iG will soon release his report. We know or will soon know what happened. Barr's seeking to build political cover for senators to vote to acquit.
17
Iran Contra is far and away the most siginificant Constitutional crisis of the 20th century, with VP and former CIA Director Bush covertly selling TOW missiles to the nation that his own State Dept listed (incorrectly) as the primary sponsor of international terrorism in order to generate funds for a secret war in Nicaragua. The latter is a direct violation of the Boland Amendments, an overt act of contempt for Congress's (and only Congress's) power to declare war. AG Barr later provided legal cover for the pardons of Weinberger and Abrams so that they would not be called as eyewitnesses against Bush.
Bill Barr is and always has been an internal enemy to the United States of America, a puny demigod on stilts who should have been prosecuted along with Poppy Bush. And the hagiography of Poppy by GOP lackeys on television, particularly the fawning Dana Bash at CNN, throws the lie to any and all whining by conservatives about the liberal media. That supposedly liberal media remains silent in front of Trump while he insults female reporters: "Of course you can't think. You never do." All that is required for evil to triumph is talking heads who don't want to lose their fat paychecks.
17
If I write what I think of this man and his destiny,you won't print it. So,I encourage others to write what you will print.
9
The Justice Dept. becomes the president's tool for investigation of, and retribution against, his enemies. Truly terrifying. We are staring the police state in tbe face. It's before us, practically a reality. WHAT DO WE DO? Is it possible that all those Republicans don't recognize the slippery slope, when they've almost reached the bottom?
15
As Barr continues to brazenly subvert the country and the rule of law in plain sight, he keeps on doubling down and is betting the house that he can succeed in installing Trump as dictator and Dear Leader of the country formerly known as America.
The country will breathe a sigh of relief when Barr faces the consequences of his behavior, and it can’t come soon enough.
15
Millions of words have been written about how the NYT was sure President Trump was guilty of collusion with Russia. Despite, all efforts of the deep state and the media to try and find and prove collusion none was found.
Now the Bill Barr and the public want answers of the investigators and what really happened in dealing with the 2016 Election. The Democrats, Media and yes the Deep State are worried that the truth is now coming out. Where is that DNC server that was hacked? What about FISA warrants? How was Ukraine involved in the 2016 election? How was the Obama administration involved in trying to get President Trump removed from office?
When you don't want the public to know the real facts, you attack those who may find out. Bottom line, when the facts come out, as they are, will the Democrats and the Media accept them, or will they deny them, as they did with the Muller Report .
7
People with extreme views are always looking for their shot at imposing their extremist mindsets on everyone else. Barr's views and actions align with Putin's rule by oligarchy --- rule by an elite few who determine what is legal and what isn't, e.g. homosexuality, birth control; and then use that authority to manipulate the unthinking to abuse those considered immoral. Barr is using the ignorant amoral Trump to carry out Barr' s agenda.
11
Barr is smart enough to know that any “progress” he makes toward his or Trumps agenda is going to be completely undone and then some by the backlash to this administration. His personal convictions dont explain why he is publicly humiliating himself just to help the president stall out his statutes of limitation.
I think the Russians have dirt on him. They found (or placed) some weird stuff on his computer and he would rather be Trumps toadie than another Catholic whos legacy is swept aside in another sex scandal.
6
Trump is going to win the 2020 election thanks to articles like this.
4
Barr is one of the regular republicans. Just as corrupt, just as theocratic, just as undemocratic, just as wedded to the almighty dollar.
The dirt of the republican party from richard nixon to djt cannot be blamed on djt. It is the dirt of decades of corrupt, undemocratic thinking starting with the Powell Memorandum.
We can end this party in 2020. Vote.
8
So the only "morals" that matter are sexual ones, I guess. And even on those, Donald J. Trump does not exactly come out looking good.
And what we see from William Barr, the devout Catholic, is that "moral relativism" about abortion and same-sex marriage is so very very terrible that it's OK to
- perjure oneself
- radically misrepresent the content of a document submitted to Congress by an investigator in one's own executive department
- distort the Constitution that one is sworn to uphold
- go to the ends of the earth trying to dig up dirt on a potential election rival
-- all in defense of an "imperial executive" who is an ignorant, truculent, impulsive, cruel, bullying, malignant narcissist and whose sole source of "information" is the mendacious content on Fox News talk shows.
God save America.
8
When you apply the correct (and only) meaning to the word, moral or morality; you will find that most of the "morality warriors" are in fact the MOST IMMORAL PEOPLE.
What can be more immoral than using a known IMMORAL as your champion for morality.
8
I am a retired federal prosecuting attorney with extensive trial experience and a retired member of the State Bar of Arizona, the Federal District Court for the District of Arizona, and the United States Supreme Court. And having sworn an oath to, among other things, abide by the the Rules of Professional Conduct, I have some first-hand knowledge to answer the question posed.
In this regard , I would argue that Bill Barr is a disgrace to the legal profession and that both the District of Columbia (DC) and New York State Bar Associations (NY) should open investigations into his conduct and begin with his confirmation hearing.
There is ample evidence to suggest that Barr lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee in response to a question posed by Senator Kamala Harris, "Has the president or anyone in the White House ever asked you to open an investigation of anyone?" Any experienced trial attorney, who noted his demeanor and answer would conclude that he was untruthful.
In addition, there are two questions with respect to conflict of interest that Barr must address: First, his refusal to recuse himself from the Ukraine Investigation and second, his apparent refusal to recuse himself from 45's "Investigate the Investigators" [demonstrably 45's political enemies] investigation.
If he refuses to cooperate, DC and NY should make a "probable cause" determination and issue a complaint and notice of hearing if one is warranted.
21
As the depth of the rot, corruption and malfeasance of this administration marches forward in defiance of the basic precepts of law, government and political accountability this has to be some of the darkest days yet in the history of your country and how Presidents have conducted the business of the nation. Unfortunately with the presence of Bill Barr they are more likely darker days to come until Individual 1 is impeached and convicted or voted out of office.
6
I’d be curious what his views of Executive authority are when the Executive is from the Democratic Party.
11
Barr's background has some unusual features.
His father was a successful educator, born Jewish and converted to Catholicism. He was Headmaster of the Dalton School and may have been the one ,who hired Jeffrey Epstein. He wrote a novel apparently partly about child sex slavery. (Link available on Donald Barr's wikipedia page).
Barr resigned from Dalton in a conflict which made the NYT in 1974. Here's an excerpt:
"The source of conflict between the strong‐minded Mr. Barr and his 20‐member board seemed to center on the question of where the board's authority should yield to the headmaster's judgment. "
William Barr seems to have the same sort of authoritarian personality that the 1974 article suggests about his father.
My guess: we're not dealing with a dispassionate legal analysis here. We're dealing with an off-the-rails authoritarian personality who, because of that orientation, is supporting a criminal.
12
Is Barr's goal a seat on the Supreme Court? Frightening.
6
If Trump and Barr himself are example of people Barr considers to have traditional morals, then morality itself has absolutely no meaning whatsoever.
7
It never fails to amaze me how those who preach against "moral relativism" are often the same ones who commit acts that are wrong in morally absolute terms. In this regard, Barr's attitude is a perfect reflection of that of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, which shares his blindness to the genuine wrongs they both commit in their pursuit of "morality."
9
Attorney Barr, having set out on a crusade to attain what he sees as ‘moral’ ends has, in the event, readily adopted ‘means’ which thoroughly subvert whatever limited value those ends might have served in American society. At some point such manipulative opportunism is going to crash and burn...
3
In "the fantasyland" where Ms. Bazelon apparently dwells, nothing that POTUS Trump does is correct and whatever AG Barr does must be treated as suspect.
The fact is that the DC Insiders (i.e., The Swamp) could not imagine that Mr. Trump would win the Presidency via the Electoral College. Even before Pennsylvania was called early on Wednesday morning (11/9/16), there was alleged planning to do "from the Inside" whatever was necessary to undo how the People of this nation had spoken.
I am a native New Yorker who now lives in the Hinterlands. Being a frequent visitor to cities large and small "on the Coasts", the reality here in Flyover Country IS VERY DIFFERENT than what emanates from the media capitals.
It is via viewing through these two (2) very different lenses that I see the elitist arrogance in the major cities on one hand and on the other hand the contempt that these alleged elites have for the common man or woman (who has chosen not to live where the elites are).
A fine man (and attorney) like AG Barr sees this dichotomy for what it is. Fortunately, his is in a position and he has the authority to do something about it.
6
@dmanuta This is a very bright post. I suggest that Ms. Bazelon wait until the IG's report comes out and the Durham investigation produces its report before setting her hair afire. She might need a fire extinguisher.
4
Barr sounds like an extremist and from his behavior he is an extremist. I don't know if he has broken the law. He simply has used his authoritarian interpretation of the U.S. Constitution to promote the decidedly anti-Democratic policies of the Trump administration including longstanding Republican strategies to suppress the popular vote in minority districts and to do everything possible to rollback progressive legislation antithetical to the views of conservative Christians.
His short bio only illustrates that the evil inside the Trump administration is much deeper than one man. He has a whole army of malfeasants working for him trying to shape American society in their image. They really want to bring back the 1950s, when Ozzie and Harriet were the norm and no one but communists challenged the governing orthodoxy.
4
Emily Bazelon's characterization of him as a moral absolutist is fitting. Yet, Trump hardly qualifies as a moral relativist. His psychotic narcissism necessarily eschews all morality. Of course, Bazelon also notes Barr’s support for an imperial presidency. But if push came to shove between the two ideals, I doubt if Barr would champion executive empowerment. I’d be surprised, for instance, if he had defended Obama’s right to enact the various executive orders he needed to bypass his obdurate congress. Still, Trump and Barr make convenient bedfellows, even though the latter, at least theoretically, would rather trade our country’s (liberal) secularists for more (Catholic) Central American immigrants.
3
Here's an objective standard for Mr. Barr on good and evil: the president represents one third of the federal government, is NOT ordained by God but by the votes of the American electorate, and is not above the laws put in place by our legislators. In other words, the president is not a king and does not have medieval kingly powers.
Further, the Attorney General is the attorney for the government of the United States, and not for the individual president. Is that clear enough? Or is he going to keep on writing his own rule book? We've already seen him lie to the country about the findings in the Mueller report, and decline to pursue the report of the whistleblower in dereliction of his duty to the Nation. What else is he going to put into his own rule book?
12
Look at how the false piety of the Commanders of Gilead turned out! Barr and Pence, both promoting paternalistic and authoritarian beliefs to repress dissent, are distorting the intentions of the Founding Fathers who knew the dangers of allowing Church to interfere with State. Barr's connection with the ultra-conservative wing of the Catholic Church is not surprising, and only makes his efforts to prop up this deeply immoral president seem more self-serving. Barr's apparent infatuation with authoritarianism is going to damage our Justice Department for generations.
7
During Bill Barr’s confirmation hearings there didn’t seem to be any real concern for the fact that he had counseled the first President Bush to pardon all six of the Reagan Administration officials who were facing criminal charges related to the Iran- Contra Scandal. This alone should have alarmed everyone and should have revealed his true nature as an advocate for the unitary executive doctrine.
5
Barr, like Pence and Pompeo, believes in an ideology that is in direct conflict with one of the most basic principles of our democracy, the separation of church and state, i.e. dominion theology, which proposes that the government should be led by the dominant religion in the country, Christianity, and specifically, its most extreme and conservative version.
Given that perspective, it's not surprising that all three appear willing to sacrifice everything, including judgment regarding every other action taken by our lawless, amoral president, in the belief that they are working to foster that goal, one that they appear more committed to than anything approaching responsible governance in the democracy that the Founders imagined when constructing the Constitution.
Hence it is particularly ironic that William Barr probably sees himself as an "originalist" when in fact, he is by all appearances quite the opposite unless one considers the original text he references to be the Bible. As for his secular beliefs, such as they exist, he more resembles a Tory than any person involved in the writing of the Constitution.
10
If Barr's agenda is what this article describes, this is terrifying on so many levels.
Thanks for this insight into what has been confusing for me to understand about Barr. Clarity now, and so so so much more disturbing.
6
Wish I had the option to insert the mugshot of John N. Mitchell here. Mr. Barr is a bit more capacious, might need a wide-angle.
2
Ah here it is. Mr. Barr wants to impose his religion on me, using a fake Christian as his vessel.
10
Quickie divorces, auto accidents, bail bond services and personal lawyer for Donny "two scoops" trump.
- Billy P. Barr, Esq. *
* Law offices located at the 2 J's highway 66 strip mall, #1402
7
Barr saw an opportunity in Trump's rise to power to finally establish in a legal and lasting way his own views of presidential power and what that would mean for his own special concerns, whether criminalizing abortion or stacking the courts with judges sympathetic to conservative or right-wing views. In short, he is an opportunist, like Trump and like everyone Trump surrounds himself with. But Barr does not seem like so many others to be out for money and self-enrichment. He wants power, to transform and dictate the norms of American society and American political life, for decades to come. Right now he's Trump's lightning rod. But perhaps all the playing with fire will at last come to burn Mr. Barr, who like everyone else, should have known (if hunger for money or power were not stronger than integrity and common sense) that in the end he couldn't control Trump or only use him for his own ends and walk away, but only be used by him.
11
Can't this man be disbarred for lying to the American public by purposefully obfuscating the true meaning of the Mueller report? For starters. Lawyers like John Mitchell, Roy Cohen, and William Barr do great injury to this country and that needs to be recognized and measures taken.
14
Trump is midas in reverse. Whatever reasonable goals someone may hzve on joining this administration, it will end in tatters with the opposite out onw, and reputation destroyed.
4
It's hard to imagine a more perverse version of Catholicism, or any version of any Christian credo, or any religious faith that holds morality as central, as that which AG Barr holds, aligning himself as he does with the capo di tutti capo of moral relativists, Trump.
And where was he to defend Obama's presidential directive about DACA?
11
Nah. That’s all fluff. When it comes down to it he’s just a republican operative. If it was to do with an honest unitary theory, it wouldn’t only show when a republican in the President.
1
When Bill Barr was sworn in, did he place his hand on a bible or Trumps head?
6
Trump is the useful idiot the rightist power elites such as McConnell, Barr, the oil barons, and Murdoch manipulate to get their tax breaks and deregulation as their candy for now and the courts they want for decades.
11
Or maybe he has found evidence of serious misconduct by Democrats and the deep state. Just typical NYT appealing to its base with a hit piece. And how terrible to have a religious Attorney General.
4
@samten171 -- But he does not have the right to shove his Opus Dei views down my throat!
6
@samten171 Maybe the NYT and the DNC can explain how the $11,000,000 moved from Mrs. Clinton and and DNC to Marc Elias and the Russians? That should make a good story.
4
What a great way to gain personal power in government: help others who seek power gain it, by whatever means possible.
1
I'm always disappointed when dogmatic Catholics like Mr. Barr use their religion to justify their authoritarian beliefs. As a cradle Catholic the good Sisters taught mercy,love, compassion and service to those less fortunate. Those are the traditional moral values of the Catholic faith. Mr. Barr, the Sisters would ask you for a sincere examination of your conscience. It's sorely overdue.
6
It seems to me that, as he flies about from one foreign country to another, in search of an elusive something with which to undermine the House’s inquiry into impeachment, Barr is engaging in the same unconstitutional behavior as Trump. He is injecting foreign involvement into our domestic politics. Once Trump is removed, Barr should be removed from office, and the U.S. should proceed from there.
8
Emily's article should make everyone worry about how untouchable Trump is right now. If articles of impeachment are approved in the House, I pray that Barr's name is added as a co-conspirator. And while there may not be 20 republicans with the moral courage to defend the Constitution when it really matters, the articles will at least serve to show the American people the true state of the union under this administration.
9
Barr should be the next to be impeached, after Trump. As attorney general during the George HW Bush administration, he participated in and encouraged pardons for six public officials from the Reagan administration. Before the pardons were granted, three of the six had been convicted and sentenced for their roles in Iran/Contra. Another had been convicted but not yet sentenced on a felony charge, leaving two other officials, including Casper Weinberger, who was facing four felonies, to be preemptively pardoned by Bush and Barr as his acting attorney general.
The special counsel heading that investigation called these pardons an abuse of justice and the rule of law.
Barr auditioned for the current attorney general position in advance by writing a memorandum that clearly recognized his belief in an imperial presidency. Furthermore, that he was a threat to issue further pardons for Trump and others in his administration if they were found guilty from the findings in the Mueller investigation.
Barr sabotaged Mueller's findings by overruling a finding of possible guilt for obstruction of justice.
It seems a foregone conclusion that Barr was going to exonerate Trump one way or the other -- either changing Mueller's findings or pardoning any of those found guilty of a crime.
If trump is impeached, Barr should be next as an accomplice.
9
during th eObama adminstation, John Boehner, then Speaker of the House, gave anew conference during which he said basically, that it was the job of the Republican's to do everything they could to stop all of Mr. Obama's policies and changes and to defeat Mr. Obama at the next election.
that was appalling and disappointing. I don't recall Mr. Barr or any other conservative saying, "wait a minute, you shouldn't resist a democratically elected President." So Bill Barr's position is without merit and hypocritical.
The reality is that Mr. Trump exceeds any norm we have ever witnessed, and Mr. Barr is an enabler.
Perhaps he and the Republican's should consider this: There will be a Democrat in the White House one day. Do they want that future Democrat to cast aside the institutional protections in the same manner as Mr. Trump?
5
This philosophy of merging the Church(whatever that really is) with the function of the state made me leave the US. However, it seems to me fundamentalism, racism, and general ill will seems to be a driving mission for many governments. Millions of the poor are in the streets and killed and wounded.
How will kindness find its way to lead us?...
1
Do AG Barr, the leaders of the Federalist Society and others of their ilk truly believe in omniscient deities? I understand that politicians cannot get elected without suggesting they "believe." But, truly, is it faith in God that informs or motivates so many seemingly intelligent, educated, experienced individuals? Perhaps God is no more than a convenient cudgel for preserving their cultural (clannish?) or sociological preference for 'what America should be.'
In route to law school, I took a walk with a former governor and then state supreme court justice and asked, "what insight on law school might you offer, Governor?"
And he replied, "the law is what you think it is."
I liked that, but after rolling it around in my mind for twenty yards, I pressed the gentleman to elaborate.
"You are a white anglo-saxon Christian male from a family with property. The laws of this country, Sam, were written by and for people just like you."
I liked that even better until - some years later - I began evaluating its import.
1
Amazing how one man who wants to undermine the US Constitution has so much power to do so. We obviously need to fix what is broken before we get further into being the Banana Republic that we seem to be.
3
@Tricia Yes, and it really makes a strong statement for the spineless senators who approved his appointment to the office as Trump's AG.
1
The article states" "The danger came from the rise of “moral relativism,” in Mr. Barr’s view. “There are no objective standards of right and wrong,” he wrote. “Everyone writes their own rule book.”
Perhaps Mr. Barr believes that his own conduct is evidence to support his views.
1
@PeterE : Yes, Mr. Barr should read the Ten Commandments.
Until the daily MSM has the guts to report on these radical fundamentalist authoritarian Christians as the radical fundamentalist authoritarian Christians they are, their organizations & cults, this gutting of the democratic principles of this republic will continue.
5
@emm305
Apparently you don't read or watch the MSM because they do it every day. Just look at the NYT picks among these comments and they are all on one side.
2
Barr is a disgrace to this country, its Justice Department, the legal profession from which I am thankfully retired, and, most of all, truth and justice.
5
@Jamie Nichols Yes, but that list is sooooo long:
John Edwards
Bill Clinton
Hilary Clinton
AG Holder
and many more
He wants Trump as President because he can work around him to do the work he thinks needs to be done to restore Catholic/Christian values. Long-term, he wants a Pope to head the country.
The guy is a nut a la Bannon.
7
Who is Bill Barr? With any sense of luck and/or justice, soon to be the latest disbarred AG to occupy the John Mitchell Suite at Club Fed.
9
Can we stop with the "resisting a democratically elected president" canard? If I hire you as a cashier and later find you stealing from the register, you can't use the fact that I hired you as a defense.
You break the law, you bought the law. So should it be with Presidents.
8
Show me a religious zealot and I will show you a danger to our democracy and rule of law.
7
Trump isn't using Barr. Instead, Barr is using Trump. Barr operates like some kind of evil mastermind that works his way to the highest echelons of power in order to enact his ultra conservative worldview.
Trump needs Barr as much Barr needs Trump. In violating every shred of his official duties by protecting Trump, Trump must protect Barr, and does.
So who put these two together? Who or what got Barr out of retirement to save Trump?
This stinks to high heaven! Trump isn't smart enough or connected enough to pull this off by himself. This thing is unfolding like some kind of criminal conspiracy to take over the government by the ultra right. I think cabal would be a better descriptor than conspiracy.
Hollywood makes movies like this. The cabal waits for an opportunity to insert their man. Trump has provided that opportunity. Trump is the perfect "useful idiot", as they say, that can give the cabal the keys to the castle. And he did.
The impeachment inquiry must investigate the Trump-Barr-Whomever conspiracy. So must the FBI. Barr must be impeached and removed from power. Then let the FBI insert him into a jail cell.
4
@Bruce Rozenblit Yes, Trump is following a script laid out by "the real deep state", though historically referred to by some as "the government within the government". Trump may not know who the puppeteers are, but he must know his strings are being pulled. And, that is when he attempts to both distract the public and ease his guilt by calling out true patriots as synonymous with "his" deep state rhetoric. To get through this bizarre nightmare, true patriots must follow Hans Christian Anderson's script for the little boy in the crowd who came to view the emperor in the parade. Indeed, the emperor has no clothes! I am still waiting for 2/3 of the Senate to proclaim the same.
1
Barr is the worst kind of true believer. If his connections to Opus Dei are to be believed, when he sees the President, he evidently sees the Pope; all powerful and infallible.
Next to McConnell, he may be the biggest threat to American democracy today.
5
Americans should start investigating this man. Who really is he?? Where did AG Jeff Session go? Why he is so quite? Is he hiding from something, scared of Trump? But real story here, Who is Bill Barr?? Dems should investigate.
1
Barr should join the seminary — he’s In the wrong job. Not sure the Jesuits would look approvingly on his brand of Catholicism, though.
4
It's important to dig deep for the facts, and to analyze. But I wish I knew 10 people like Barr. Why? Because I know 10,000. He's just another guy --- white I might add --- who longs for that pungent aroma of power. People like Barr will say anything and do anything for power. And at the moment, Barr is drunk on that aroma, and he is willing to be a lap dog for Trump. I'm sure a psychology professional could sum it up with a diagnostic number from the DSM.
6
Excuse me, but I thought this was a nation built on separation of church (any church) and state. What the heck???
Since when does religion equate with morality. Over the centuries, religion has been and the very heart and the very cause of immorality. Witness the killing of Jews and anyone else in way of the wonderful, religious Crusaders on the march to the Holy Land. Also the Puritans denying religious freedom to the Catholics in early American history. So very, very moral!
This so called attorney general is probably even more than the clownish president and the religious right is more dangerous than any of it.
I think God will have a good long talk to Barr as he sends him of to the “other” place!
4
How can Barr support a lying, cheating, ignorant leader? Is that what the Catholic Church teaches? I think not!
2
Now Mr Barr has a boss who calls the impeachment process “a lynching,” Republican critics “human scum” and the news media “the enemy of the American people.” Mr Barr concealed the whistleblower's complaint on that Ukraine phone call. Mr Trump pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to porn stars, not for the liaisons, but to buy their silence.
"Mr. Barr still seems unperturbed". These things define the character of Mr. Barr. Mr Barr's behavior crosses the line from loyal apparatchik to Mafiosi.
3
For Barr, Trump is a useful idiot. It's hard to believe that an elitist like Barr can hold anything but contempt for the President. I'm sure that Barr wishes that Trump could read, focus, consult, develop strategies, work up some empathy for those who suffer--but, ultimately, it's not really necessary as he turns the Justice Department into Star Chamber.
1
In George Orwell's dystopian novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four,"
Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party. He works in the Ministry of Truth where his job is to rewrite history.
AG Barr has left no doubt that he works personally for Trump, and has embarked on a deliberate effort to delegitimize the FBI's exhaustively documented findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the clear intention to get Trump elected. He is now playing the part of Winston Smith to Trump's Big Brother.
“We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy..."
- Daniel Coats, Director of National Intelligence in a statement, July 16, 2018
"[The Russians] haven’t been deterred enough” [and are] “absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections.”
- FBI Director Christopher Wray in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, July 22, 2019. Wray was appointed by Trump.
“The Russian government’s efforts to interfere in our election is among the most serious” [challenges to American democracy.] They are doing it as we sit here, and they expect to do it during the next campaign.”
- Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, July 24, 2019
"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."
- from "Nineteen Eighty-Four," by George Orwell (1949)
1
Barr is Trump’s Thomas Cromwell, using his ties to the Catholic Church as a veil to do the president’s bidding & to hide his misdeeds. Barr & his cronies aim to diminish the rights of Americans who aren’t white, Christian & straight. He’s a threat to our constitution and the rule of law.
4
How did none of this sad story come out in the Senate Confirmation of this nut case for Attorney General? If you voted to confirm this guy---shame on you.
It is equivalent to the 'boys will be boys' winks that led to Me-too. someone will come up for some cute phrase for privileged men who think that they know and approve of other privileged men, when ,in fact, they don't know 'shmich' about them.
1
Where is the Bar Association? This man's license to practide law should be revoked. Then again look at how many of this admins judges were ruled unqualified by said group and repubs confirmed anyway. Now that is morals for you
5
It's amazing how many DC insiders from both sides of the aisle act astonished at the behavior of barr. The dude has been auditioning for the job of chief right-wing zealot for decades. And, in plain sight. Too many people have too many cocktails with too many crazies in that town. As it has been often quoted, when someone tells you what they are, believe them.
2
Clearly Mr. Barr is an extremely dangerous ideological lunatic. He too should be removed from office.
4
Get out now, Billy! Run away as fast as you can!
2
I would like to see Barr go to jail and never practice law again. He was behind Iran Contra, and he's behind what we have right now. Congress should impeach him today.
3
Barr’s fixation on absolute power for the Executive Branch is disgusting and distinctly un-American. We need to get rid of this guy!
4
If there is one thing the Trump administration has done it's shown his appointees true faces to the world. From Barr to Lindsey Graham to the SCIF raiders we've seen men who acted mostly moral and had scruples to men who feel they don't have to follow rules or law anymore. They're free to be the sycophantic racists they've always been but had to hide to make money to be reelected. The GOP has shown their true colors in their support of Trump. They have to go nationwide. Throw them all out.
3
Barr is a political hack who rationalizes his cheap half-baked notions as some noble moral crusade. Trump is the perfect beneficiary of such a cheap thereotician: a moral leper with no discernible worth as a human being.
2
Who is Barr? Twenty, fifty, two hundred years from now: a scoundrel in history books, with a stink level far exceeding Nixon's John Mitchell.
7
Barr and Pompeo are religious zealots that have found themselves at the top of the food chain of a criminal enterprise masquerading as a political administration.
They do differ a little in their exist strategies.
Pompeo is looking for an exit, not realizing he in on a ship and its called the Trumptanic.
Barr knows there are no exits and he isnt even putting water with the Kool Aide, he just eats the packets.
5
Look at him. Smug and arrogant, but looks like a bullfrog full of warts. He is power hungry and desperate to be relevant. Like Rudy, they both know they have shot their reputations, but they both state the same grim reminder that they will be dead soon. I knew during the confirmation hearings that his Grandson Liam, was just a useless prop to him--"Russian people not bad." Well. Liam, when you grow up and your corpulent grandfather is dead and buried--with honors he doesn't deserve--we are going to take out his corruption on any surviving member of the Barr family. Your name will be as ignominious as it is pompous. Barr should be disbarred.
3
It would be sad to see AG Barr fall into the same hole Eric Holder fell into for Obama. That said, the origins of the Russia collusion hoax do merit investigation. An attempt to take out a duly elected President on a fraud concocted by Hillary Clinton and the DNC, and promoted by the FBI, State Department and CIA must not go unpunished.
@TL Except that none of what you write is true. Holder never saw his job as personally protecting Obama. And Obama did not commit crimes in office; nor did he view Holder's role as being his protector.
There was no "Russian collusion hoax"; there are well-documented, multiple contacts between the Trump campaign and agents of the Russian state. There is proof that the Trump campaign was aware of the help from the Russians, and welcomed it. There was no fraud, from the DNC, Clinton, or anyone else; there was dedicated, professional work on the part of the FBI and intelligence agencies, in urgent response to the massive alarm bells that the Trump campaign was setting off. The Trump people then resorted to massive and sustained obstruction of justice to keep these truths from getting out.
The notion that the FBI was working against a legitimate campaign on orders from the DNC or Clinton is a sad, ridiculous, and sinister delusion.
All of this is documented, in the Mueller report and eslewhere. If you've been taken in by Barr's utterly dishonest "summary" of the Mueller report as an exoneration of Trump and his campaign, I urge you to read the real thing.
6
William Barr is Donald Trump's Roy Cohn in the federal government. Barr is a tool to do Trump's bidding, nothing more and nothing less. The man does not represent the American people. Rather, William Barr is someone Trump can manipulate to defend him, and him alone. Elliot Richardson he's not.
2
"It’s headed by an experienced prosecutor, John H. Durham ..... and it’s supposed to be on the up and up". Often quoted to support his credentials is his investigation of the "alleged" CIA torturers of the destroyed videos fame. His conclusion: There was nothing there (literally)!
1
This is the Christianity I grew up with:
Matthew 25:31-46
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, A stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
1
Looks like not even the Pope would approve of such an immoral, sinful life project that consist in knowingly not doing what God wants you to do. The irony of it!
1
That is the face of evil. One of many in the administration.
1
Abject corporate control and the armor-plating of religion, my country 'tis of thee...
Thank you for your "service", Mr. Barr.
2
I think there's a reasonable chance that after the grand jury convened by dorum starts putting people under oath what you're really going to find out about what happened to people really trying to sabotage trump's campaign before it almost even started. So when we talk about Russian interference what we're going to really see is for sure that Hillary's campaign gave millions of dollars for a cover a law firm to give millions of dollars to Ukrainian operatives the cover the steel dossier. Really fine with people under oath that Lisa page and struck really did collude to try to get an insurance policy to sabotage trump. You gonna really find that Brennan at the CIA was working with the FBI With Comey to start rigged Visa process. And I think the part that will get the far left the most upset is probly around next July or August you going to see a bunch of these people and guided and out on bail awaiting trial right before the election and the American people are gonna know what a hoax the whole Russian investigation was. That's what people are so upset about would bar hes going to expose the whole fraud of the Russian investigation right before the election
1
Just as the AG finds there is "moral relativism", there is likely also "religious relativism", if he is looking to make US into a strict "Catholic" society.
In the wrong hands the country will regress to the point our God given brain will no longer think. We will be in the world of "dogma".
Look at examples of Muslim countries. Rich at one time long ago in arts' and sciences, even music is forbidden in some segments of society because someone argued it was forbidden in the scriptures.
3
Some in the ultra-right Catholic hierarchy complain loudly that Catholics are the last group that can be discriminated against with impunity. That's a laugh.
For one thing, the Catholic right very often misconstrues criticism as discrimination. Hence, some conservative Catholics might accuse me of anti-Catholic bias for pointing out that the type of Catholic ideology Barr espouses is now firmly embedded in positions of extraordinary power in two of the three branches of the federal government.
Antonin Scalia may be gone, but his strident sectarian viewpoints continue to inform the words and deeds of important members of the executive and judiciary. Only this month, Barr mounted a religiously-motivated attack on secular America during his speech on so-called religious freedom at Notre Dame University. Barr did this in his capacity as the Attorney General of the United States of America.
Barr's words and conducts amount to a governmental endorsement of a particular religious point of view: his. It is not a stretch to say will incite fellow believers to bend the government in favor of Barr's form of Catholicism and against people like me who believe that "homosexual activist groups" should be treated "like any other student group.”
What gall it must take for homophobes such as Barr to babble about anti-Catholic discrimination while actively advocating for the suppression of the civil liberties of LGBT Americans.
5
When Bill Barr took office he swore to “bear truth faith and allegiance” to the Constitution that is the foundation of our republican form of government and to “faithfully discharge the duties of [his] office,” one whose raison d’etre is the faithful execution of our laws.
Apparently he had his fingers crossed. From what we read here, Barr’s true allegiance was not to applying our Constitution and executing our laws as written and intended, but to executing his own personal religious, authoritarian and supposedly moral code. And while he talks a pious game about the “threat of moral relativity” and “objective standards of right and wrong,” it looks like he had his fingers crossed there, too. Or perhaps his moral absolutism has room for enabling a president with no shame, no conscience, no moral compass, perhaps his objective morality doesn’t include faithfulness to the truth—or to the oath made on the Bible he professes to hold dear.
Conceivably Bill Barr did in fact take this office in order to fulfill his own moral aspirations and those of the conservative legal movement. But his aspirations are not only inconsistent with the Constitution and rule of law he pledged to defend, with his lies to the Senate to help assure his own confirmation, his lies to the American public to blunt the force and pervert the truth of the Mueller report, his abuse of his office to advance the political fortunes of a serial liar and adulterer, he forfeited any moral authority to lead.
4
My question to Barr is: Did you really understand your oath of office when you took it, and if so, did you intend to follow it?
3
Barr is an ultramontane disaster who got his job by writing an
op ed declaring the power of the president is unlimited. Trump saw it and hired him as ag, the perfect cover for nefarious deeds. We now see Barr also participated in those deeds.
3
@Rhporter "ultramontane" thanks for the new-to-me word!
This reads like a male steeped in the old rotting Catholic patriarchy. Nothing is relative, unless the hierarchy chooses to relativize moral rules in favor of its own perks, prestige and power. It’s embarrassing the way he throws around dated vocabulary (ie, secularism). Barr hasn’t had a fresh thought since he left catechism at age 13.
2
I really fear for your country and not because Bill Barr is the Attorney General. What I fear is if someone (in power or not) is doing his or her job, but it doesn't "jive" with that person's opinion then they must be corrupt.
I saw nothing wrong with Bill Barr making the call that their was no obstruction when given the task to do so by Robert Mueller's refusal to make that call himself. What was Barr supposed to do? Ignore it?
Bill Barr is a long time Washington D.C. guy who has held this position of Attorney General before. He has always been his own man who made his own decisions. Do we just assume because Trump is president that Barr somehow has changed his beliefs and become a "toady" of Donald Trump because we don't like the President and anyone who works for him must be corrupt? That is total nonsense.
I never make rash judgments about people and their motives until I see the evidence. It appears to me that most of the readers of the NY Times have "drunk the kool aid."
Lastly, I can still dislike the President and the fact that he is in this position yet not trash everyone who supports him.
This does not make me a "deplorable."
The Whistleblower" should be commanded to testify and we should not just take Adam Schiff's spin on motives and what went on. If Trump did something wrong (and he may very well have) let's hear it. Don't just assume that secret meetings in the basement of Congress with leaks of information are true.
1
Bill Barr and Dick Cheney followed this same path: they both started by seeming to be Establishment Republicans under the first President Bush, but then they came out later as flaming, crazy. ultra-extremist, destructive forces. How do we explain these changes? Cheney was probably an extremely dark character all along. Perhaps Barr too? Or is there compromat involved in forcing Barr to become one of the worst AG's ever?
2
In many instances, it's funny when Christians who wear their religion on their sleeves and around their necks simultaneously ignore their lord and savior's teachings while bemoaning what they see as moral relativism and claim it a threat to their religion and land.
When it's the chief law enforcement officer of a nation of 330 million people, one that by its constitution separates church from state, it's terrifying.
5
I 'got' Michael Cohen. Didn't like him, approve of him, or sympathize with his eventual fate, but he was easy to figure out. He was Donald Trump's loyal pet guard dog, an ambitious hanger-on who fed his ego with Trump's droppings.
But Trump paid Michael Cohen.
Why the heck are American citizens paying his replacement?
4
Bill Barr is the worst AG in our history. John Mitchell thanks him for taking away the title. Kind of the way that GW Bush is thankful for Trump taking away the title of worst president. Trump is setting records every day. And destroying reputations every hour on the hour.
4
It would be great if you could accurately characterize Barr's actions. For example, “when he limited damage from the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by shaping the public narrative of the Mueller report”…don’t you really mean when Barr committed perjury and violated his oath of office by lying to Congress about the content of the Mueller report? Barr should be impeached and his law license removed. We do not need hypocritical evangelicals running any part of the US government.
6
Does the Attorney General have integrity?
Barr none.
2
Americans must do more than narrate our own demise as it happens and instead, rise up, scream at Congress and vote out every Republican bottom to top, top to bottom!
3
@William M. Palmer, Esq.
The Barr “investigation” has been reverse engineered beginning with the use by Barr of the word “spying.”
2
I submit that the Barr for truth, decency, & competence is set very low for this administration.
1
Two thousand years ago, Barr would position himself as a Pharisee, not a Christian. Would only he look to the example of Pope Francis!
2
When Barr was appointed, the Justice Dept. veterans testifying to his competence and professionalism were too many to count. It makes one wonder how many more fascists infect that department with the tacit approval of their peers?
4
One thing is certain: throughout history there have been heretics pretending to be saints, criminals pretending to be thought leaders, purveyors of evil hiding behind or within religious cults.
If there ever was one .... Barr fits the profile.
4
regardless of the intellect, education Barr is an elitist who does not believe all people are created equal, and he will dance with anyone corrupt or not to extend that view into the mainstream society. Lets hope he fails
3
I didn't realize my bi-polar disease also made me morally unfit. Barr the judge jury and executioner and now the moral compass.
1
William Barr's corpulence is the perfect metaphor for his overindulgence in corruptly partisan conduct. He has debased the office of the Attorney General and tainted the DOJ. Under Barr, the AG has morphed from chief law enforcement officer of the nation, to presidential legal lackey. He has left an indelible stain on his professional reputation and will face harsh condemnation in the docket of history.
4
Bill Barr flew overseas to find dirt on the 2016 election Russian investigation.
Bill Barr was at least as eager as Giuliani in looking for dirt, except that Giuliani is a private citizen and Bill Barr is the US attorney general.
How pathetic for this guy, for the Republican party and for us all to have an attorney general like this.
4
I don't think Barr thinks much of the Ten Commandments. Some Christian he is!
2
Ms. Bazelon introduces Bill Barr. It's not a "pleased to meet you" moment!
1
Lets not forget Donald Barr - his father ...who hired Epstein at Dalton without any degrees
4
Poor Mr. Barr. He missed his ideal job and time and place.
He should have been the Grand Inquisitor in Spain in the 16th century.
5
A man history will not be kind to
3
Bill Barr, like Donald Trump, is ending his life's work as a criminal. No more really needs to be said about him.
4
Bill Barr sees himself as kind of a latter day Tom Hagen who also defends traditional values. Problem is, the one traditional value that seems to matter at all to him is the Divine Right of Kings. Values like rule of law and the truth seem to mean less to him. A *lot* less.
2
Doesn’t the US law separate religion from government? When everyone important was white, male and went to church on Sunday then that was an easy separation. Now that Americans discover themselves to be mongrels like so many of us elsewhere then the country becomes a murky place of sin.
2
Notre Dame had Bill Barr, the "Catholic's Catholic" speak at commencement a week ago about how the absence of religious values and secularism are the evil that has our country in a death grip. The fact that Barr's tongue didn't spontaneously-combust in his mouth right there on the dais, is proof-positive that there is no God.
Or maybe Notre Dame's loss to Michigan last night is the proof that God really does exist and is truly vengeful!
3
By enabling an obviously corrupt, ignorant, incompetent and emotionally dangerous president, Bill Barr is undermining the US Constitution. The Justice Department exists to represent the citizens and taxpayers of the United States. Instead, Barr represents the White House and, shockingly and appallingly, works to actively thwart a Constitutional and legal probe into White House conduct. By not cooperating, Barr has led the US into a Constitutional crisis. He should be impeached with his boss.
3
Barr’s father hired Jeffrey Epstein to teach teenage girls at Dalton. He had more morals than his son.
1
Who is Bill Barr? The most dangerous man in America. Trump is number two because without Barr he’d already have been impeached.
3
I wonder how his actions are viewed by the Catholic Church? Like most religious extremists who act in the “name” of their religions, or in “defense” of them, he has a perverted view of the teachings of Christ and of the Catholic Church. Of course he does. Because this isn’t a defense of the tenets of Christianity at all. It’s an unbridled power grab by a bunch of tiny white men who think they’re showing the world how big they are but in reality are confirming their smallness. Their meanness. Their morally decayed and corrupted souls are on full display. One example of this is Barr’s attempt to keep the grand jury evidence from congressional committees investigating Trump’s actions. Didn’t he say under oath that if congress wanted access they need only seek access directly from the grand jury. Never did he suggest that he’d work fervently to block that access. He made it sound like, they have an easy and open channel through this other means, so why are they making such a big deal of this? Because, apparently, the commandment about nearing false witness can be set aside when politically expedient. Another faux Christian using his “faith” to mask who he really is. A small, soulless, power hungry hypocrite intent on having his 15 minutes of fame, at the expense of the Republic he pretends to respect and protect.
3
There is no mystery why Barr would agree to serve in the Trump Administration. Like many of us, I'm sure Barr bristles at some of President Trump's behaviors and demeanor, not to mention his past personal life. Nonetheless, he shares Trump's views on many issues - religious freedom, pro-life, limited government, less regulation, etc.
This attack "opinion" is because Barr and Mr. Durham are about to turn the NYT and its commentariat inside out and upside down. The shameless and dangerous abuses of power by the Obama DOJ, FBI and CIA, which are largely known now, will be confirmed. Hopefully, the persons responsible will be jailed. Not that author of this article or the nitwit commentators to it will ever be convinced. They simply hate Trump too much for beating Hillary and not knuckling under since that they are psychologically incapable of any honesty or accountability.
How do these truly unusual and disturbing creatures (Trump, Pence, Barr, ...) make it up there? It is as if the Republican Party is a scaffold for lunatics. A party that disguised itself as a normal party that could nominate the elder Bush, but that in reality, has become the heart and soul of what is wrong with America (... Gingrich, Tom Delay, Giuliani ...).
Hopefully we will make it to the election.
3
Mr. Barr’s strange views on the role of judiciary, his authoritarian tilt toward law, and his past record are problematic. Democrats should have highlighted these, instead of bringing up Trump in every argument. In the end, we are here because of stupid / dishonest Democrats like Clinton and Biden, who are the epitome of moral relativism.
1
President or Pope, it is all the same to William Barr, as long as an authoritarian subjugates the conduct of people who live free of the superstitious demons that plague him personally.
3
I guess you could say he is the President's wingman. Ring any bells?
2
America needs another privileged millionaire moralist like we need another William Bennett, former education secretary, moral scold (and compulsive gambler.)
Barr should be impeached for abusing the power of his office.
2
Thanks for this look at one of the most despicable characters in America. Barr is a dangerous anti-American authoritarian theocratic zealot. He poses an existential threat to our republic. His actions and words are also deeply anti-Christian. Certainly, the real Jesus would have shunned Barr’s White Nationalist immorality and support of cruelty and outrageous intolerance. Perhaps worst of all, his war on Due Process, the rule of law, human decency, and American values in, and his gross mismanagement of, the US Immigration Courts which he unconstitutionally and unethically runs is a national disgrace!
2
Bill Barr is a disgrace. He has politicized the Justice Department, making it yet one more government agency corrrupted to protect Trump instead of working for the American people. Worse yet, he is wasting our tax dollars on foreign travel to "investigate" long-debunked conspiracy theories that only Trump wants to believe. At best he went to Italy simply because he wanted a government-paid vacation to eat good food and drink good wine. At worst, he did so cynically not believing what he was "investigating" but doing so anyway simply to curry favor with Trump.
2
When you use the term "President Trump" you should change it to "Putin's designated President Trump for the US".
1
Insidious is the only word to describe Barr and his poisonous criminal investigation. Trump tries this a lot. The phony investigation into voter fraud using the flunky Kobach, thankfully imploded. However, now he has a very powerful flunky and a theocrat to boot in the regrettable Barr. Lock them up might not just be a campaign rally chant after all.
2
A moral relativist? No he is an immoral relativist. He is a known liar. Establishment republicans who thought he was one of them needed to see his history in a clearer light. But then, these days, establishment Republicans don' really worry that much about morality. It's about power, not decency.
2
Barr is a disgrace to the legal community and more importantly the rule of law! He should be impeached and removed from office.
2
You missed the episode where Barr tried to sink Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign, showing an early appetite for subsuming patriotism to political goals when at the Justice Department:
https://www.salon.com/2002/03/22/whitewater_5/
As a member of an ultra-orthodox Catholic group, Barr is doing his best to bring Dark Ages power politics to the 21st Century.
2
Are Barr and Trump just two spoiled rich kids who demand to have things their way?
2
“In his unruffled and lawyerly way, Mr. Barr emerged as the president’s most effective protector in the spring, when he limited damage from the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by shaping the public narrative of the Mueller report before he released any of it.”
Shorter.
Mr. Barr lied about the contents of the report then hid the report and got away with it.
And this highly respected prosecutor nonsense.
Do this like a mob or communist party infiltration investigation and connect the dots. Who is that prosecutor? What has he done before? Who appointed him? Who is his number two? What has she done before. Whitewash the Bush purge of AGs? How surprising.
Same right wing appartchick appointment and deeds. I am curious if it is also right wing Roman Catholic. I can’t find out. But the Times could. If it had the courage. The federalist society fellow travelers.
Moral relativism as the bogeyman.
Just another neighbor hater claiming to be christian. Nothing to do with moral relativism. Projection is what that is. If republicans commit constitutional crimes ok. If democrats burp, get ‘em.
3
Barr is a fanatic. He is also a mediocre legal mind. I hope he believes in the afterlife as strongly as he believes in his extreme and medieval moral system. I’d like to think he’ll fear the flames instead of dying in peace after the fear he has spread in the hearts of decent people. He is an indecent, destructive man, whose references to Christianity read like parody. Of course, he and Trump chose each other.
3
Mr. Barr is a self righteous man who wears his religion on his sleeve. Those sorts of people are dangerous if put in positions of such vast powers.
Also, let's not forget that Barr's son-in-law took a job at the White House in February of 2019. Nice.
https://www.businessinsider.com/william-barr-son-in-law-joining-white-house-counsel-office-report-2019-2
3
Mr. Barr, do you actually think that only Catholics possess a moral compass? And would you be talking about the Catholic Church that was responsible to the Inquisition and mass exterminations and enslavement of native peoples, which are fine examples of a moral center? Would you also be talking about a religious institution that allows ONLY men to be leaders in the church? I am sorry, but I'm happy to toss out your definition of morality in exchange for the Liberal "moral relativism".
9
@The Weasel
You forgot to mention the sexual abuse of women and children that the catholic church (along with evangelical denominations) has protected and hidden with very much the same "moral relativism" Barr endorses in his president.
Here's a little catholic boy, grown up and looking for someone stronger to tell hm what to do....
3
The U.S. justice Dpt under Consigliere Barr had bordered on the farcial re: how the Mueller report was handled. Turning the Russia-Trump probe into a criminal investigation is a much more ominous development.
Barr's interpretations of what constitutes morality based on the narrow tents of his personal religious convictions is at odds with the notion of a secular state such as the U.S.A, as well as the Constitution's take on freedom of religion.
If those such as Barr who harbour such conflicting sentiments cannot reconcile their personal beliefs with these realities, then they have no business holding public office.
7
@Skeptical Cynic
"tenets"
The values are warped and the goals are despicable, but you almost have to admire the slyness and cunning. Liberals may have oversold the Mueller report in advance of its release. Barr certainly made it possible for an overwhelmed society to fail to meet the challenge posed by Mueller’s findings. And claiming that the investigation that led to Mueller’s report resulted from a criminal government conspiracy to spy on a presidential campaign? It’s almost funny. Barr has the power now to make the claim seem credible. We’ll see what happens to his claim, to his attempts to subvert our democracy, and to him. Cunning and gall can take you pretty far.
6
Barr is an extremist right winger driven by his own self interest. He has zero morale and sold his soul to the tyrant Trump for the sake of promoting his interests, he forgets that he is the attorney general to serve justice, not otherwise. We are living in2019, not 1700 and 1800. Things change over time for the sake of people’s well being. The extremists put a blindfold on their eyes and promote the rules of abuse which were common in the earlier days. US was an icon of democracy in the world and we are now in the process of losing it because of the axis of evils like Trump, Barr and other cronies. They are involved in illegal and unethical activities on a daily basis. The justice department which should be neutral. But they have been forced into doing nothing. In fact, they are taking the lead to destroy Trump’s opponents under the maneuvering by Barr.
Who could think of these things ever happening in our great nation in 2016 or prior? The colossal damages done by the axis of evils are huge on current status and the future of our nation.
8
This article should be required reading for all Americans dedicated to removing the current corrupt and hypocritical administration that thus far has manged to destroy too many of the values our unique democracy was founded upon and now must be restored before any further damage can be done.
5
Now that we know what drives our Attorney General to behave as the President's "water boy" as some have commented, we really need to understand that he has perverted the function of the U.S. Attorney General office. Just as Trump sullies the presidency, so does Barr taint the Department of Justice.
And now, after his "lies" about the substance of the Mueller Report, and his refusal to accept a Congressional request for a criminal investigation of President Trumps shakedown of the Ukraine prime minister, a team of Democratic Party Senators have demanded he recuse himself from anything to do with the Ukraine investigation. Which he will refuse as well.
Barr is an ideologue completely out of control; or maybe he is in fact in total control and we are witnessing, in effect, the normal functioning of an autocracy. Forget the rule of law and duty to the constitution, you make up rules as you go along, in a morally relative way, just without the morality.
Ms. Bazelon; as a follow up to this fine piece of journalism, how about an examination of how the Intelligence, Oversight and Judiciary Committees might go about removing Barr from office because our republic needs to be saved from Barr and his "perfect" president.
7
So Barr thinks the urgent threat to the Catholic Church was from "moral relativism" and "courts"? The first goal of any corrupt institution is the preservation of itself at all costs, including children whose lives were stolen and the flouting of (actual) Christian principles of love and mercy?
Sounds vaguely ... familiar. Perhaps we can find solace in the fact that it was the free press and the courts that finally laid bare the moral relativism of the Church and brought it to reckon for its sins.
6
Why has no one picked up, in reference to Trump's description of the impeachment process as a "lynching" (a description also echoed by Senator Graham) that a lynching involves the use of a rope on the culprit? We have yet to see this, but at least, "figuratively," we may yet see this come to pass if Mr. Trump's impeachment results in a guilty verdict.
3
William Barr would fit well into any authoritarian governance model. His loyalty is not to a democratic process but rather to an authoritarian one which comports with his world view.
He is the perfect sycophant for an unaccountable and imperious President.
6
The real coup that is happening in our country is coming from the DOJ and Barr - undermining the very core of our democracy.
6
There are many puzzling supporters of Trump, Barr probably the most dangerous. But they all have something in common, the ability to look the other way when Trump’s words or actions should repulse them. Trump seems like Silly Putty, a loud mouthed, lying buffoon without any deeply held beliefs who can be molded to make supporters their wildest dreams come true. He will give judges, take away regulation, or act like he supports religion for the price of complete obedience. Trump knows wants absolute power and will give others things he cares nothing about but will enhance his grip on power. Like with many despots, those who collaborate feel they are wise and have gotten the best of their deal with the devil. History will be the judge.
4
William Barr wrote an article for, The Catholic Lawyer.
Upon reading that I pray.
Oh Lord, who can speak for you? Who can say what it is you think? Is your flock only Catholic? Christian? Born again? Muslim? Jewish? How are we to know when all are so certain? So certain as to burn women alive. So certain as to strap suicide vests onto children. So certain as to shoot doctors that believe in a woman's right to choose.
If William Barr is fearful of the danger of moral relativism I am fearful of his certainty. I fear he feels certain he knows right from wrong. History is replete with powerful men, who felt certain of what was right, doing horrible things. Heinous things. Does he think his study of the bible makes his judgement certain? Or does he stand by the switch of the train paradox and pray for guidance, feel certain he has received it and then flip the switch confident that God has informed him of the correct choice?
To me it is outrageous to assume you know what God wants, whether you study the bible or not. The examples are endless of the horrors committed in God's name and it is arrogant to think you have been blessed to know the truth. That is why it is better for us all to separate opinions about what God wants from the rule of law. Let God judge us as He chooses, He does not need a lawyer to make sure His rule is being carried out on earth.
7
I do not like what I’ve seen of Barr thus far. He does seem to be a tool for Trump. His Catholicism is interesting...a Catholic who embraces a liar, an adulterer and tragically flawed figure. His endorsement of absolute presidential power irks me.. He does not serve the American people, he serves his own dubious agenda. He is not a good man, and should be removed from office along with Trump.
5
This corrupt shameless demagogue blames the rise of Moral Relativism as the cause for his concern, and then adds: "Everyone writes their own rule book" -- look who's talking!
Moral relativism began to rise in the 5th century B.C. and has since be a theme for many subsequents philosophers as recent as Foucault.
William Barr, blame something else for your corrupt nature.
5
An authoritarian father, who was also my headmaster at the Hackley School, after Dalton, a fetish for authoritarian presidents, and adherence to an “authoritarian” brand of Catholicism . . . Freud, anyone?
7
@Ed Fontleroy
As a recovered former Catholic, I have been appalled by the hypocrisy and subterfuge church officials have used to cover-up the widespread abuse of children by priests while disparaging their nuns for their support of impoverished women.
There is a Freudian defense mechanism, “reaction formation”, a behavior in which a person will attempt to hide his true desires by demonstrating or adopting the exact opposite feelings. We have seen many male political figures who said they were “pro-family” and anti-gay caught soliciting sex from other men. I have come to suspect anyone who adopts a rigid, punitive, authoritarian attitude towards others of whom they publicly disapprove. Their intense need to control the private behavior of others hints at a fear of their own impulses, or a fear of exposure of their hidden desires to other.
3
just another reputation stained by Trump. his records in history will just show another Trump stooge
3
I look forward to his downfall. He has built his house on Trump's foundation of lies, ignorance and misdeeds. And soon, the world will know Barr as the shill he is... I do pity his family. How sad it must be to have a father give up honor for a scoundrel. History will not be kind to this man, his name or his legacy.
4
Opus Dei? That says it all: he is an authoritarian, politicized Catholic raised by an authoritarian father who left Judaism for conservativism. He's not even a mainstream Catholic.
Trump was raised by an authoritarian (dictatorial) father, as well. We see how fascism enters the political bloodstream through the influence of powerful authoritarian personalities.
7
Barr scares me more than Trump -- he has half a brain, where Trump has none -- half a brain is much more dangerous. Barr said to a reporter, "oh well, we're all going to die", implying that anything he does is okay because we're all going to die. The reporter said nothing -- and should have said, what kind of an answer is that -- does that mean it's a free for all, including the president -- he should be able to do whatever he wants because we're all going to die? This is where the media misses -- although, I'll say with lying monsters like Barr and Trump, it's hard to wrap your head around it all.
6
@October Thanks for your comment, October. I would add, though, that it's the journalist's job to delve into the dark corners and shed light on the facts (truth) for the benefit of those of us who may have difficulty wrapping our heads around all the extreme corruption, due to the gaslighting and obfuscation used by the corrupt players to obscure it.
2
@Lora -- agreed, the reporter should have taken that comment much further, shedding light on the "why" of it - the reporter is representing us as well and that response by Barr -- "Well, we're all going to die" definitely should have been followed up on. And being aggressive when someone like Barr is clearly "gas=lighting" seems to me the right approach -- after all reporters don't have subpoena power -- the interviewee is not under oath -- they can say whatever they want, which is how Trump does his press conferences, but Barr was in a sit down interview basically getting his story out the way he wanted it to be told -- the reporter's job, as you mentioned and I agree is to get to the truth and while the truth may be that we are all going to die, why would the AG of the United States be saying that -- he's in office to serve the American people, not his own.
3
@October Exactly. I wish more of today's reporters had the grit and courage of Woodward and Bernstein. They owe it to the public to be tough and unrelenting in their pursuit of the truth. As you say, they our surrogates are dealing with some really tough characters.
2
So according to none other than the current Attorney General of these United States, William Barr, there are really no grounds to place boundaries on, or to sanction, or impeach an American President — no matter the letter of the Constitution or the long enshrined concept of the balance of powers vis a vis three co-equal branches of the federal government.
The rise of the Imperial American Presidency is not some Trump invention, it has been dangerously developing and expanding for many decades. Trump as POTUS is however the most repugnant, insidious and overtly dangerous incarnation yet.
556
Isn't that the way of all authoritarian leaders? 'It's never the leaders who are at fault, it's the citizenry.'
I think our Founders knew one important fact of deadly consequence--that all religions are based upon a 'divine dictatorship', and thus they enshrined in the First Amendment of the constitution, the separation of Church and State (the hierarchy of the Church is a direct analogy to that of any Royal household--King, Virginal Wife, Loyal Prince, etc.)
Barr apparently sees Trump as similar to the Pope, yet can inexplicably forgive Trump's wildly non Pope-like behavior because he and most evangelicals believe Trump is acting as the 'hand of God'.
How far we let this tragedy continue to unfold before the country falls into complete chaos is the most urgent problem we face.
4
William Barr is Trump's AG. He is not working for America. He is working to protect the executive branch at the expense of the other two branches. He is violating the intent of the founding fathers which was to create 3 co-equal branches of government so that they could be a check on each other's power. He, like Trump, has betrayed his oath of office. If he was going about attempting to change things in a more obvious way it would be different. But he seems to feel that it's his mission to ensure that the President of the United States holds all the cards and needn't consult with Congress or the judicial branch.
He is helping to create a dictatorship. He is helping to create a government that is not accountable to anyone and one that is more bound to religion than it ought to be considering that more Americans are not interested in being affiliated with an organized religion except in the most superficial of ways. He and Trump and the rest of the cabinet and the entire GOP need to be stopped.
7
"Separation of church and state" is very tenuous language to describe a strict constitutional prohibition of faith-based legislation and coerced participation in religion. I don't need or want Barr's religion in my life, and I should not have to participate in politics to block it.
11
I would like to focus on one sentence in this opinion piece: "The New York City Bar Association complained a few days ago that Mr. Barr “appears to view his primary obligation as loyalty to the president individually rather than to the nation.”
The model ABA rules state that the duty of a lawyer in an organization is to the organization and not to the person in charge.
Is there not one lawyer in the United States who would submit a formal complaint to Mr. Barr's state bar so that the bar can evaluate his actions and implement disciplinary action if warranted?
13
"Either people in the president’s circle are using Mr. Barr as a pawn, or he’s in deeper than he has said."
Exactly. Let's get to the bottom of who knew what, when.
But let's not stop there. There isn't a cancer growing on the presidency this time -- there's a cancer growing on our democracy, and it appears to involve not just all the president's men, but the Federalist Society, Fox News, Kochtopolis, Facebook, phony think tanks, and and a compromised IRS when it comes to properly policing 501(3)(c) nonprofits.
Each of which may be pursuing its own agenda, but all of which nevertheless have created a situation where sensible rules are no longer sensible due to the ruthless and ingenious extremes to which these parties have gone to obtain power and/or earn a profit.
10
His views on the expansive, almost unchecked power of the executive give us a president about to be impeached and if not removed but not re-elected will be charged with at least one federal felony for which he’s already been indicted.
So Mr.Barr with your views of moral relativism and an unchecked executive, would it be fair to say you’ve helped create a Frankenstein, with the help of Bannon and his ilk?
Good luck in defending your being charged with contempt of Congress.
5
The American Press failed the country when they didn't vet Barr properly prior to his appointment as AG. The facts were there: his involvement in protecting those in power during Iran-Contra are as damning as those for Robert Bork during Watergate.
In retrospect, Iran-Contra and its lack of consequences probably convinced Republicans they could get away with anything, and convinced Southern legislators like Mitch McConnell that the Civil War could still be won for their side, leading to the absurd character now trying to avoid impeachment in the White House and the most corrupt Senate in our nation's history. Cable TV followed by social media may be the end of us.
5
I am not one of the Washington elite. But I can see them and recognize them. They make up rules that seem to be fair, but are not. They justify their greed and their take on the rules of the world.
Barr personifies this with his take on the Mueller report, his views on religion and society and now his investigation of the 2016 campaign.
He will fail and will be condemned for his complicity. Like John Mitchell or Haldeman he will be exposed for his crimes of aiding and abetting a criminal, It will just take some time.
885
@Art Seaman For that to happen, someone will need to come forward with persuasive, uncontestable and crystal clear evidence of absolute wrongdoing.
Thus someone will need to break the logjam of trump with aid of barr's doj withholding key witnesses and documents.
118
@FilligreeM
With Barr’s background and seeming intelligence, his purposeful blindness to Trump’s depravity goes against his Catholic upbringing for one thing.
The greatest of his sins has to be his long fight to give the presidency more and more “divine rights”.
We’re there ever a time that America needs to clean house, beginning in the 1960’s to now, it would have to begin with once again embracing
Moral persuasion, then ,the renewal of the brilliance of our founding fathers in anticipating the
on-going of humanity’s goodness but also it’s
basic ineptnesses.
32
@Art Seaman: It would be great for our Nation if Barr failed and was "condemned for his complicity" of "crimes of aiding and abetting a criminal". However, this will not occur unless the Republican Senate would go through a miraculous rebirth of moral certitude and engage in seeking the truth and protecting our democratic systems. At this time I am not confident that this will occur, not from the behavior that they have been exhibiting. The Democrats need to retake back the Senate. Moscow Mitch needs to go along with Graham!!!
71
What strikes me is that Barr’s reputation was no secret and he still gets confirmed as A.G. What strikes me even more is that Barr professes to be a man of religion and supposedly a man of GOD, really?..... his imagination is sordid. Most horrific, Barr’s views on executive power and absolute rule (our President) have no place in government and is damningly dangerous to our Democracy….we do not live in an autocracy but you wouldn’t know it from what is happening in our country today. Barr has already shown his allegiance to the President by twisting and minimizing the Mueller report. Barr is dangerous, more dangerous than Trump because he is in a position of power, knows the ins and outs of the law and has the capability of circumventing our laws and twisting facts with impunity. Barr can probably talk Trump into doing anything and knowing Trump, he will follow.
These are very sad and dark times in our country. In all of my years I have never witnessed such immoral behavior where elected officials politicians go rogue, do and say as whatever they please at the expense of the country and still get voter support.
530
@A.A.F. Senate Democrats knew who Barr was and they understood what was at stake. I don't think any of them voted to confirm Barr (correct me if I'm wrong). But there was nothing more they could do about it because majority rules on cabinet appointments now. Republicans also understood who he is and he was exactly what they wanted. Yet another crime against our democracy laid at the doorstep of elected Republicans who are as much enemies of our democracy as Barr is.
102
@A.A.F.
"These are very sad and dark times in our country. In all of my years I have never witnessed such immoral behavior where elected officials politicians go rogue, do and say as whatever they please at the expense of the country and still get voter support."
I feel the same way, and I've been watching the political scene since the early 1950s. As for "voter support" for the thugs who are such a threat to democratic values and procedures, I attribute it to the utter failure of American public education to take our constitutional history seriously enough to make thinking about it a primary purpose at every grade level. Instead of independent thinkers, we educate for passivity and conformity, which is why it takes 12 years to learn so little about the nature of our own country. Constant chest-thumping about American exceptionalism is our way of flushing our experiment in democracy down the toilet; it's merely a substitute for serious thinking, akin to a bumper sticker. I report these things from the vantage point of a half-century career in education.
60
@Yellow Dog I know of several legal pundits who defended him as an institutionalist early on and now say they can't believe this and how wrong they were. He was out of the mainstream for a long while. I think many, other than maybe The Federalist Society, didn't know that he spent years sitting at home eating bon bons and watching Fox, reading Breitbart, and listening to Alex Jones.
43
Many see Barr as a zealous believer in the ends justifying the means. I disagree. I think he is an authoritarian who desires to judge and control others with unlimited power, while wrapping himself in a cloak of false piety. Isn’t that the opposite of justice and rule of law? He is dangerous and needs to be impeached.
1328
Barr's writings on the God like power he felt were bestowed on the Presidency were there for people to read and his actions in the pardoning of the rogue element in Iran Contra affaire were an established fact. Add to that a number of his colleagues from the DOJ who went on the airwaves vouching for his integrity and characterizing him as an Institutionalist his confirmation of Attorney General was a foregone conclusion.
The vetting of Barr was a sham. Now we are stuck with an individual that shreds the concept of co equal branches of government and who is little more than a hand puppet for Trump. His galavanting around the world to give validity to Trump's crazy Obama/Clinton conspiracy theories in the 2016 election shines a spotlight where DOJ will be going for the next year.
Too late.
5
“'He alone is the executive branch,' Mr. Barr wrote."
This statement lies at the heart of Mr. Barr's delusionary view of the Constitution. While the President is the head of the Executive Branch, the vice president, the president’s cabinet, 15 executive departments and numerous federal agencies, boards, commissions and committees make up the Executive Branch.
Barr believes in the power of the imperial presidency, especially (and perhaps only) if that president claims to hold dear the values that that Barr believes in, which are based upon his religion. Again, Barr ignores the Constitutional imperative of the separation of church and state.
Ignoring the illegal activities of Trump in his tenure, and the many ways that Trump's personal life fly in the face of ANY Christian religion, Barr and many other conservatives cling to the belief that the judges appointed by Trump will overturn the opinions of their liberal predecessors and that America will return to the Evangelical/Opus Dei values they believe in: no abortion, no same sex marriage, and a government based upon religion.
3
Mr Barr is, in my view, violating his oath of office happily executing the warped plan from the despot he serves. It is very clear that Trump is obsessed with creating an alternate theory to the theory Mueller proved that is was Russia that manipulated the 2016 election and attempted to help Trump win the election. His fragile ego cannot tolerate this blemish on his Presidency so he is spending millions of tax payers dollars to create the fantasy that the infamous DNC server and Ukraine started the assault on our election. This fabrication comes from a very disturbed criminal mind and Barr is Trump's chief accomplice in giving this untruth some credibility. In my view Barr deserves impeachment along with Pence (the other accomplice) in Trumps assault against the truth. Trump is a compromised criminal and he and his gang of crooks (Barr, Pence) need to go now.
I've been reading an excellent book recently on the medieval era and early Renaissance, and I am struck, not for the first time, at the parallels between our own time and the 14th-16th centuries. In my view, William Barr and his Catholic "Opus Dei" and Federalist Society connections, his unwavering outrage at "moral relativism," mirror in some ways the role of the Catholic church 600 years ago: the sole arbiter of power, wealth, and moral salvation all wrapped up in one impregnable fortress personified in the role of the "infallible" pope.
It was Martin Luther, a name with tremendous resonance through the ages and to this day, who challenged the utter corruption and venality of the most powerful organization in the world. His treatise on the corruption and hypocrisy of the church with its absurd claims of having the power to sell salvation through so-called "indulgences" opened the first chink in the wall of that mighty fortress, and led the way for a new (though far from perfect) world order based on humanism and moral enlightenment.
Some powerful people in today's corrupt world are angling hard for a return to unquestionable authority and infallibility of those in power. The President can break the law, ignore basic norms, rewrite facts and history, protect the wealthy and scuttle the social contract, just because he's the president? So it would seem, in Mr. Barr's moral universe.
4
If Barr is part of this investigation to help Trump get re-elected does that make him eligible for impeachment too? As much as i want to see Trump soundly defeated in 2020, the Senate will be the bigger prize.
He can't be both, and it's obvious who he is at this point...nothing but another trump enabler. Period
1
William Barr will be remembered as a bar to justice.
1
A man like Barr is the exact reason we need to thwart all of Trump's authoritarian impulses and send this administration packing. If a man like Barr were to become president on the heels of a Trump administration, we will have an authoritarian who is actually competent and America would truly lose its republic.
I hope we can avoid that path but it will not be enough to put a democrat in the white house in 2020, we will need to strengthen the republic so that the people have the true power and our elected representatives, including the president, do our bidding. If Trump is remembered for anything let it be that he was the warning we heeded.
1
Many of the comments here refer to the rise of authoritarianism in the Republican party. The world is changing and conservatives are increasingly unable to contain it. This is what Barr sees as moral relativism. So they revert to extreme measures to interfere with the changes, in the executive branch, in the legislative branch, and in the courts. It makes sense why Barr fits right in.
1
So, there is something sinister about William Barr consistently for a quarter century holding to exactly the same interpretation of the Constitution? He is focused on two views that are widely held by conservative and libertarian lawyers, professors, and judges. First, that Article II of the Constitution vests the executive power solely in the President, as the only executive branch official responsible to voters through elections, and that this power is not shared with unelected bureaucrats, FBI agents, and intelligence analysts. Second, the First Amendment does not mean that citizens may not have religiously motivated viewpoints, it means that the government may not discriminate against any religion, including Catholicism. Emily Bazelon may read the Constitution differently, but it is intellectually dishonest of her to suggest something improper about holding such views.
History will reflect that it was Mr. Barr who gave President Trump the absolute immunity to break the law whenever it suited his political aims.
Trump has finally found his Roy Cohn, who is happy to punish and besmirch the president’s rivals and enemies, and to settle scores. Even John Mitchell, Nixon’s AG, didn’t rise to this level of corruption.
However, given the tribal nature of America’s politics today, the rule of law has been tossed overboard in order to facilitate the president’s whims.
This leaves me feeling more than a little queasy about the future of our democracy: What if Trump really can shoot anyone walking down Fifth Ave with total impunity? What if the Senate GOP exonerates Trump following House impeachment, as I believe they will? What if he gets re-elected? What then becomes of our country?
I can see all of this swirling around the drain, but I don’t see an off-ramp anywhere in sight.
The GOP will do anything it takes to win these days, from Merrick Garland, to chasing Ukrainian conspiracy theories, to creating false narratives and spreading disinformation. Where does it end?
I’m not praying for the president; I’m praying for the country, for it is in dire peril. Ugh!
4
By far Barr is the most dangerous man in Washington today.
He is more than willing to be a martyr for his faith.
His goal is to push back all the laws giving women and gays equal protection under the law. He would be very happy to leave the US like Ireland was in 1950 when the Church was the State.
He believes in the divine rights of the presidency for it suits his own authoritarian tendencies.
Only the judiciary and the House stand in the way to prevent this religious and authoritarian zealot from harming our liberty and institutions.
I would far rather Barr be impeached than Trump.
1
Why would anyone be surprised by Barr's actions? One only need look back to his support for the Iran Contra pardons. This man has a different view of what is honorable and legal than most of the rest of us...and, don't forget his preening letter to Trump, begging for the job.
1
Social research and polls show that on matters of religion the fastest growing ideology is non-religious and, in fact, anti-religious. Various forms of religion, mostly exhibiting religiosity rather than conscientious belief, have attacked science and reason. With certain delay in comparison with Western Europe, religion and religiosity have prospered in the United States at a time when science and reason should guide the public policy of the richest and most powerful nation in the world. The country that produced the best universities in the world and the most advanced scientific research is held back by superstition and religious dogma that belonged in the Middle Ages and not in the 21st century. This Mr. Barr, head of the US Justice Department advocates for the personal authority of a man who prides himself of all forms of immorality. Raised and educated as a Catholic, Barr seems more a leftover of times when the Pope and the "Prince" were viewed as anointed with absolute authority, and those who opposed them, would suffer the rigors of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. Religious hypocrisy is alive and well in the United States of America.
3
William Barr has engaged in host of unethical acts that if not illegal, border on it. Like Trump, he has debased the integrity of his office. Disbar and impeach him, then lock him up for a very long time. He is the definition of "high crimes and misdemeanors."
4
His religiosity seems sincere. Clearly he has used the same level of reading comprehension that read the Mueller Report as the Bible.
Jesus weeps.
Bill Barr is the same guy who ended the Iran-Contra investigation by having Bush pardon the criminals. Not much has changed other than the fact that his behavior has devolved even further.
1
As a Catholic, I would say that Mr Barr is in love with the institution and not the message of Christ. The institution brought us child molestation and cover-ups; the message is to love and care for each other with the promise of resurrection
2
Barr has nothing to do with justice, as soon as he became part of the protect the liar team, he crossed over to the dark side of the farce.
Epstein is still dead, and he died when it was Barr's duty to keep him alive. Barr is a very dangerous man.
1
Bill Barr is Trump's lawyer...via advertising for the job of AG...by antagonizing Mueller's findings about Trump, as a witch hunt. "Birds of a feather flock together"; I suppose that two swines, in this case, may have found the same swamp to splash together, seemingly proud of being shameless...in abusing their power to obstruct justice. Thus far, successful in hiding their 'crimes'...in plain daylight.
Barr should be impeached first probably - quickly and soon. He is thoroughly corrupt and has potentially even more power to undermine the rule of law than Trump does.
4
Barr may be the most dangerous person in this Administration- a religious zealot, an ideologue, educated and willing to do Trump's bidding. No wonder I do not sleep anymore.
3
Can we fire Barr? Can Congress get rid of him? If Trump is impeached, can we replace Barr?
Trump's moral relativism? You are confusing the considerations of intelligent people, the nuanced consideration of values, and ascribing that to someone having no ethics, to an inhumane cretin that could barely be considered thinking.
You can't be attorney general AND the president's lawyer.
2
This triumph of theory over history is an absurd posture for anyone who seeks to interpret the Constitution based on the intentions of our Founders. Do you hear me you originalists? We fought our revolution to be rid of a King. An all powerful unchecked president is a king for four years. Our Founders would not even tolerate King for a Day!
Barr is nothing other than a man who sees that things are not going the way of his party and is willing to anything to twist the law or facts to produce a result that he favors. As a Catholic I am sick of all these unprincipled adherents to my religion that exhibit no love or care for the poor and disadvantaged. Protestants are fond of asking “What would Jesus do?” I know he would not be adhering to the cause of modern day Pharisees like Messers, Barr, Gingrich and Santorum.
1
@Bill You could reference Supreme Court Justices, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Roberts, Alito, and Thomas
1
How does Barr still have a job after misrepresenting Mueller's work so badly Mueller himself had to call him about it and return to Congress to set the record straight? Barr lied...on National Television before a World Wide audience...and most of America..stood...silent?
1
Take note of how Barr undermines our secular and balanced form of government. Nowhere in the Constitution is God mentioned; the principles that govern us are expressly "self-evident." Our government will need to be strengthened after Barr's exposing its flaws. For example, of course a President should be indicted if he shoots someone on 5th Avenue. If it impairs his ability to function as President, that's what the Vice-President is for. When Barr is gone, close the door to him, change the locks, and strengthen the law so no one after him can use it to protect a criminal thug like Trump, or inflict on us the "morality" of the medieval Catholic Church.
1
The "traditional morals" Barr and the far-right GOP support are those of the white supremacist patriarchy, the oligarchic government created by our Founders, which enslaved all women, most men, and gave the vote to only to 6% of the population: Ultra-rich white men.
These are not "conservatives," they are extremist reactionaries.
3
This one of the he scariest articles in a scary time. This ideologue is seeking to to impose his 17thC views on on our pluralistic 21st century’s democracy. He must be stopped at all costs.
Added to his moral crusade he mistakenly believes that there exits an imperial presidency, ironically something that conservatives’ clamored against with . any Democrat
in office
Our country functions as it should when we compromise. Give and take Dar y taka. Opus Dei ideologues don’t compromise. this is another’s extreme that trump has imposed on our country seeking to protect himself from accountability Disbar this freak, and send him to jail. HE WIll make mistakes ;the then will be nailed. The sooner the better
1
He is the chief lobbyist for ‘The Imperial Executive’! Even more dangerous then the TIE.
1
Who is Bill Barr? A narrow minded, self important true believer in his own special thoughts. Read his Wikipedia entry. Like all others working for Trump, he sees this as an opportunity to drag the USA into his own fantasyland, a fantasyland shared by others where women are not equal to men, non-heterosexuals are an offense to god, the president is all powerful and international forces are plotting against the USA; therefore no foreigners to be allowed entry.
1
I usually reserve this one for Vice President Pence, but I see we have another Trump toady who needs to be schooled in the Word (can I get an amen?)
To wit:
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
-- 2 Corinthians 6:14
Anyone else see the gross hypocrisy of this self-proclaimed keeper of moral discipline acting as chief enabler of arguably the most notorious moral relativist of our time?
1
A radical with antidemocaric views kept getting promoted in the las 30 years to more powerful positions, the cancer to American democracy goes way back, no leftist has stayed in a gov position and live to tell the tale.
It is no coincidence that the deputy AG is also from Kirkland and Ellis. These folks generally view the law as an obstacle, but will weaponize it when needed. It's where the one percent of the one percent go when they need protection or want something. It's all about the cheese to these fat rats.
1
Even if Trump is impeached.
Even if the Democrats win the White House.
Even if the Democrats take the Senate.
Republicans will continue their hypocrisy and shameless behavior.
They are hurting the country but somehow with their desire to fight and win, they can't see what they are doing to America.
4
Religious zealots and patriarchs and bigots unfortunately are still climbing under the veil of intellectual masters. Always am mystified why "smart, i.e. highly educated" beings don't understand the origins of religious indoctrination and cult like followings. Is it mental or visions of power over others, especially females.
2
GTE, Verizon, Trump. They’re all corporations, the difference is the damage Trump can do.
Strange desire to want to be a lap dog all these years.
William Barr is a King Georgist, a supporter of American monarchy.
Donald Trump is our King George....and he can do anything he wants, according to William Barr.
Donald Trump is the entire executive branch, according to Barr.
Donald Trump is the state, according to Barr.
Donald Trump is above the law, according to Barr.
It's stunning how much Donald Trump and his Republican sycophants have flushed America and the Constitution down their Grand Old Power toilet.
There isn't an American bone in the Republican body politic.
3
Barr is scarier than the regular run of the mill corrupt Trump assistant. Whereas the run of the mill guys are only trying to bankrupt the nation and run out with all the money Barr gets off on the persecution and repression of people. He wants a mean king who will put a real hurting on his idea of moral trash. I wonder if he is morally pure. This type of guy rarely is. He is at the heart of the Handmaid’s Tale fear.
2
Barr proclaims himself a Christian, but certainly doesn't live by its tenets.
2
"Who Is Bill Barr?"
If it looks like a toad and acts like a toad, it's a toad.
And I have never seen and more obvious toadie, with all of the negative connotations possible, than this one.
Wart alert!
1
It has become time to remove the different cabinet agencies from the President's purview and place them all under the Congress'. That way the President would not have any way to appoint people like the corrupt members of Mr. Trump's cabinet.
In addition, if Congress is in charge of the cabinet agencies, Congress would also be in charge of those agencies policies. Under this scenario, the President would only be in charge of Foreign policy. Since Congress is in charge of the nation's purse, Congress should be fully in charge of the nation's administration.
One is forced to wonder whether Mr. Barr's views about a "robust [e.g. imperial] executive" apply only when a Republican holds office.
What would Barr say if the FBI had been investigating attempts by President Obama to interfere with or obstruct an investigation of potential Iranian assistance in his election? What if Bill Clinton had told Bosnian leaders that the U.S. wouldn't assist with efforts to stop Serbian ethnic cleansing unless the Bosnian government pledged to investigate some groundless claim about Bob Dole or the RNC? Or if Jimmy Carter had publicly asked the Soviets to release copies of information obtained from Ronald Reagan?
The question answers itself. He would have been in the forefront, clamoring for an full-scale investigation and prosecution of these imaginary misdeeds.
The writer's analysis of Mr. Barr is largely spot-on, but I believe too generous. There is precious little evidence that Barr held his opinions of largely limitless executive authority whenever a Democrat occupied the Oval Office.
And that's because Mr. Barr is, first and foremost, a political hack, interested only in advancing a right wing GOP agenda. His belief in a vigorous executive only exists when that president is a Republican.
5
This isn't a real surprise. Republicans since the 80s at least have displayed their contempt for democratic norms and good government. In the end, they really only care about achieving power and keeping it, in order to pursue their reactionary ideology. If forced to choose between democracy and their ideology, they will choose their ideology.
2
Ms. Bazelon. Thank you for this presentation.
In reading your analysis, one can say that, at the crux of the problem, is William Barr. We have to go back to Mr. Barr's Senate confirmation hearings. All those Senators who voted for his confirmation, must now ask the question - whether Mr. Barr has stood by and truly followed the Oath he swore, when being confirmed to the position of AG of the USA.
From all what has happened after Mr. Barr was confirmed as AG, is now history. The manner in which the Mueller Report was handled. Now, we have to learn a Judge ordering the release of the Report, in its entirety, including all the redacted portions of the Report to the House.
Mr. Barr has failed in his solemn duty, to preserve the independence of his position and Office. He is not the personal Attorney to the POTUS. His primary function is to provide counsel and advice to the government. If there is something wrong he sees, even if that involves the President, he should be in a position to act accordingly. There is now a void in that function.
It is not the AG's job to personally be involved to conduct investigations, as Mr. Barr is now doing, visiting countries. That should be left to our law enforcement agencies. No matter, what intentions Mr. Barr holds, this is all wrong, and does not speak well for our democracy.
2
"Mr. Barr is arousing fears that he is using the enormous power of the Justice Department to help the president politically, subverting the independence of the nation’s top law enforcement agency in the process."
Seriously? He's just "arousing fears"? NOW?
It is to laugh...
2
i thought this was a balanced and insightful ariticle. While i do not agree with mr Barr's beliefs, he is intteligent and thoughtful in articulatng them. Throughout USA history such figures have molded our democracy and the nation is stronger for such interactions. As in the early 1900's (Teddy Roosevelt), 1930's (FDR), 1980's (Regan) our democracy is adapting. Through out our history both good and bad has come from these periods, but it does move society forward.
1
Unlike Mr. Comey, Bill Barr does not presume to be the last honest man standing. Nor does he, like Mr. Trump, attempt to shutdown any and all opposition to his ideological Weltanshauung. As a lifelong and staunch democrat I see Mr. Barr as a counterbalance. Can it be that the actions of the intelligence community and justice department during the 2015-2016 presidential season were criminal? Should bureaucrats have insurance policies against an outcome they consider unacceptable? Perhaps we shouldn’t care because extraordinary times demand extraordinary actions and we should bless the ground that James Comey walks on for attempting to save all of us from certain disaster. His higher loyalty was to his self aggrandizement and psychotic belief that he was Superman. Mr. Barr, in my opinion, is a welcome counterbalance to the insanity of a powerful intelligence and law enforcement entity run amok because they didn’t like who the American people elected as their president. Whatever Mr. Barr’s personal motivations may be, we really aight to be thankful that his loyalty is higher than protecting a governmental agency that believe in its own infallibility. Bill Barr is not protecting Trump, he needs Trump to be allowed to excise the ‘higher loyalties’ of these arrogant demagogues from the innards of government. For in the end, there should be no higher loyalty for a federal worker than the will of the American people.
44
@A higher loyalty
William Barr's opinions/actions do not reflect the will of the American people; they reflect the will of William Barr. Barr's opinions of the role of the president would allow that president to do whatever he wants, with no checks and balances at all. THAT is not the structure our government is supposed to follow, as written in the Constitution.
AND he is trying to impose a morality on the people that adheres to his Catholic ideology, as opposed to a secular ideology. We adhere to secularism in order to allow for the respect of ALL religions and for people to be free to follow the religion of their choice. Freedom of religion requires us to work together with people of different faiths, while not being coerced into following the religious teachings of another. THAT is secularism. It is not immoral.
I see sociopathic qualities in trying to create an all-powerful executive.
329
@A higher loyalty
Um, I question the lifelong Democrat statement. It appears as if you have not read the article or have even been keeping up on current events. Barr mislead the American people about the Mueller report. That is indisputable. His actions beyond that part seem to support his own personal interpretation of the power of the President which is out of sync with not only the citizens but by political scholars and constitutional authorities. He has deteriorated the trust in the unique and important powers of the DOJ. A country cannot have a democracy with an authoritarian leader. I highly disagree with your proposition.
292
@A higher loyalty: Our will hardly matters if we don't live in a "swing state" of this relic of a system.
73
Interesting background. If despite attending the elite Horace Mann school in the 1960s, the best little Billy could do was Columbia, where both his parents were professors, in all likelihood, Bill was no intellectual bright light. One has to wonder whether his intellectual mediocrity, especially in a family of college professors, may have set the stage for resorting to religion as a trump card when reason failed to carry the day. Indeed, this article can be read as a case study of the dangers of organized religion in the wrong hands. Precepts meant to guide one's own personal conduct are "weaponized" to control others, citing an unquestionable, unanswerable authority. Consensus human political and legal structures are swept aside in favor of "God's law." It always ends in tears.
2
Moral relativism is a long term problem. However, Barr should understand the means never justify the ends. Trump is the most morally relativistic person I've ever seen. He writes his own rules daily. By protecting him, Barr has reduced himself to Trump's level.
Barr's no pawn. He knows exactly what he's doing, and it's rotten. I assume the impeachment inquiry will get around to questioning Barr as well, and if he ignores a subpoena, we'll know exactly how far gone he is.
2
Who Is Bill Barr?
That's simple to answer. He's one of the "Captains" in the Trump organization who will do and say anything to keep the President shielded and in power, including asking foreign governments to investigate the Department he's supposed to "lead."
I'm sure that just like the State Department with Pompeo running it, the Justice Departments morale, under Barr's "leadership" is at an all time low.
4
Religion.
Religion used as a tool to control, by the far-right in this country, is a far greater threat than the Islamic State.
SCOTUS and judges throughout the US will make legal control of every move you make and all while holding a bible. Sadly, our Constitution's intent is being rewritten by Republicans seeking power and control with no interest in separation of church and of state.
Of course terrorism and extremism is a danger but our attentions are misdirected to 'existentially' fear the terrorists from afar while the extremism is also living among us, removing our rights in a Republic that, increasingly, no longer exists.
6
I recall a commentator referring to Barr as "Trumps stooge", I believe the reverse is closer to the truth.
Loyal Catholic and morally upright citizen William Barr undoubtedly sees Trump for the immoral scoundrel he is, as does any decent person. But as your article makes clear, Mr. Barr is a learned and experienced man, he sees the big picture. In time Trump will be gone but the biased judges he puts in place will remain to interpret the law (or ignore it) as suits them.
This is why Barr is willing to subvert the DOJ to support Trump.
It may be unfair to suggest that Trump is Barr's stooge as this would imply that Trump is unaware of Barr's motives. No, they both know what the other wants, they have a deal.
4
Oh but it's all OK. Do we not accept that 'extremism in defense of (fill in the blank) is no vice'?
For Goldwater it was 'liberty'. For radical Islam it is 'the right to force religion on everybody'. For good God fearing Christians like Barr it is 'the right to force religion on everybody'.
Certainly we hope - it is by not means certain - the nation will survive Trump and people like Barr. The real tragedy is that Trump and Barr have been successful in our society.
There is something wrong about that.
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I continue to marvel at the moral relativism of religious people. It is jaw-dropping the way they support and defend an amoral person who is doing their bidding. Lying, cheating, verbally abusing, cruelty to children and marginalized groups, etc. None of this matters. What matters is getting those judges that will impose their brand of religion on the interpretation of our laws. How is this different from the Sharia Laws I assume they oppose? We need to stop tolerating the mixing of religion with democratic laws, no matter our faith or lack thereof. It all seems fine and dandy while your religion is the dominant one in power. But, some day, the script will flip. Don't be a hypocrite, Mr. Barr and his supporters. Jesus doesn't care for those.
3
Who wants or needs an attorney general who is a rigid, black and white thinker whose allegiance is exclusively to a president. Barr is not devoted to lady justice who can weigh an issue based on the weight of the evidence while blindfolded and impartial.
Barr has prejudged all cases with the Trumpian viewpoint. Talk about confirmation bias. There is no justice to be had with Barr. Trump is infallible like the Pope.
Barr should work at the Vatican.
1
I find this opinion piece enlightening and pretty horrifying all at the same time. Mr. Barr as a tool of the Republican Party is doing a great job being the shield and counter-spear to the Democrats. However, it makes me wonder if and when this White House has outlived its usefulness, will all these players simply be cast off never to be heard from again? I can imagine if Trump fails to be re-elected that the Republican Party will banish him to some fringe group. Time will tell.
I don't believe Barr is doing Trump's dirty work. Just for a moment, those who ridicule him open your minds and consider what if: What if the enormous power of the Justice Department was a skewed by the previous administration, and top officials did misuse that great power? We believed it after we learned about Watergate? Why are we so disbelieving now? Because the left says so? I say let Barr do his thing, get everything out on the table, and then we can all decide whether he's simply just doing Trump's work, or something much greater for the nation as a whole.
@Mattbk
No. Because Barr said so. Look at how he lied repeatedly about the mueller report.
No he’s flying around the world trying to get foreign countries to help discredit the mueller report.
Barr should be impeached too. And removed from office.
@Mattbk When Trump was looking for a new AG do you think he knew who Barr was? Not likely. I believe his aides looked for a man that would be willing to assist Trump with his legal problems. Apparently they found the perfect person
It's a mystery to me how people completely turn their principles & life's work upside down in service of this president. It takes a certain "something" to look the other way.
1
Before we run out of ammunition shooting the messengers perhaps we should wait to read the message that Mr. Barr and Mr. Durham will deliver.
If the rich lived under the same laws as everyone else, Trump and so many other prominent Republicans would have been in jail long ago.
1
Barr's assertion that a GOP President has the rights of a Monarch is a politically driven comment by another ego driven populist. Clearly the founding principals of George Washington and Edmund Jennings Randolph, the 1st Attorney General, have no place in the Trump administration as Barr uses his position for Trump's political purposes - a disgraceful and flagrant abuse of the position.
1
It's as if our democracy has one foot in the grave.
1
William Barr's sanity is also questionable. He is a man heralded for his legal proficiency, yet he is galavanting around the globe attempting to prove a wild-eyed conspiracy theory. Further, he not only protects Trump, he is protecting Russia.
This man is more dangerous than Trump. It's bone chilling the power he actually has.
4
The Justice Department did not decline to investigate a whistle-blower’s complaint that the president was “using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election” as the article asserts. The New York Times reported in September that the Justice Department reviewed the issue and determined that “President Trump had not violated campaign finance laws when he urged Ukraine’s president to work with Mr. Barr to investigate a political rival, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.”
According to ABC News, “A Justice Department official told reporters that the DOJ spoke to ‘knowledgeable people in the White House’ but their determination that there was no criminal violation was primarily based off a memorandum of the call, released by the White House. Questions regarding the Trump Administration's hold-up of military aid was not a factor in their investigation at all, the official explained, saying they see that as more of a foreign policy issue.
“Further explaining the DOJ's handling of the referral, the official said the criminal division concluded that the information they had gathered did not amount to a criminal violation of campaign finance law because nothing "of value" was clearly promised or exchange as a result of the call.
"The official said there was no disagreement among the prosecutors in the criminal division, even among career prosecutors, that the call did not amount to a potential campaign finance violation."
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@William Case
Aha. The withholding of almost $400 million of US aid in exchange for investigating his political rival does not rise to the level of something of “of value” being promised or exchanged as a result of the call.
Do you honestly believe that objective law enforcement officials and thinking American voters—those who are not employing an “ends despite the means” logic regarding what Trump policies they like—are buying that absurd argument?
Yes, this article is correct: the Justice Department did in fact refuse to further investigate the whistle blower’s complaint. That is a fact. Just as it is now a fact that thanks to the wisdom of the framer’s of our constitution the House of Representatives is now carrying out an impeachment investigation into what appears to almost every non-partisan observer to be a grotesque abuse of Presidential power.
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@Michael
Zelensky has repeatedly said there was no pressure or blackmail and that he was unaware the Trump administration was delaying military aid.The phone call transcript show military aid was never mentioned.The transcript shows Zelensky readily--even enthusiastically--agreed to conduct the requested investigations.
The evidence shows Trump was reluctant to provide military aid to Ukraine, probably because he doesn't want to antagonize Russias. He will probably recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea if he his reelected to a second term.However, he released the aid prior to the end-of-fiscal-year deadline. The Senate if not going to convict and remove the president because of the delay.
@Michael
Zelensky has repeatedly said there was no pressure or blackmail and that he was unaware the Trump administration was delaying military aid.The phone call transcript show military aid was never mentioned.The transcript shows Zelensky readily--even enthusiastically--agreed to conduct the requested investigations.
How can you assert that the Justice Department did not investigate when the OLG issued a statement saying it did.
The evidence shows Trump was reluctant to provide military aid to Ukraine, probably because he doesn't want to antagonize Russias. He will probably recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea if he his reelected to a second term.However, he released the aid prior to the end-of-fiscal-year deadline. The Senate if not going to convict and remove the president because of the delay.
I fail to understand how Barr wasn’t Trump’s first choice for AG. He seems like a perfect fit. Worse yet, seemingly credible legal scholars and department of justice people reassured us that he was an honorable man with an immaculate background. He applies Trump’s same strategy, accusing others of what they are doing ( the old “ you’re the puppet” routine).
His actions epitomize what a real deep state looks like.
Good article, but what Ms. Bazelon overlooks is the lust for power, which Barr has plenty of at the moment. This explains how Barr reconciles Trump's amoral compass with his own religious and moral world view.
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Attorney General Barr has launched a full-blown criminal investigation into the origins of the Russian investigation because he has seen what is in the Inspector General Horowitz’s soon-to-be-released report on its origins. People should await the report’s rerelease before deciding whether the criminal investigation is justified.
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@William Case
Sure, we’ll wait. But given the slimey, non-transparent manner in which Barr handled the Mueller report, people should also treat with deep skepticism the alleged impartiality of this A.G.. An A.G. Should stand for law and order. Barr stands for order, not law. If he stood for law he would have prosecuted DJT for obstruction of justice based on the Mueller report. Period.
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Mr Barr's actions and background confirms my belief that even evil, bumbling, would-be despots, like Trump, need clever, accomplished dupes to consolidate their power. Despots need others to help them to destroy those who stand in their way. I fear Mr. Barr may be a deeply religious fanatic who is highly disturbed by the cultural liberation of certain groups in the Country. Barr would be wise to keep in mind that it might be true that whatever Donald Trump touches dies.
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Barr is shredding the Department of Justice from the inside out. As trump's puppet he disgraces himself in an effort to support an executive program of something similar to "divine right."
As there is nothing in his faith that professes such a right to be extant, his only motive can be rather the opposite, or something like evil.
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In this article, Emily Bazelon describes William Barr's background, including that his father, "a Jew who converted to Catholicism," and his "having served on the boards of several religious groups, including the Catholic Information Center, a self-described 'intellectual hub,' affiliated with the ultraconservative order Opus Dei."
As with all of us, Barr's upbringing helped form his assumptions, expectations, values and beliefs. And, while the term "bias" is a trigger word for people, if you have a brain, you're biased. Our biases are formed as a result of our backgrounds and life experiences. And, those biases help form and shape our assumptions, expectations, values and beliefs.
What's unclear is what caused Barr to form his long-standing view that the presidency is more like a kingship. Regardless, that is another of his biases.
Bias is defined as "an unfair personal opinion that influences your judgment."
Biases constrain the information people are willing to hear and consider. As a result, the impair critical thinking. The more contrained the information heard and considered, the more impaired the critical thinking.
"Critical thinking requires a wellspring of empathy. If critical thinking involves seeking, analyzing, and evaluating multiple perspectives on a complex question or issue, then being able to 'see' through someone else's eyes is essential." - Anne Vilen
Empathy is an aspect of emotional intelligence, the foundation of which is emotional self-awareness.
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Who is Bill Barr? Many of us see Bill Barr as Trump's yes-man rather than an Attorney General.
Barr does not seem to have the capacity to clearly see the boundaries between church and state. Given the latitude he would push his religious views into our system of secular law. That in itself disqualifies him from the Office of Attorney General. Add to that his inability to recognize the "balance" of power between the three branches of government makes him even more unqualified for Attorney General. Underlying that it would seem, is the belief he can maneuver himself into a position of trust with trump so as to foist his crackpot religious agenda on the American people. Like so many before him Barr is in for a rude awakening. He won't here the bus coming.
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It is thoroughly distasteful to American democracy for any government official to insert his or her religious dogma into the governance of the nation. The separation of Church and State has always been one of the foundational tenets of the American experiment, and it should remain so. One need only look at the immoral and possibly illegal actions AG Barr has undertaken in the pursuit of strong-arming his Catholic beliefs into the functioning of the State to see that the founding fathers were wise indeed to block such influence on the government.
I have no doubt history will record AG Barr as a Ciano, or Himmler, or Molotov: right hand man to a tyrant. Thus will history dispose of him.
But today, a more immediate removal seems in order. Impeachment, removal from office and disbarment seem appropriate.
It is interesting that Barr is willing to ignore the fact that Trump is a moral cesspool to push Barr's extreme right wing world view. Like the protestant fundamentalists who support Trump, Barr's "adamant" stand against moral relativism becomes quite flexible when it is convenient for him.
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If you mentioned that Mr. Barr’s father hired Jeffery Epstein at the Dalton school, I missed it.
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@dconaty
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.html
Mr. Barr did hire him.
"Mr. Epstein, from Brooklyn, was just 21 when he joined the faculty at Dalton, arriving without a college degree. The school’s student newspaper reported in September 1974 that he was starting that year as a math and physics teacher.
At Dalton, Mr. Epstein was known as a charismatic, young teacher who at times acted more like a friend than an authority figure to students."
Uh-oh.
1
Barr is the modern equivalent of Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor. He is preventing God’s work on earth because it conflicts with the Trump Administration and Republican Party.
Can't help but wonder west Mr. Barr thought about Presidential power when Obama was in office, or Clinton.
Hypocrite, just like the rest of them. When we do it it's good, when they do it it's bad.
I am pleased to note that the New York City bar association is critical. That may get Big Bill's attention.
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Judging from his actions, Mr. Barr is a fixer, a consigliere for the mob boss, comparable to the Tom Hagen character in "The Godfather." The only difference is that we're paying his salary.
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A burning desire for violent theocracy is what Bill Barr represents. And grim fantasies of the end of the world in fire and brimstone raining upon the humanity through final confrontation in the Middle East. In his lifetime, which is coming to the end, so not much time is left.
Separate church and state all over again, forcefully and forcibly if necessary, or suffer an epic collapse, perhaps with nuclear exchange as a bonus. These are your choices, America. Which will it be?
The US Senate has determine in a bi-partisan decision that Russia interfered with the 2016 election on behalf of Trump, yet even this week Trump tweeted, "Bill Barr is doing EXACTLY his job: following the facts. Those who damaged America and broke the law to spread this hoax are about to face accountability." To Trump, Bill Barr's job is to erase the Senate's findings and promote a nonsensical conspiracy theory to replace the Senate's findings!
Trump and Barr are actively undermining the American government and democracy. There is only one "hoax" and one "witch-hunt." And that is Trump's and Barr's.
Trump must be impeached and removed from office!
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I went to the same elite high school as Barr. The school’s motto Is “Great is the truth and it prevails”. Barr has forgotten it, has lied for Trump over and over. It’s appalling that he is AG of the USA, our number one law officer.
Mr. Barr's statements from 1995, with which he plainly still agrees, show him applying the word "conspiracy" to the actions of people who believe that they're doing their lawful job or that they're openly promoting their political beliefs. It's quite consistent with the urge to look for conspiracies in Italy or Ukraine. I don't think that Mr. Barr is being arbitrary in his usage of "conspiracy". Rather, I think that he sees people on earth as faced with a constant conspiracy by the Devil. Those who support beliefs or actions inconsistent with Mr. Barr's view of Catholic doctrine are, in his mind (if I read him correctly), literally in league with the Devil, at best useful idiots, but probably in many cases consciously cooperating with Satan. On this understanding, there is always a conspiracy, and it's the job of those who support God to expose it and do all that they can to thwart it (ultimately defeating it will be up to God at the end of time). In that case, I suppose Mr. Barr is another of those who see Donald Trump as a sort of Cyrus figure. And Mr. Barr's leaning towards an authoritarian presidency is at least partly consistent with the position of past conservative popes such as Pius IX who believed democracy to be heretical.
Many words, meticulously crafted, to define one: Hypocrisy.
Case closed - thanks, Ms. Bazelon!
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Religious freedom on the right has come to mean the power of each person, taken to be some kind of believer in some kind of god, the right to nullify the nation's laws. Add that to a belief among right-wing Catholics of the Opus Dei strain that there is always a higher law than the Constitution and a recipe for a major threat to our the hard won freedoms of our great nation.
William Barr is a clear and present danger to the nation and to the Constitution and Bill of Rights which should be the guidepost for our representative democracy.
Barr, on the one hand, is a dissembler who feigns belief in the rule of law, but he also brazenly shows disdain for the separation of power in our federal government.
In his writings and his remarks, Barr demonstrates that he is an authoritarian, placing unlimited power in the presidency and treating the U.S. Congress as a useless appendage, somewhat like the human appendix.
The role of being the personal protector of Donald Trump is far more important to William Barr than being the Attorney General for all of the people. The key to what drives Barr is probably what Emily Bazelon mentions in her excellent article. Barr is a devout Roman Catholic who apparently has devoted himself to two ultraconservative organizations: Opus Dei and the Federalist Society.
Opus Dei is a cult-like group in which dishonesty about the rationale for one’s public actions is morally acceptable, as long as it furthers the religious aims of the Church. Of course, there are many Catholics – probably a majority – who would strongly disagree with the tactics and goals of Opus Dei members.
The notion that someone committed to a religious group would be drawn to a sybaritic narcissist like Donald Trump is bizarre, but so is everything else about Trump World.
1
Barr will do everything possible to seal the deal on a judiciary that will continue to turn a blind eye to state religion.
William Barr is first and foremost an amoral egotist with a boundless lust for power. He has turned the Department of Justice into Trump’s private law firm in violation of his oath of office to serve the people. He must be impeached.
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Whatever one may have thought about AG Barr before he became Trump's personal lawyer (aka AG) there is no question that almost everyone, with a few rare exceptions, who have been associated with Donald J. Trump have been tainted by their association and have come out of Trump's administration with their reputations markedly diminished. Yes Trump's base remain remarkably loyal. But the rest of the world see only filth and corruption as the standard modus operandi of D.J. Trump. Everyone associated with him appears to have been smeared with the same filth that exudes from Trump, the narcissistic adolescent creature who has been given the power of the Presidency without the moral values or wisdom to faithfully execute the office as intended by our Constitution.
Seems like Barr is from a family that went along to get along. Not surprised he is confused about where his true loyalty lies.
I think it is clear that Barr has his own religious agenda at play. Once someone is so devout to their religion, they can justify all their moves as the means justifies the end! Sound familiar???
Barr is about as brilliant as my last bowl movement.
1
Barr's objective seems to be a reorganization of the US government along the lines of Catholic church hierarchy: president as pope, attorney general as canon lawyer and so on down the line. Barr is one really scary dude!
1
Who is he? He's a person who says he doesn't care about his reputation or his "legacy." We also know that he doesn't care about the American people, or any others he injures, with alacrity. You wouldn't want a sociopath, like him, living next door. Kids cry and dogs howl when he walks by. Save him a cell.
Bill Barr and Trumpism represent a section of the capitalist class, but in the US and abroad, that wants to dispense with democratic facades and rule with an open dictatorship over the American people. They know that their program of endless economic, social and ecological rape and plunder cannot proceed with majority public support. Indeed their Koch libertarian Reaganist project is now deeply hated among many in the mass population.
Billy will be measured for an orange jumpsuit just like the others. Only a pardon will solve his problems.
He is a criminal, who has trampled on the Constitution that he had solemnly sworn to defend. Simple.
Barr sounds like someone who groomed himself to take on a malleable, useful narcissist with whom to quietly, from behind the scenes, manipulate into whatever might work for Barr, service to the country not included.
1
“Everyone writes their own rule book.” Barr wants to write and enforce the rules as his Roman Catholic Church describes. Barr has dishonored his oath of office and the U.S. of Constitution. Apparently has no regard for the Separation of Church and State. Barr is but one of many of Trumpism of the downward spiral that is presently, and sadly, America. Simply, it is embarrassing to be an American.
Here we have an Attorney General who believes in the unquestionable cultural superiority of (white) Christians and views his job as imposing his own moral code on the country. Benjamin Franklin is rolling in his grave.
Nixon’s Attorney General, John Mitchell, went to jail for his Watergate-related crimes. Perhaps we can all look forward to the day Barr does likewise.
Barr is a classic crypto autocrat, who bends the “rule of law” to serve the needs of his lethal boss, Donald Trump.
However, I suspect he will bend too much and ultimately end up disgraced and quite possibly in jail, a much deserved outcome.
His Catholicism is a Catholicism of intolerance and Old Testament fear and loathing. His reckoning will be soon.
Everyone should watch the film The Death of Stalin with Steve Buscemi as Khrushchev. It is closer to reality than the twilight zone trump has created and very sick and funny. Then you will understand that this is very simply a coup. Good luck to us all.
Barr, Pence, Giuliani and Pompeo.. all of them arrived at the same bizarre fork in the road and decided to board the Trump train .. It's like a Twilight Zone episode- except it's real ...
Barr's performance in fraudulently presenting Mueller's Report as an "exoneration" of the President is all you need to know about the criminality in Mr. Barr. He has entered John Mitchell territory and I hope for his crimes in office he suffers the same fate.
1
Who is William Barr? That's fairly easy. We knew the answer to this question the first time he was AG. He is an existential danger to the survival of our democratic republic, the Richelieu to his incompetent King Donald.
Why, oh why is his Bar Association not disbarring him? He is conducting himself with no respect for established laws, precedences, our Constitution. Instead, he seems intent to destroy any semblance of established law and order.
So, is Barr the "moral compass" to the man who entirely lacks one? Or just another "partner in crime"? That partnership will end soon. They all do.
Going after Barr in this manner will not get you what you want. Many are looking forward to seeing the results of Durham's investigations, if only to observe the efforts to discredit and smear. We did indeed have a 'dry run' with Mr. Mueller and received only one half. If you dont like the word 'spying', select another. Certainly voters have many words for it.
Moral relativism is indeed a problem, as stated. This remains true irrespective of what you think of Mr. Barr. Clever writing indeed.
The book by SInclair Lewis, "It can't happen here" is now "it is happening here." Including Mr Barr, every member of this Administration and the majority of Republican lawmakers are doing their very best to undermine our governement. A legacy that will linger and likely grow over the upcoming decades.
Barr's expansive reading of executive power has no basis in law or reality. It is the opposite of everything in the constitution which stressed democracy and coequality of the branches. The whole history of the founding of the Republic is about the protection of rights and liberty that is completely antithetical to government by an authoritarian. As a lawyer and a historian, I can say with authority that Barr's legal theories are nothing but bunk.
It's obvious that similar to the president, William Barr is no respecter of our Constitution. He has a complete disregard for the separation of church and state. His attitude towards presidential authority is in opposition to three equal branches of government, a system with checks and balances. Donald Trump and William Barr are not patriotic Americans because they so blatantly undermine our laws. They seem to believe that our constitutional law does not apply to them. Hopefully our legislative branch will be able to stop this tyranny.
3
This article can be only read as an pre-emptive attack to tarnish credibility of possible revelations of malfeasance by Obama administration by going after the AG now.
Any prosecutions could be then labeled as "politically motivated acts of revenge brought by DOJ corrupted by Trump and Barr". Anonymous sources will claim " that the prosecutorial decisions were opposed by nonpartisan career officials as a criminalization of tough calls by dedicated civil servants."
So far so good. I could write that stuff. But what will happen to the remaining, albeit tattered, reputation of the press if indisputable facts and guilty pleas emerge? Maybe wiser to wait before going after Barr?
2
@no pretenses: What you said might have had some resonance had Barr not lost all credibility through his blatant dishonesty. His Mueller report summary and his deep-sixing of the whistle blower’s report, to name only two instances, demonstrate his intellectual and moral dishonesty for all to see. He is no Attorney General of the United States, he is head consigliere for the Trump crime syndicate.
william barr, along with aid of donald trump has become what the founders feared the most. a religious zealot who has no compunction about using the power of the gov't to enforce his misguided extremist religious beliefs on the rest of the country. there is good reason the constitution forbids the establishment of a state sponsored religion, but barr seems determined to ignore that prohibition. there is, without question, a symbiotic relationship at work here. barr supports, shields and defends trump and trump gives barr unlimited power to impose and enforce his beliefs on the rest of us.
8
It is tempting to speculate that, if Mr. Barr had been alive during revolutionary times, he would not have been a friend of our founders and the fledgling republic.
6
More troubling is the 1/2 degree of separation between
Billy's pop ,who hired Jeffrey Epstein,who amazingly
perished while on suicide watch. I see some trips to
Doral for those involved, but instead of mints on the pillow
Fat Stacks await.
Barr reminds me of Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction.
Billy has to gobbling the Kao
among other things
Thank you, Emily Bazelon, for this important article. One point: Donald Trump is not our "Moral Relativist in Chief." He's completely amoral. There are huge differences between the best of moral relativism, (which eschews imposition of rigid rules in favor of weighing various contexts in particular situations in order to arrive at optimal moral solutions), Barr's simplistic caricature of same, and Trump's vapid indifference. In his narrow understanding Barr thunders against "moral relativism" which he thinks blasphemes against needed fixed societal values. Trump, in his utter moral vacuity, sees nothing to blaspheme against.
19
It seems that Mr Barr is loyal only to whatever agenda he may have and not to the rule of law per se. If his agenda is served by Mr Trump then he supports Trump. He misleads and mischaracterizes when it suits his agenda. He is not the nation’s chief law enforcement officer but the chief enforcer of whatever suits his agenda. He must be stopped in the name of law.
16
Sounds like Bill Barr is confusing the roles of the US president and the pope. Why should the rest of the country have to live with Barr's personal need for an absolute autocrat to tell him (and us) what's right and wrong? If he is such dire need of guidance and rules, he should strongly consider joining a monastery.
Clearly, Barr has lost sight of what the founding fathers and the framers of the Constitution intended.
19
Can we stick with the facts please. None of this happens if Obama appointees do not present false information to FISA judges who approve surveillance on Trump and his team prior to the election. If that did not happen we could all hate the President just for his policies and not for defending himself against illegal prosecutions.
1
@Rob Dinerman On your side are the opinions of talk show hosts whose only purpose is to enrage you in order to keep your eyeballs glued to their MyPillow ads... They create the idea this is is a deep state conspiracy fro Obama's judicial appointees. And yet as spelled out in this article, and in the past - is the reality is that Barr is the very "deep state" you're so worried about and has been working to overrun your freedoms for decades. But hey, the truth must be what the talk show guys say. After all they're in it for valor right?
1
@Rob Dinerman , your assertions that “Obama appointees” hoodwinked a FISA judged has been debunked. First of all, the FBI is filled with career public servants, only a handful are political appointees. Furthermore the FBI opened the Russia investigation based on a Russian agent contacting George Papadopoulus, Carter Page was under surveillance as a Russian asset before this. The Steele report was tangential, not a primary focus. Quit spreading fake news.
1
@Rob
Let's stick with facts then.
It didn't happen -- except in Donald Trump's head.
And that doesn't count.
Thank you, Emily Blazon for a review of Barr's ambitions and political positions. However, what you have barely touched upon is that William Barr is a classic pathologic personality study of paradox. He has a dark history as a fix-it man, for example, his willingness to be used by Reagan and HW Bush to cover up and re-label U.S. involvement in the mass murders of innocents in El Salvador and then the Iran-Contra affair. Both of these involved U.S. support of criminal dictatorships in El Salvador and in Nicaragua against undeterred populist demands for democracy. Barr clings to his Christian identity, not upon principled religious belief, but as a sublimation of his dark side.
16
@Steve: Barr is only doing God's will as Barr knows best.
The connections the "The Federalist Society" are so sadly ironic.
Washington and Hamilton must be spinning in their graves.
The machinations described in this article could not be more diametrically opposed to the original concepts behind the The Federalist Papers. On the other hand, King George III must be very pleased. Trump and Barr working together are toxic to our Republic. The fate of our democracy as we know it now rests with the tactical skills of Pelosi and the good judgement of the American people.
27
Calmer people warned the Dems that accusing Trump, in effect, of treason for 3 years and now trying to impeach him on a weak set of facts amounts to over-weaponizing political disagreements -- and that there will be backlash and unpredictable consequences. Well, that's what is starting to happen now with the Durham/Barr investigation, and this is probably just the beginning. This country needs a third party. The 2 we have now are locked in an ugly power struggle that disregards the nation's welfare.
8
@Chris-zzz The "weak set of facts" establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the President used congressionally approved military aid to extort an ally into manufacturing dirt on his political opponent. This evidence has come from the White House's own summary of a phone call, and from numerous diplomats with firsthand knowledge.
89
@Chris-zzz I would hardly characterize William Taylor's testimony - supported with copious notes - as a "weak set of facts." They're just facts. Period.
77
@Chris-zzz
I would not characterize Mueller's documented findings as a "weak set of facts."
50
I think this A.G. is amazing! As a Catholic Lawyer too, I think that what Donald J Trump has done by appointing two conservative magistrate judges and many lower judges that come from the conservative tanks, he has finally made pro-lifers like me become the norm in a world that I also think is too much down an abyss due to so much moral relativism. I hope Dr Barr stays and more like him are put in government and help to KAGA as 45th becomes 46th.
4
@Roberto M Riveros A With all due respect to you as a fellow human being, part of the genius of this country is that we do not have "Catholic" lawyers, or Jewish lawyers or Muslim lawyers, we have lawyers who happen to be Catholic or Jewish or Muslim or, for that matter, not a few atheists. We separate, or at least endeavor to, our secular roles from our personal beliefs about a particular religion. All religions have some version of Jesus' proscription that we "Do unto others as you would have done to you." Unfortunately, all to many people in this country who call themselves Christian seem not to follow it.
85
@Roberto M Riveros A
We women don't want to hear from men esp. those who don't live here who think being against reproductive rights is acceptable.
16
@Roberto M Riveros A
"...made pro-lifers like me become the norm in a world..." The norm? Sorry, but you and yours are in the minority. That trump has stacked the judicial deck in your favour is about as antidemocratic as one can get.
No offense intended.
2
He should recuse himself from everything and retire. I would like an apology from all those people that vouched for him at his appointment. He is disregarding our constitution every day he remains as AG.
16
Ms. Bazelton is an estimable thinker. And this is an estimable piece. She sets out to analyze Barr’s legal and political thinking. And she probes his first principles to make sense of the role that he presently plays.
Ms. Bazelton’s message is lost on those who dismiss Barr as a hack and a tool. It is similarly lost on those who continue to view Barr as independent of the President. During Barr’s first term as AG, he came off as professional. Few, if any, considered him a hack. Ms. Bazelton seeks to reconcile this first term with his present term. And she finds unifying principles that help explain what appears to be an anomaly.
This is a thought piece. Give it its due. If all you have to say is that Barr is a hack, you haven’t risen to the challenge. Mr. Barr has views of the law and the Presidency that haven’t changed in 20 years Under the elder Bush, Barr’s views seemed to fit within the conservative mainstream. Under Trump he indeed comes off as a hack. But there were seeds of present day Barr under Bush. And there are seeds of the past Barr today.
Barr has not changed. It is the President who he is serving that brings out the excesses and the negative potential in his thinking. Still, there are remnants of responsibility, including his appointment of Mr. Dunham.
Ms. Bazelton has taken the measure of the man. The point isn’t to trash Barr. It is to explain him. If you didn’t get that, read again.
9
@michjas Mr. Barr has finally found a President that comes very close to his (Barr's) way of thinking all his life.
Mr. Barr went out of his way with his multiply page introduction to Mr. Trump to get Mr. Trump to put him in the DOJ position. Now, even the ABA is looking closely at him and the way he is doing things.
America is in a position right now that could tip the scales back to a country that is respected around the world by our NATO members and other Christian countries or loved by Russia, China, North Korea, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other dictatorships. There are many Republicans that would prefer a type of dictatorship that Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr prefer along with a few million Americans. The next 13 months will tell the story of the future of the "United" States of America.
What damage to this country Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr will do to America within the next 13 months is unknown...but there are many who hope that Trump and Barr have 4 more years (and beyond).
Why is this article so polite and not an “indictment?” Perhaps this so-called conservative restructuring to democracy began in earnest when Al Gore did not challenge the election in 2000 because he did not want to start a “constitutional crises.” Now we ae in the midst of the most critical constitutional crisis in our democracy in modern time. If the Democrats and real conservative Republicans don’t fight back to stop further Russian meddling in another election,
America will become an oligopoly like Russia, China and a number of other wannabes.
6
So, all of this is about Barr trying to please his father. Children raised in homes with harsh discipline will often internalize the feelings, mannerisms and beliefs of the offender in an effort to please them and survive another day. Trump and Barr are two bullies with unresolved childhood trauma running the country. What could go wrong?
13
As far as I am concerned this question can be raised for Eric Holder and, especially Loretta Lynch and, for that matter, most of the previous Attorney Generals dating back to the Kennedy Administration. Thank you.
4
@Southern Boy, as far as you're concerned is as far as that comparison goes. Maybe when those other AGs start running around openly arguing in favor of unlimited presidential power.
1
@Southern Boy
Um, no. False equivalency. Again, Mr. Confederate, you are on the wrong side.
Unlike the many incompetents in Trump's administration, Barr has a missionary's zeal in both his Catholicism and belief in untrammeled executive power and has the effectiveness to put his beliefs into effect.
How is it that any lawyer, to say nothing of an AG, can support lawlessness in the pursuit of bogus conspiracy theories? Can he think that behavior demonstrating such a lack of integrity won't be condemned? Can he not care about the degradation of the DOJ as an impartial legal force? Where is "equal justice under law" when he is facilitating and working to undermine his boss' potential political opponent?
How is it that he hasn't been disbarred?
16
it's always a pleasure to read a piece by ms. bazelon, even on such an odious subject.
it's unavoidable, this confrontation between the executive branch and a court system that must adhere to the plain intent of the constitution. and mr. barr's errant wish for an authoritarian president to emulate his authoritarian father, the pope, the old testament god and other infallible regents must receive a definitive legal smackdown.
otherwise this superstitious wish for a king, a wish that george washington had to explicitly refuse, will just resurrect, like a halloween holy savior, again and again.
7
Keep up the good reporting NYT. This article by Ms. Bazelon is very informative and provides important context to our current political mess.
10
I wonder why trump feels he needs personal lawyers when he has Barr and the Justice Department at his beck and call. Paid for by the taxpayers of course.
4
@RJB It’s OK, he doesn’t pay any of his so-called lawyers anyway! They all work for him out of pure love and devotion, not greed, wickedness, and an unholy desire for power.
Well Trump couldn't enact a pledge of loyalty from top cop Comey but he landed an even bigger fish, Billy Barr who has sold his soul to the devil and who no doubt will be amply rewarded or if he regains his sense of morality, will be tossed under the bus. Trump has already presumed he can have Barr do his bidding and so far the shoe seems to fit - another instance of how principle, integrity and morality twist in the wind. Good luck Mr. Barr.
4
One has to wonder what Barr and his ultraright cronies will think of an imperial presidency when it is a competent Democrat rather than an incompetent Republican in the White House. If there is any justice in the world (a highly debatable premise), we will find out in January 2020.
7
@RickyDick You are, of course, making the assumption that there will be another president elected by the people someday.
I’m rather convinced that train has left the station.
3
You can confidently bet Mr Barr was "reportedly" surprised and angry by the presidents clear identification of his owned Attorney General in a criminal shakedown--call-me-by-my-real-name, Extortion--campaign against the newly elected President of a country under continuous attack by Mr Trump's owner, Vladimir Putin's Russia. It's a near identical replay of Barr's own kept-secret-for-years 1980s fully operationalized "opinion" at his Justice" Department that a president has "inherent authority" to abduct people abroad in violation of an international treaty principally written by the United States. Bar is now clearly identifiable as a long-term Monarchist and, based on the clear abrogation of the principle of separation of church and state in his recent speech at Notre Dame as a religion-dominated one at that. As his Master, Trump might say, "SAD!" Or, to more aptly paraphrase your conclusion, as the fly buttons come off, Barr is the perfect attorney general for Trump--not so much for the United States of America.
2
@pneaman Equating what Barr and Trump want to the desires or wishes of monarchists is unfair to monarchies around the world. Trump and his henchman Barr want a dictatorship. Modern Monarchists support free and open governments - note Queen Elizabeth for example.
The Constitution says the President, being elected by the people, is the chief officer in the executive branch of government and that unelected civil service employees are subservient to the president. That's what the Constitution says, and yet in the Flynn case, we are beginning to learn from Lee Smith, author of "The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in U.S. History."
There was a multifaceted “criminal conspiracy” to destroy the newly appointed National Security Adviser before he could require the entire senior intelligence service to hand in their resignations. Not that he was going to necessarily fire everyone, but he did want everyone to prove what they were doing, that they were doing their jobs, and, ironically enough, to ensure they could not mount similar operations against the newly elected president like the one they ultimately ran against him.
The deep-state dictatorship: Pres. Trump must be stopped at any cost, by any measure, before the American voters mount their own dictatorship against us at the ballot box in 2020.*
* Liberally plagiarized from Robery Kraychik's article at Breitbart, entitled: "Lee Smith: Deep State Used ‘Criminal Conspiracy’ to Stop Flynn’s Audit of Intelligence Agencies"
1
@batazoid, worst criminal conspiracy ever when all anyone had to do was leak the fact that the Trump campaign was under investigation *before the election. Trump knows that tactic well since it's exactly what he has openly tried to do with Biden.
The Spanish Inquisition was the attempt by Ferdinand and Isabella to use the Catholic Church to cement their power in Spain. It was brutal. Even the Pope objected to it.
I wonder how Barr would react if today’s Pope told him to cease and desist using his Catholicism to support an evil dictator?
3
@ML Frydenborg Barr is a member of Opus Dei - a Catholic society responsible only to the Pope with less than 100,00 members worldwide. Barr is probably in lock step with the conservative Catholic cardinals who do not support the current Pope , Francis.
1
So this is a son of an authoritarian father, excoriated for excess while running Dalton, and an Opus Dei and Federalist Society person. Oh great, that explains a lot. This is important writing and I hope our country can survive this full-on assault from within. Too bad we have (a) the Electoral College and (b) an under/un-educated electorate. Any thinking citizen should be outraged and shaken by what is going on under our noses.
12
This article is spot on, but there isn’t enough page space to describe the plans of the likes of the Attorney General and his political/religious partisans for the 70% of their fellow citizens who fail their religious tests:
Second class sub-humans at best. Lives spent being slandered and demonized while being taxed to involuntarily support malicious political activism hidden behind tax-free foundations falsely called charities. Discrimination by race, religion, and any other invented category passed off as “religious freedom”.
Thanks to Emily Bazelon for showing us the repackaging of the intolerant rant of 1995 into the intolerant rant of the 2019 Notre Dame speech. I’ve been hearing this poorly disguised bigotry from the right for the past 40 years. Back then, with 9 years of Sunday school, uncountable numbers of Bible studies, and enough college credits to have gone to seminary, I saw it for what it was: Raw Hatred. When I pushed back against it as immoral, I was called an “amoral secular humanist”. But today I’m called a “moral relativist”.
Mr. Barr needs to hear what my late Father (a WWII veteran and son of a WWI veteran) said to me when I first told him that he wasn’t considered an American because he didn’t go to a fundamentalist Christian church. He said, “They hate this country.” It’s now become worse than that. My feelings now: I recently found out that the best translation of the last words Job spoke may be “I mourn for humanity”.
8
Let me suggest that Mr Barr who is on a Crusade, did not opt to pass on the complaint because he knew it would lead to impeachment and that would lead to his replacement and truncation of his personal religious Crusade.
I was raised in a catholic family who wanted me to become a priest once they realized they could not force me to stop being so honest. Catholics can justify anything, and I do mean literally anything by abuse of the language and intentional dissociation. I expect that last bit is how Barr is allowing himself to work for a man he would in any other circumstance call Satan.
5
Barr’s dad was headmaster while Jeffrey Epstein was teaching at that school.
Robert Mueller attended the wedding of Barr’s children.
Just some interesting tidbits. Who is William Barr?
2
Barr, Pompeo, Giuliani, Whitaker, McConnell, Mulvaney, Opus Dei, The Federalist Society, Trump, Pence - all combined against our country in a hot mess of religious fundamentalism and a single minded pursuit of absolute power over US citizens and their lives.
Which Democratic Presidential candidate will prioritize identifying and breaking up this cabal?
Is there a remedy to packing the courts?
I am waiting to hear from any candidate regarding this power grab by republicans.
7
Bill Barr is embracing thorough corruption as a sort of “performance art” on full display for all to see.
He is thumbing his nose at American values, the Constitution, and the rule of law.
He feels that no one can stop him, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about his behavior.
This feeling of invincibility has been nurtured by Republicans “getting away with it” for decades.
Continual propaganda about “trickle down economics” despite the fact that everyone witnesses its failure over and over.
An invasion of Iraq based on lies.
Crashing of the world economy.
Moscow Mitch subverting the Supreme Court.
All of these destructive policies with no accountability, and all diminishing the country for personal gain or satisfaction.
Barr has reason to believe that no one will stop him.
Let’s finally prove this criminal wrong.
5
And this time it really does sound like a vast right-wing conspiracy.
4
It was a surprise for me to read that Barr once worked for the CIA, and that simultaneously he attended law school at night.
This article was a start in better knowledge about Barr, but it seems incomplete and left me with many questions.
I hope to see more on this topic from NYT.
Yeah, it's the secularists and moral relativists who are the real threat.
Not the theocrats who want to turn the full power and fury of government on the impure, the different, and the disloyal.
3
“Champion the presidency”—is that really what Barr is doing? Not the way I read the Constitution and US history.
1
there are none more zealous in employing the end to justify the means than religious zealots - which Mr. Barr appears to be.
5
Bar maybe more honest than Roy Cohen, but not by much.
Why is it impossible that Trump's critics have violated the norms? Because of the media blackout on the frame-ups and phony search warrants?
What will the NYT say when the indictments begin?
Barr is just one more God-fearing man totally lacking in morals. He is the reason the first amendment prohibits establishment of religion, which of course he does not believe applies to him.
5
Barr is an extremist ideologue who believes things that are unconstitutional, e.g., a president is like a king, or the laws must conform to his own religious views and values. However, he comes across as measured and authoritative, and is apparently a knowledgeable, clever lawyer. That's the problem. Trump is immoral, corrupt, unprincipled. A clever demagogue but otherwise ignorant, feckless, incompetent. Barr, who has now been directly implicated in the Ukraine scandal, is dangerous because he frees Trump from the handcuffs of his own shortcomings. Barr's aims are not Trump's, just as McConnell's are not Trump's, but Barr and Trump can both get what they want by working together. Barr can get his radical laws passed and his radical judges seated, and in exchange Barr will keep Trump in the White House and our of prison. We've seen Barr's work. In front of the nation, he misrepresented the Mueller report. Barr is now pursuing with the full resources of the Department of Justice any number of unfounded conspiracy theories. Barr has undermined the vital nonpartisan independence of his own department.
5
In this retired military officer's opinion, Barr is a traitor for putting his loyalty to Trump above loyalty to country. We have seen this before and I am always puzzled wondering what reward could there possibly be for an individual in this behavior.
4
I’m a lawyer in Barr’s generation. We knew people like him “back then” when we were in law school and young professionals. Tightly buttoned up, lockstep with power and wealth, sellouts to everything corrupt and evil. I hope, eventually, he loses his license. He deserves that and a lot worse. The man is a disgrace to my honored profession. A shame to us all.
6
Who is Bill Barr?
An opportunist who saw his chance to impose his world view and took it; ironically he had to ignore his own morals to do so
Tsk tsk
1
Attorney General Barr espouses a fear of "moral relativism" but allows himself to become a key defender of a President who seemingly holds no moral values at all. He defends lying, womanizing, and theft as he defends this President. William Barr has helped this worthless man succeed at subverting out Constitution and our civility. For that, he will be judged.
5
Unfortunately, he's more Samuel Beckett than Thomas a Becket.
The Mueller report wasn't a paragon of clarity in distinguishing its findings on the charge to conspire in the Russian disinformation effort and those on obstructing the subsequent investigation.
I've sorted it this way
Mueller determined he would only find facts or indicia of the charges because one can't indict the President. So instead of his former role as a prosecutor who would take gathered evidence and assess it for whether it merited indicting, he and his team would be "just the facts mam Joe Fridays". His determination on conspiracy was the facts ascertained would have prompted a Joe Friday to say to a prosecutor, "In my opinion, there's not enough there to even consider indicting. On obstruction, "there maybe and you Mr. Prosecutor decide." But in doing that as Mueller, explained, it gets tricky because the President legitimately supervises DoJ and can affect investigations if he does so without a corrupt purpose. What if he knows there wasn't a conspiracy and the investigation is a waste of resources and disrupts his Office to boot? Is that a corrupt purpose? And how would you prove it beyond a reasonable doubt?
Much is made of there being so many damning facts suggesting guilt. Of course there would be because there was a thorough investigation to find them. But all criminal trials have lots of damning facts, as they should to justify trying a person. Yet many still result in acquittals.
1
@Tombs69 I do wonder whether Barr and Mueller still socialize. Whether the answer is yes or no, it would speak volumes.
@New Jerseyan
My impression is they share a strong, decades long personal and professional relationship that won't be dented by fleeting Washington hysterics. They may not see eye-to-eye on the President's Constitutional prerogatives. But then Barr's a Roman Catholic and Mueller's an Episcopalian and I doubt that's a serious friction between them either. They're normal people.
OK, sure, Barr is a devout Roman Catholic who's aghast at the spread of secularism. But few talk about how he used to be on the board of directors of the Catholic Information Center, which is led by the super-reactionary, super-secretive Catholic organization, Opus Dei.
That he has connections to Opus Dei is all one needs to know to deduce everything about Barr. He's more than a devout Catholic. He's a devotee of the idea that the ends justify the means.
3
Unlike scientific research where authors are expected to report and analyze results and end with recommendations for future action, these political journalism pieces pretty much all end in a plaintive whine. The problem is clear and obvious. What are we going to do about it.? This Trump lackey, like so many others should be impeached and prosecuted for any Constitutional violations he has committed. He is a fraud who has violated his oath. He should not be left in any position of authority over the American people. What are we actually going to do about it?
@malabar Good question but not the role of the journalist.
He is furious about moral relativism? What does he call what he has been doing by mischaracterizing (I'll not say "lying") the Mueller report and joining Trump in maligning the intelligence functions of the government investigations of Russian interference by doing a criminal review of the investigations themselves? Does his Catholicism justify such hypocrisy and manufactured paranoia?
1
I don’t believe attorney general Barr is being “Used” for a minute. He’s the perfect federalists society fanatic. Devoted to a reactionary religious conservatism steeped in its own moral relativism he like the rest of the judicial proxy’s for the federalist society’s agenda will not hesitate in their support of Trump. It is Barr & the federalists society who are using Trump and his clueless lackeys to support their long goal of undermining constitutional law. Their agenda of a rigid “originalist” reading is disingenuous nonsense designed as cover for their authoritarian leanings and intentions. That is more of a threat to democracy than Trump himself and will far outlast this carnival barker and presidential clown.
4
So our Attorney General is enjoying near-victory in his anti-American, lifelong mission to turn the president into a monarch.
And no one in DOJ steps forward?
For shame.
1
The "wonders" of a fascist theology are out there for us all to see right now and in the present: Iran, North Korea (with a theology all its own), al Shabaab, Lord's Resistance Army, Boko Haram, Saudi Arabia, and in-the-making Israel.
The writers of he American Constitution knew full well the brutal and repressive havoc a religious state would have on the freedoms, liberties, and happiness of its citizens. If Barr and the Christian right succeed in hammering such an ideology into the soul of this republic we can kiss it (the republic) goodbye. It will spawn wars, it will require your conversion and your oaths of loyalty to a single creed. It will institutionalize an even more radical patriarchy than exists today, it will rationalize economic, social, and racial repression for all but the believing oligarchy. Not to mention the dismissal of such petty things as global warming and poverty.
When religion--Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.--demands uncritical obedience and obeisance to a particular set of morals and mores it becomes evil--the work of and complicit with its arch enemy Satan.
Beyond doubt, Barr is the most dangerous AG since John Mitchell. The proximate source is his religious zealotry paired with command of the Justice Department, now a branch office of the Barr morality squad. Barr's world view begins with an axiomatic principle that gay rights have no standing in either legal or moral doctrines; to wit, homosexuality is illegitmate. From that follows the necessity to overturn Obergefell.
One more Trump Justice will put that in play, along with goodbye to Roe v. Wade.
If we could choose to remove either Trump or Barr, not both, my choice would be Barr.
1
So...let's not ascribe philosophy and morality as the cornerstone of Barr's actions. Smokescreens. First and foremost he's a Republican. A party operative who masks his sophomoric allegiance in pedantic, sanctimonious preachings. He better beware and re-read the history of prior over-partisan AGs Mitchell and Meese. Barr seems more sinister. Is he so blind to his faith of Donald Trump that he can't see the ridiculous logic of the conspiracy theory that led to his criminal investigation of his own department. All that education wasted.
As a liberal and a Catholic I was glad to see the author briefly mentioned Attorney General Barr’s affiliation with Opus Dei. A passing reference, however, is not enough when it comes to understanding what may make William Barr tick.
We now also know that Barr gave misleading testimony before the House Appropriations Committee this past April 9, 2019. When asked by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) if the A.G. knew why members of Mueller’s team were frustrated by his characterization of the Special Counsel’s report that he did not. Speaker Pelosi has even accused the A.G. of criminality, saying that he lied to Congress.
In two of his books Opus Dei’s founder, Jose Maria Escriva urged secrecy in his apostolate (The Way, No. 839), defines compromise as laziness and weakness (The Way, No. 54) demands blind obedience to Church teachings (The Way, No. 617), calls non-Catholic schools, “pagan schools” (The Way, No.866), mocks Voltaire (The Way, No. 849). This is language that is reflected in Barr’s vocal pronouncements recounted above.
But more importantly, Escriva also taught his followers to put away their scruples (The Way, Nos. 258 and 259), seemingly teaching that the ends always justify the means. Perhaps maxims 258 and 259 might explain the Attorney General’s prior misleading House testimony as well his unwillingness to answer questions that merely required a yes or no response.
This needs to be more closely examined.
6
“His father….became the headmaster of the elite Dalton School, leaving after 10 years amid criticism over his authoritarian approach to student discipline.”
“He warned in one of his early opinions, in July 1989, of congressional “encroachments” on presidential authority. “Only by consistently and forcefully resisting such congressional incursions can executive branch prerogatives be preserved,” he wrote.”
Whoa. Seems that Barr has not unpacked his "daddy issues" in regard to his views on authoritarianism. Through the president, it seems he is replaying the paradigm he grew up with.
1
The first loyalty of the Attorney General - whether it's to the president or to the American people - has always been a problematic issue. But if we are fulfill the founders' vision, the AG's first loyalty should be to the rule of law. This argues for making the office non-political, perhaps giving Congress the power to appoint the AG through the workings of a strictly bipartisan group of elected representatives.
1
@Charles Michener
Every federal employee takes an oath to the Constitution not a person or persons.
4
Do the recent negative statements and media coverage regarding Barr serve as a hedge for the Democrats against the potential findings of the Justice Department’s investigation?
I would rather just wait to see the results and conclusions, whatever they may be, and form my opinions at that time. We should be looking for answers about the unusual 2016 election rather than 'framing' the pending reviews.
4
@AW
Should we take your question as an admission that you have not read or listened to any of that "negative coverage"? You could not be asking if you had.
@AW Barr and trump are trying to reframe. Barr lied about the Mueller report and rather than protect we the people he is protecting a pathological liar. malignant narcissiist, and violator of the constitution and many other country norms. I hope he is disbarred
Seems bizarre that conservatives focus on abortion and social issues as primary targets, while ignoring the devastatingly REAL problems of climate change, our decaying bridges, roads, electric grids, water supplies, computer hacking into our infrastructure systems and election machines, wage inequalities, homelessness and poverty.
Not any difference, I might add in other countries, like Israel, (where I have lived), which is heavily dependent and influenced by the USA and has lost much of its democratic socialist ideas to become more and more capitalist and hence deterioration in improvement in public health, well being and environmental issues and large rich/poor divide, like never before.
So much for the religious values of taking care of the sick and less well off.
Not mentioned in this article, just focus on the visual which does not lie. Barr, Trump and his children reflect visually the fall of the empire in their gluttonous, hedonistic (Trump, & Barr), flat affect (Melania and Kusnher) and robotic like (Ivanka) demeanors.
If Barr and conservatives were really truthful to themselves and others, they would start by looking in the mirror.
Not to sound too moribund, this 65 y/o remembers the biblical literature, that as long as their are several good people in the world, god will not create another flood. Sanders, Cortez, Warren, Talib, Buttegieg, and many in the freshman class will lead the way to a more humane politics that will balance out Trump and Barr Inc.
3
I admire and respect you, Emily Bazelon, but wouldn't the country have been better served by your analysis prior to Barr's confirmation hearings than now?
We were led to believe that this man was experienced, mature, and seasoned (i.e. a safe choice in a cabinet of grifters, lobbyists, and sycophants). Had we had a more complete picture at that time the picture today might look considerably different.
5
@VoiceFromDumbo No one with integrity will work for the pres. That was are first clue
I thought Republicans were against "big government" and "originalists." It appears that their complaints about "big government" are limited to attacks on environmental. civil rights and health and safety legislation. There are no complaints when a Republican president attempts to eliminate the other two branches. They ignore the drafters' attempts to limit thw powers of the executive branch. And they would howl if a Democratic president did one-tenth of what they have allowed Trump to do
8
After reading this, I wonder what role Barr believes is appropriate for Congress. It certainly can't be that he views Congress as a separate but equal branch. Rather, it seems that the body should be relegated to passing the legislation sent over by the executive branch. The term "oversight" must be an anathema to him.
With regard to the courts, given Barr's attitude and actions, it wouldn't be surprising if he orders an investigation into judges like Beryl Howell. Her opinion on the legitimacy of the House impeachment proceedings must have infuriated him. I hope for her sake, and ours, she doesn't now feel that people are looking over her shoulder and into her past.
10
@Tom Q
Barr has long espoused strong views on the supremacy of the Executive Branch. His views have become even more extreme, or maybe it is the influence of Donald Trump; Barr now appears to favor Dictatorship. Some may dismiss the use of this word, but if the President is above the law, and the Executive Branch is not subject to Congressional (or any) oversight, and if the DOJ can open a Criminal Investigation of the DOJ personnel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election (ie. Trump's political opponents and critics, as he sees it), Dictatorship is an accurate word. DOJ career Prosecutors could be indicted, charged and jailed for investigating the 2016 election interference. Other than debunked conspiracy theory, no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing has been offered to justify this investigation. This is what Dictators do; target and jail (or worse) anyone who opposes them. The US used to have "checks and balances" to prevent this, but they have been discarded while a passive nation sits by and watches. Apathy is how Dictators grab power in the first place.
3
Just finished reading Kristof's opinion piece on Americans leaving the Christian faith, or at the very least, not wanting to be associated with it anymore.
This article - especially where it concerns Barr's views as a Catholic - just cements my view on why organized religion is not only failing us, but has no place inside of the government.
16
A fine article which cleared the cobwebs for any of us who have been mystified by the vengeance with with Barr has pursued promotion of Presidential prerogatives never intended by the Founders.
What is evident as well -- some jurors - some leaders in the legal field - do adjust their original assumptions as experience opens their eyes. His have been narrowed, with cataracts obscuring his vision. He seems to think HIS PERSONAL opinions are the law, regardless of any other views or precedents.
It would be terrifying if the Trump/McConnell axis managed to nominate him for a Supreme Court position. His lifetime acceptance of rigid concepts of morality, and the arteriosclerosis evident in his limited thinking ( 1995- 2019 the same) would make him the most dangerous member other than Kavanaugh.
16
I worry about what Barr will do with this investigation, which "may" be criminal, into the "Deep State."
He says that he thinks "spying" may have been involved when the FBI and, perhaps, the CIA began looking into associations between the Trump campaign and suspicious figures. There was a distinct possibility that those figures had associations with Russia. We now know that Russia "meddled" in the election, although the degree and effectiveness of that meddling is not absolutely clear.
In any complex case, there are always actions that are, or can be depicted as, inappropriate. Barr has shown himself willing to help Trump depict the results of the Mueller investigation as benign or exonerating Trump and his campaign. That ought to be enough to worry all of us.
10
With the five conservative (Roman Catholic) judges on the Supreme Court and now Bill Barr as Trump's AG, the conservative, natural law wing of the Catholic church has done as much--perhaps more--to hurt this country as Evangelicals. We overlook the corrupting force of religion in this country to our own peril. Perhaps the mainstream faith of Mayor Pete will reclaim some sanity and provide some legitimacy for religion in this country going forward, but for the foreseeable future religion is a clear and present threat to what I at least was raised to believe to be the American way of life.
18
When theAG is biased--as is clearly the case here, faith in the fair dispensation of justice is generally undermined. Even more significantly, corruption at the head of the DoJ erodes confidence in law enforcement at every level. Perhaps the appointment and removal of the AG ought to be subject to approval by at least two-third majority in the Senate and service in an acting capacity ought to be limited to only 90 days. The need for such checks against unbridled corruption at the head of the DoJ has become imperative. I am not sure whether Congress can enact such law or a Constitutional amendment will be required, but greater minds than mine ought to explore these issues.
8
In short, the fierce critic of moral relativism embraces moral relativism in his war on moral relativism.
Having grown up deep in the Catholic church, I find this a familiar type of male authority figure. In American history, it reminds me of the long train of male "leaders" who justified massacre and torture of Native Americans, Japanese, and Vietnamese with the claim that they had "no respect for human life."
30
@TMSquared
Crusaders throughout history are all the same.
Con men who convince themselves that if they seem to have great faith they are allowed to do anything they choose to do. Inevitably it is always about getting rich and exerting false power over those unable to protect themselves from it.
3
There is NO textual or historical constitutional support for Barr's anti-democratic view of the presidency having powers not included in the Constitution or even in the "umbras" of that document. It is an imperial presidency that some conservatives have invented out of whole cloth and relies for its existence purely on the assertion of raw presidential power aided and abetted by people like Barr.
Barr's criminal investigation of FBI, Justice, NSA, CIA, and DNI appears to be an effort to inhibit witness testimony and may be itself an obstruction of justice for which Barr is a co-conspirator together with Trump. But Barr should recall that if Trump resigns or loses the 2020 election, he is subject to prosecution, even under those OLC opinions, and Barr may be in the dock together with Trump as co-conspirators. Barr could use a good lawyer before he is in totally deep in this Trump protection racket.
38
I do not know the full content of Barr's speech at Notre Dame. Does AG Barr address the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal?
Because failure to do so seems to me relativism at it's finest. The predatory actions of hundreds of priests would seem to be a major factor why so many people are questioning religion and traditional morality.
AG Barr can cherry pick his facts and arguments all he wants. He represents another older white male who claims to know better than the little people. And yes, in America, not all citizens are Christians or even have faith in a God. I believe in the separation of church and state and laws based upon equality and justice for all, not religious doctrine.
As for the authority of the POTUS, it should not be absolute and should be checked by our Congress as appropriate. Are we supposed to be thankful that Barr hasn't supported removal of term limits yet?
24
The President of the United States is not just another "top official" of the Executive Branch. He is the Chief Executive. And he has no peer in that position.
The Justice Department is not an independent agency. It is a part of the Executive Branch, and subject to the plenary control of the Chief Executive.
The Attorney General is subordinate to the President. As a practical matter the AG may act more or less without review in myriad ways affecting the law. But the President remains always in charge, free to order or countermand as he (or she) judges in the best interests of the country, in accordance with his Oath of Office.
Attorney General Barr is not Donald Trump's lawyer. He is the Presidency's most important legal counsel, but also the President's subordinate. In this sense the AG is a principal figure in the Executive Branch, but he is not independent.
These observations appear to reflect William Barr's own understanding of his office. More important, they clearly reflect his understanding of the paramount office of the President.
Certainly Barr is not a lackey. Were he to receive a Presidential order at odds with his legal or moral obligations to the country I have no doubt he would resign. But President Trump has issued no such order. So there is no occasion for the AG to do anything but persevere in his efforts to lead the Justice Department according to his best judgment and principles.
In this I would say he is succeeding admirably.
6
@david lange, The Executive Branch has a peer. It is a Congress, the co-equal branch of government, under Article I of our Constitution. While there is separation of powers, Congress has the authority and responsibility to provide oversight of the Executive Branch. There is no such thing as an Imperial Executive in our Constitution. Unfortunately, conservatives have created this concept from their desire to create an all powerful “ruler”, and in this case, one who will pursue conservative Christian goals.
15
@david lange He is succeeding admirably? In what specific way? By conducting investigations into risible conspiracy theories that give the president political cover?
14
@david lange: The problem is Barr's understanding of presidential authority, which amounts to a version of "L'Etat c'est Moi" coupled with a version of Papal infallibility. This is at odds with the Constitution, to say the least. A president may be democratically chosen, but the Consitution provides impeachment as the procedure to remove a president who betrays the oath of office and/or the trust of the People he is supposed to serve. Furthermore, the House represents the People more so than the Senate (that represents the states) or the president (who is chosen by the Electoral College as representative of the states), and the House has the sole authority of impeachment. Barr seems to be of the opinion that the People should submit to the president, just like the Catholic flock should submit to the Pope without questioning.
8
Being driven to enforce "religious piety" has show throughout history to be the cause for millions of deaths. The Crusades, the conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, ISIS, etc. I read both Emily Bazelon's piece as well as Bill Barr's speech at Notre Dame and frankly I'm stunned at the attempt by this Attorney General to believe that the lack of religious "purity" is a problem for this country. The threat of enforced purity is the reason for the notorious "progressives" to become a meaningful political movement. Freedom of religion implies freedom of belief, be it your religion or mine.
26
@Marc
I don't know if this was what you are getting at, but I think the far greater threat in America today is progressive purity and its odious dogmas that make people villains because of their gender or race and seek to police not only contrary views but even the pronouns people use.
Such people are the secular equivalent of the extremist Salafi sect in Saudi Arabia. Purity tests are not limited to the god-fearing. You take care of your fanatics and I'll take care of mine.
1
@Ian Maitland
I basically agree with you. Absolute purity of any kind tends to foster a closed mind, and it an era such as now many tend to go back to their corner in the ring, then come out fighting again.
@Ian Maitland Please, a few strident college students are not an equivalent threat to those controlling the executive and judicial branches of government.
Mr. Barr’s beliefs about the limited role of Congress in oversight of the executive branch is an affront to our Constitution. Moreover, his religious views are deeply problematic to the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state. Barr, Leonard Leo, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and VP Mike Pence would likely endorse changes to our Constitution to embrace conservative Christian theocracy. Vigilance is critical, but voting this entire administration out is paramount for 2020.
53
Why is this article so polite and not an “indictment?” Perhaps this so-called conservative restructuring to democracy began in earnest when Al Gore did not challenge the election because he did not want to start a “constitutional crises." Now we ae in the midst of the most critical constitutional crisis in our democracy in modern time. If the Democrats and real conservative Republicans don’t fight back to stop further Russian meddling in another election,
America will become an oligopoly like Russia, China and a number of other wannabes.
30
@JJ Lyons Agree. It's time Democrats realize that republicans don't play fair and have no moral scruples whatsoever. The gop cheated both Gore and Clinton out of presidencies. Time to treat the gop like the bullies, liars, and cheats that they are. And yes, until some of the gop senators and reps stand up for democracy, I'm lumping them all into cult 45. We have to be tough on them.
All my family from decades back had a Catholic upbringing. To us, being Catholic has nothing to do with Barr's behavior, it's his being no different than Trump. Barr is a "bully". It's his way or else, and he is using the law and his position to bend it as need be to satisfy his ego. And what he perceives to be truth overrides all else.
Barr doesn't yell and scream like Trump, his education and life as a lawyer have taught him to channel his will on others through the legal process. But he isn't any different than Trump, just another suit.
When this nightmare is over, I just hope the next Democratic Attorney General can put the Office back to where it's rightful place is. Working for the "People" and protecting our Constitution.
37
@cherrylog754 Agree and he tries to use his religion to cloak his bullying.
What baffles me is why all this didn’t come out before his confirmation as AG. Yes, the Senate would have probably still confirmed him, but at least the Republicans complicity in the destruction of our checks-and-balances democracy would have been clearer. And to think that Republicans once railed incessantly about President Obama’s abuse of executive power.
33
We have come to a critical juncture in our 240 year democratic experiment. We can continue on the path of liberal democracy that has slowly evolved dragging conservatives crying, whinnying and rebelling(the Confederacy), granting equal rights to most of but not all (women, gays, transgender etc.)...or we can turn to authoritarianism where almost all the power resides in the executive, king, monarch dictator etc.....unitary executive(Dick Cheney and Billy Barr view of governance). It’s up to us folks, do we want a king or three separate branches of government that served as checks and balances on the other? Pay attention people this is your country.
21
Thank you for this column. It clarifies Barr’s motivation for getting involved with Trump.
The overwhelming and obvious hypocrisy of religious zealots never ceases to amaze me. Where is Barr’s disdain for “moral relativism” when he lies about crimes committed, likely participated in crime, and denounces the very agencies he’s tasked with defending? Apparently, these transgressions are okay if they help him shape the world as he sees fit.
Yet, to quote Rick Wilson, everything Trump touches dies. Barr has already been implicated. It is just a matter of time.
17
Thanks for ruining my Sunday, it is even worse than I thought.
15
Yeow: scathing and probably 100 percent correct.
I had no clue Barr was such a bear, a royalist, a do-whatever-it-takes-to-win type of guy. Not a pretty picture, not a pretty picture at all.
Where and how does America breed such personalities? Nixon, Agnew, Buchanan, Cheney, Gingrich, Thurmond, Lindsey, Jordan, Gohmert, Gaetz, et al.
Can anything stop the flow of such people rising to power? Where is their objectivity, decency, sense of fairness, compassion, education, and real patriotism?
No wonder we can't govern ourselves. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Nonetheless, we are all human. Therefore, should we love and respect these men despite their obvious faults and egregious flaws?
Hard to do: We're limited, too. When we perceive wrongdoing, we seem naturally to despise it and the people involved. It gets personal real fast. And when a man sees red, he doesn't see many other colors.
Are they the problem? Well, their behavior certainly is. Nevertheless, should we non-Christians, their political opponents, love the sinner and hate the sin? We could out of a sense of human fraternity, which is currently on back-order, though, on America's political battlefronts.
We, both sides, have successfully and thoroughly demonized the Other, and my comments here reflect and encourage, perhaps, that way of doing business.
In short, we have serious problems and no serious solutions to inherent conflict. Many people just don't get along, and can't. So now what?
9
@Jim Muncy Maybe not hate the sin but love the sinner. Maybe just not hate the sinner. People like Trump and Barr are not redeemable - as someone else pointed out, not changing your concepts in more than 25 years shows a certain stagnation in your thought - so there’s not much point in loving them. But not hating them is important to keeping your own moral compass pointed in the right direction.
1
Our government is not - nor shall it be, a theocracy. In acting as Trump's legal hitman, Barr should be stripped of his office and his practice of law disbarred.
14
What's in it for Barr? Most obviously, a Supreme Court appointment from Trump if/when a vacancy arises.
9
Whatever happened to the separation of church and state??? You can bet that Barr's defense of the imperial presidency would vanish as soon he was asked to serve a president whose policies did not advance his extreme religious views.
9
Bill Barr was pretty much himself when he came our for one interview in a hunting jacket looking like he was ready to go on a safari.
I think he is enjoying his days in the spotlight.
5
Barr engineered the pardons of the Iran-Contra criminals 30 years ago and that tells one all they need to know about his lack of morality or commitment to the law.
12
'That is where the shredding of our norms and our institutions is occurring', says the guy who is shredding norms and institutions.
Reading this very interesting opinion I feel/think it is without doubt that this Barr person is using the fact that a very weak and not remotely intelligent person is occupying the White House to advance his own dispicable agenda. Enforcing a backward right-wing religious world-view upon everybody and everything.
I guess it's time for the bar association to disbar Barr from the bar.
9
We've never had to cope with a rogue attorney general, a AG who is willing to out and out lie for the good of his boss man, the president. Some where, however, there is proof that this nasty guy has broken the law pure and simple in his efforts to make Trump king. When that happens Trump will be left naked and the flood gates will open.
12
As I am about to lose another home to wildfire I sit in this airport hotel reading about Bill Barr on my telephone and two things come to mind: 1) is there anyone at the top of the DoJ representing US citizens during this battle of entrenched interests? and; 2) Where are the pro-Trump commenters on this story? Do they like to sleep late?
10
@Robert X. Cringely:
1) Unfortuntely, no. Barr has no doubt sworn an oath to the Constitution investing the pwoer in "We, the People", but he seems to have forgotten it;
2) The pro-Trumpers are probably reveling in Trump's speech on tv about killing the ISIS leader (which remains to be seen if it was indeed him, he was supposed to have been killed a few times before, so I'd hold off on declaring him dead until I was absolutely sure...).
1
Mr. Barr is giving his all to Donald Trump because at his core he is a toady, a sellout, a man who needs to re-read his job description...if he ever read it. I'm sure he and Trump had this all figured out before he was confirmed. That sniveling, self deprecating, performance for the rubes really worked.
I have only one question for Trump's #1 sycophant...will you sell-out to save your own skin? The truth is headed your way.
12
"Who Is Bill Barr?"
Trump's next appointment to the Supreme Court.
Notwithstanding his age, it's inevitable.
7
Mr. Barr has always been a great patriot. There was 1970, for example, when he dodged the draft. And the establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment? Who cares when you are as righteous as Barr and Trump.
10
It is no surprise that Trump surrounds himself with sycophants
who blindly do his bidding. Those who won't are not around long. It is extremely difficult to reconcile Barr's Catholicism with his unyielding support of a morally and ethically moronic Trump. Perhaps those seemingly educated, intelligent pawns on the Trump chessboard, are sacrificing honor and integrity for the long term success; conservative judicial appointments, tax gifts to the wealthy, et.al. My guess is that Trump, along with all his enablers, will have a lot of explaining to do when they meet St. Peter.
4
Barr will be the guy who stands in front of the White House sometime between next November's election and voting by the electoral college to announce a state of emergency due to election irregularities, indefinitely suspending the counting of those votes and the inauguration of a (new) president. Impossible you say ? Ridiculous ? Absurd ? Not in my opinion. Absolutely nothing is beneath this crowd. They will sacrifice our republic on the alter of fake religiosity and greed in a heartbeat.
12
William Barr is an affront to Catholicism and the embodiment of the aphorism " Admire the faith but beware of the faithful."
7
Barr is an phoney moralist who piously rails against "secular relativism" while supporting Trump's ungodly will to power. Barr's God isn't the God of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Barr's God is power itself, ruthlessly pursued and corruptly engineered with only one goal in mind, to increase and overwhelm everyone and everything in it's path. "Moral absolutists" like Barr are too convinced of their own infallibility to ever question the wisdom of their ways. The danger they pose is a direct consequence of the certainty of their convictions. The dangers of "secular relativism" are moral confusion and vacillating values. The dangers of "moral absolutism" are conceit and an arrogant certitude that is in no way justified.
11
Michael Cohen comes to mind. Trump's touch pulls everyone into his unprincipled, amoral world of self-centered corruption. And those who choose to enter Trump World are responsible as well.
5
Mr. Barr, in the long run, is a mere bone spur in the United States democracy experiment. He has decided that his legacy is to be Trump's lap dog, which is a most cowardly position suitable for characters like Grisham and Conway.
(BTW, are we taxpayers actually paying Stephanie Grisham??)
Like Trump's previous bone spurs, Barr will disappear because his lack of courage will command no attention. Let Barr do one act of integrity, and see how long Trump keeps him.
9
No one should have been surprised by barr's actions. He has always had these positions but no one took it seriously. He's involved with extremist organization like Opus Dei.
10
Scuttling around Europe to do the President's dirty work, setting uip a criminal investigation of his own department, Barr has surrendered whatever integrity he might have once possessed. His loyalty to Trump is a measure of his corruption as well as his contempt for his oath of office. One might ask what motivates such outlandish behavior. Is this another quid pro quo? Could it be that Mr. Trump has promised a seat on the Supreme Court as the reward for Barr's willingness to abase himself?
9
Welcome to the New America, where all that matters is money and power.
9
What’s the betting that Barr has been promised a seat on the supreme court, if Ruth Bader Ginsburg doesn’t make it to the end of 2020? How else can you explain his kowtowing to Trump?
9
It would seem that both conservative Catholics and evangelicals represent a clear and present threat to the US constitution. Welcome to the new Dark Ages.
10
@Dave From Auckland
The underlying theme, beyond a rigid moral system, is comfort with authoritarianism and fear of change, which becomes fear of others and of having to make choices. Both religious groups have this in their DNA.
NOT all Catholics or all Evangelicals, but a certain rigidly right wing core.
When I read that his father was forced out h of his headmaster position because he was too authoritarian, I knew what home was like. And That his choice was in obeying the master or total rebellion and "excommunication." He's still obeying the master, and it isn't the people. He has in fact assumed the role of the "master" compelled to bend other people to his rules.
2
John Newton Mitchell was Richard Milhouse Nixon's Attorney General. Mitchell was convicted in 1977 of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with the Watergate break in and cover up.
William Pelham Barr is the president's current Attorney General.
5
Who is Bill Barr? The attorney who is working for Trump not the United States. Barr is the criminal AG who will occupy the federal prison cell warmed up by John Mitchell -- another AG who served as the attorney for a criminal president instead of as the AG of the US.
7
Barr's behavior has been appalling. His legacy will live in infamy, along with that of his king.
9
As an enabler William Barr has proved to be highly effective. He was appointed just in time to profoundly influence the nation's reaction to the Mueller Report and he has been able to limit the damage it inflicted on the Trump.
Without his constant support Trump would almost certainly have been in more trouble earlier. But ultimately even Barr will not be able to stop the the cracking of the dam, and when it collapses it will take him with it, the man who riled against moral relativism but went to work for the man who embodies it.
11
He's so very dangerous. Between him and Pompeo, hard to say who's worse.
He reminds me a bit of (Acting?) AG Gonzalez, who when John Ashcroft was extremely ill (Ashcroft, also NOT a gem), and hospitalized, Gonzalez rushed over in the dead of night to force a critical signature from him -- he was in no condition to reason -- to get met there and overruled by Robt. Mueller.
Ah, the 'Bushies 43,' from GW all the way down ... totally awful also.
AG seems to be a job just rife and ready for pillage, no matter the party -- I'm also no fan of Bobby Kennedy in the role, and utterly loathe Eric Holder.
But Bill Barr. He's well on his way to achieving a high, high spot ad lasting top ranking in the League of Shame of modern-day AGs.
Roy Cohn would be so proud.
3
it's not clear when Barr's father cnverted from Judaism to Catholicism or what effect this had on the parent and the son. It's sad that Barr seems to exemplfy the spirit of neither religion nor of any faith at all.
6
Bill Bar should recuse himself as the NYC Bar has demanded.
When he refuses to recuse, or takes false charges, New York should take the next step and disbar the dishonorable Mr. Barr--and Congress should impeach him.
There's abundant reason: He's demonstrated that he is a danger to our Republic by lying about the Mueller report. He's abusing his office by using taxpayer money to find support for risible conspiracy theories--and threating the liberty of faithful American civil servants like McCabe and Comey, whose indictments are now a distinct possibility..
Most importantly, the highest law enforcer in the land must respect the value of our country and follow our Constitution, not the tenets of Opus Dei
10
At his stage in the game, there's probably not much doubt about who William Barr is, and it has nothing to do with protecting this country or the U.S. Constitution.
In fact, there was never a chance that as Attorney General he would be anything other than a loyal appendage to a president who demands absolute fealty to his person, and nothing more.
At least in that regard Mr. Barr has not disappointed.
But as this country's principal legal officer, who is supposed to represent this country and give legal advice to this government, he has seriously fallen short...and more than once.
But then again.
The same thing can be said about Donald Trump.
356
@N. Smith
Do the recent negative statements and media coverage regarding Barr serve as a hedge for the Democrats against the potential findings of the Justice Department’s investigation?
I would rather just wait to see the results and conclusions, whatever they may be, and form my opinions at that time. We should be looking for answers about the unusual 2016 election rather than 'framing' the pending reviews.
4
@N. Smith
But..Mr. Barr does indeed know where the lines are drawn legally. When details of the July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine were exposed for all the world to see and his name was referenced, Barr's office was the first out of the gate disavowing all knowledge of any arrangement. He knows how bad that looks. The article itself states that Barr was angry when he heard that Trump had mentioned his name. This tells me that Barr has a keen sense of how far he can push presidential executive power, and knows when he might need to bail out of the flaming plane that is the Trump White House. He may be defending Trump now but indefinitely? That is the question.
17
@AW
I don't know about you, but I'm just looking at the FACTS -- something this president seems to have little regard for, given his constant need to lie about almost everything.
And what's happening now isn't a Democrat or Republican thing.
It's something that should concern ALL Americans.
You don't need to "frame" the truth -- it speaks for itself!
35
Barr is a clear and present danger to the Constitution and the efficacy of democratic institutions!
The only thing that can keep this country from sinking into an autocracy (or plutocracy) is the House democrats.
The clock is ticking. It does not matter whether the Senate convicts. What matters is that the Democrats successfully educate and inform the American people that Republicans are trying to subvert the rule of law, undermine the Constitution and execute a political coup. This cannot wait until November 2020 and leave it to voters to decide because it is increasingly looking like Trump, Barr and Republicans will invalidate the election results.
Everything Republicans are doing now is crafted to taint and discredit the Democrats Constitutional right to perform oversight. The facts and evidence are not on their side so they are objecting based on process.
With the complicity of the Justice Department and the Supreme Court, they may prevail. As many others have cited, this is how authoritarian regimes gain control and take over the government.
12
What is not mentioned in this article is that Barr strongly supported the special counsel investigation of President Bill Clinton and opposed Clinton's criticism of it. Additionally, there is no evidence that he expressed support for any right of President Barack Obama to do whatever he wanted. It appears that Barr is an autocrat who wants things his own way, and he sees Trump as a useful vessel for accomplishing that.
30
When history writes its final book on this Presidency, two actors will be under the spotlight. The first, of course, will be the President. But the American people, presumably, knew who they were electing. Nothing this President has done is inconsistent with his behavior before assuming office. The second will be Bill Barr. Mr. Barr, and the President's, other enablers --- Lindsay Graham, Kelly Ann Conway, Mitch McConnell, the list goes on -- are the real villains. Are they acting out of principle, lust for proximity to power or just seething anger at the opposition? I suspect its a mix that varies in each case. In any event, history will not look at them kindly. They've lost all perspective and sadly a fundamental sense of decency. And in so doing are weakening the institutions of the United States in a way that is making the Republic unrecognizable.
26
Some of my friends label themselves as "recovering" or "fallen away" catholics. They're not talking about a return to the church. Rather, they're referencing the years of re-assembly needed to removed the blindfold of ritual enslavement to a rigid and self-destructive ideology.
The beginning of their schism was typically the day they realized the pope is really not infallible as touted by catholic liturgy. He's just an ordinary guy (always a guy) elevated way above his pay grade by dark forces of totalitarianism. The absolutism of church-taught rote (and magical) thinking attracts judicial candidates and prosecutors like sugar to ants. Scalia was one example;there are many others. JFK's presidential candidacy was viewed askance by suspicious protestants and jews. Today It's politically correct to claim no catholic influence but there remains significant work to remove official adoption and influence of catholic dogma (see Comey, Bolton, Kavanaugh, Thomas, et al, and now William Barr). Trump allegedly is not catholic but he likes that they only have one pope at a time (for life). Barr fits the mold.
16
Bazelon points to the latest battle in the over 500-year war of Christianity vs. human self-determination. The foundations of our Constitution are Enlightenment values – the rule of law, natural rights, freedom of thought – that directly contradict the king-like, strongly-unitary presidency Barr prefers. It’s no coincidence that this vision of limited democracy and Catholicism, the most authoritarian branch of the Christian faith, coexist in the minds of people like Barr and the recently elevated Kavanaugh.
Catholic leaders know that there is no stronger lever to reverse the global decline of Christian authority than to control the United States government. This demands a Christian president, a strong executive and a Supreme Court committed to defending it. The Constitution is of secondary importance to this objective.
13
@Norwester
It’s worth adding that the oath of office every federal employee takes directly contradicts Barr’s claim that the president “alone is the executive branch.”
Members of the government “…solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”
This is their primary obligation. It supersedes any loyalty to a person or office, including obeying a president who fails to honor his oath, which contains the same words. The fat that people have died for this country after taking this oath should give members of the Executive Branch strength in opposing executive overreach.
1
Barr and his ilk are excellent examples of the adage: Don't believe everything you think." And, as well, "that being well trained is not the same as being well educated." Perhaps Barr is a fan of Ayn Rand's Objectivism that fails to realize that concepts are valuable tools whose roots are in the human experience, not in the determining of human experience.
5
Gregory Bateson said that the road to hell is also paved with bad intentions, though well intentioned people find this hard to believe. Said more formally, the motivations that organize behavior at the tails of the distribution are qualitatively different from what motivates the rest of us.
I think it's time to give credence to the possibility that Barr sought to be Attorney General, not so much for reasonable reasons like that he's aligned with or wants to advance Trump; but because, as an institutionalist, he wants to protect the GOP from the torrent of "dirty pictures"--financial, criminal, foreign influence, normal sexual, Epstein sexual--recent pictures and those long predating Trump, that will be uncovered collateral to investigations of Trump and how the GOP has become entangled with him.
Look at how many formerly proud, principled-seeming members of the GOP are now willing to debase themselves, toadying to Trump. It goes all beyond flip-flopping on a policy to avoid being primaried from the right. What are so many in the GOP so afraid of? Whatever that is, that's what I'm guessing Bill Barr is protecting the GOP from...
10
I long for the goodness old days when I didn’t care about the AG because he was a non-partisan beacon of fairness working on behalf of all citizens. Is Trump a better President than Barr is an AG? I think he might be.
10
In wondering why an intelligent professional of Mr. Barr's caliber (who had already been an Attorney General) would want to work for such a mercurial boss like Donald Trump I wondered if it had anything to do with his former position on the board of Time Warner and his receipt of ~ $ 1.3 million while the DOJ was still participating in an appeal against the antitrust suit overturned in June 2018. Two weeks after being sworn in as Attorney General the DOJ lost the appeal and decided not to pursue the matter any further. Since no injunction had been involved it is unlikely any disbursements would have been affected...(?)
As far as legal-political assistance to Mr. Trump, it is true that he spun the Mueller report but released the majority of it though under no obligation to do so. Recently the DOJ cut Rudy Giuliani's business off at the knees by stating on October 20, 2019 that as long as Mr. Giuliani's associates were under indictment by the Southern District of NY, Rudy could not meet with Justice on behalf of clients.
Mr. Barr's world travels to supposedly undo the Mueller report have been outflanked by Speaker Pelosi who is not using the report as part of the Impeachment investigation; and DOJ's lead prosecutor John Durham is not considered to be a partisan hatchet-man. In short I think Mr. Barr's motives are closely held and quite obscure.
4
Barr seems like a very bright, talented, and well-meaning guy. As far as his “faith” goes: In Christianity there is only one faith, the Christian Faith. His being Roman Catholic is one of many approaches to being Christian, but it’s not exclusively the Faith. As far as Barr’s urgent concern for morality: The country needs some of that from his view, but only in the mix and for the tensions from that that lead to compromise, synthesis, and a reasonable for all. But then, Barr winds up with Trump, and all of what he has to offer possibly in some form as part of something, “goes south.” As bright as Barr is, he’s become enslaved to Trump in the Trump orbit ... doing the bidding, whether liking it or not, for his master in a new faith.
3
As with Trump in my lifetime he is the worst, most partisan, most biased, prejudiced Attorney General we have had. Kelly was right about how bad this partisanship is for the nation (who cares about Trump). But I do not agree with his assessment that Trump should not have these people in his White House, actually the more of these low level (the way they function) people, the more likely it is that we will get rid of Trump and people will begin to expect more of politicians, perhaps even change the electoral system so that contributions to a candidate are not the millions that they are now so all these people do not curry favour & lead to this kind of despicable self-serving behavior. Now with Mnuchin helping Michael Milken we have the icing on the cake. Partisanship of sitting officials is not bad for Trump, it is bad for the nation. And if one looks to corporate behavior for confirmation Boeing is the main example at the moment, the one in the news at least, showing that legislation crafted by companies can as Kelly warned "lead to impeachment (ruin in Boeings case).
9
Actions should have consequences. When this horrible time is over the Atty. Gen.'s action should be carefully scrutinized. If he is done anything against the law he should be imprisoned. It won't be the first time in Atty. Gen. has broken the law to aid the president who appointed him. Unfortunately, it won't be the last. But we should make sure that their actions have consequences for the actors. That is the only way that we can try to inhibit those bad actions.
19
@Stuart Phillips I'm mindful that John Mitchell did 19 months for his efforts on behalf of another thoroughly corrupt executive. And I'm hoping Mr. Barr will be similarly honored.
11
Great reporting. This is all about power, certainly not patriotism. Of course, the ultraconservative groups, Catholic and otherwise, fit right in. The hypocrisy is so blatant but Trump's win gave them all the ladder to the success they longed and fought for.
The Republicans in Congress and Trump supporters deserve to lose big and the only way to fight for the preservation of our country's reputation and true passion for all its citizens is to vote them out in 2020. Otherwise there is no hope.
21
@B. Moschner Agree and everyone who sees the “irregularities” in Barr’s tenure and ideology should campaign to oust this gang of criminals. We are better than this as a people and we must fight this aberration in the current administration. Continue speaking out!
3
We are stuck with Barr because Congressional Democrats did not fight hard enough to enlighten Americans. We knew he was a dangerous pick for Attorney General. If you watch the hearings, you will be reminded how weak and ineffective Democrats were at discrediting Barr. When someone is this bad a pick, for this important a position, you need to be screaming from the rooftops.
13
@Tom
We are stuck with Barr because "enlightened" Americans voted for Trump. What did you think would happen? Nothing that Trump does or says or appoints can be trusted as good for the USA. Congressional Democrats don't need to enlighten me to that.
2
In Gail Collins' recent informal survey of worst Cabinet member, readers listed this attorney general as leader of the pack, bar none. What we don't know yet if this prominence extends beyod the current president and into the American past. How far?
9
Tired of hearing endorsements from former colleagues from "across the aisle"?
Comey, Barr, Giuliani, even Mueller, and now Durham?
Most generous possible construction: system become so corrupted from top to bottom in less than three years that even supposed bystanders and neutrals have become fellow travelers.
More likely worst possible construction: professionals fold under pressure, welcome bribes, and are tribally loyal, professionalism pretermitting the courage--even the foolhardiness--required now.
5
It takes an awful lot to make Richard Nixon’s late Attorney General, John Mitchell, look good.
William Barr has managed to do it, awfully, and well.
20
@Quoth The Raven
I also thought of the comparison of him and corrupt John Mitchell. They both were enablers for corrupt men doing great damage.
1
The Constitution is supposed to give us freedom from religious persecution, a balance of powers, and a system of laws. Barr is more conservative than the Pope. He champions a man that would banned from any church. The unhealthy and repressive doctrines against women have regained a foothold with the arrival of Trump. The woman’s place as a breeder, an object of sexual favors, cheerleaders of Trump’s greatness, relegated to the wall in Trump’s White House. I remember when people were concerned about electing a Catholic president. Now we have a country controlled by Catholics.
15
@Barbara Thanks! You said it better than I could have. I also well remember the hysteria about electing a Catholic president. And, as you have pointed out, look where we are today....
4
All we need to know about Barr is that he is willing to sell his soul to a dictator wannabe, so that his vision of a "moral" America and executive power can be consolidated. I certainly hope this ends badly for him; i.e., with impeachment or being disbarred, but I am not hopeful of that these days. I put absolutely nothing past Trump, Barr and the other sycophants as the impeachment snare continues to to encircle Trump, getting closer and tighter each day.
15
AG Barr decries the loss of morality, yet one could argue that regularly lying to the American people and supporting a president who commits impeachable offenses, such as bribing the head of a foreign government to create dirt on a political opponent by withholding US aid approved by Congress, are immoral actions. His hypocrisy is on full display as he claims to be a religious person but shows by his actions on behalf of a corrupt president that he is not moral himself. Mr. Barr wants the US government and the federal courts to mandate his beliefs about religion and morality for all people. That’s called a theocracy, and the founders of our country specifically avoided such a government. Barr is an anti-Constitutionalist trying his best to overturn democracy and establish a dictator as president.
21
@BG Agree! Keep speaking out. Your message is important!
1
Mr. Barr’s speech at Notre Dame says it all. Anything is justified to subdue rampant secularism and “restore” his particular religious interpretation of national morality. Ironically, by supporting an amoral man who lies, is self aggrandizing and disparages the weak, the poor and those who look differently, he is single handedly pursuing the most anti-religious strategy possible. Young people watching this hypocrisy will move even further from the very organized religion that Mr. Barr purports to support.
16
Whitewater was about Clinton's personal finances before he was president.
It went on for 4-1/2 years and $100 Million in today's dollars.
I'd go for that for Trump.
And of course they had closed door hearings just like the 6 different Benghazi investigations.
Republican hypocrisy is amazing.
And they get away with it.
27
Barr has desecrated our "traditional morality," which is the constitution, and truth in its service. He and Rudy are apparently vying to be Consigliere to The Donald, gangster president, but maybe they can both serve as co-consigliere in their respective spheres. Opus Aequitas.
And excellent piece by Emily Bazilon, one of the best writers on American law out there, hope she's a regular.
12
Supporting Trump goes well beyond upholding executive power. It is lending support to a criminal enterprise.
15
That AG Barr is a member of Opus Dei and intimately connected to the Center for National Policy and Leonard Leo should frighten all Americans that value individual liberties and explicit separation of Church and State as defined in the Constitution. These groups fully endorse the concept of a Roman Catholic theocracy for America and have the money and power to move policy and law in that direction. The fact that Trump is an amoral vulgarian is only a minor and temporary inconvenience with Mike Pence waiting in the on-deck circle.
22
@Concerned MD So right. Problem I see is that most (average) Americans have no earthly idea who/what Opus Dei is, nor have they ever heard of Leonard Leo and his ideas. Interesting, isn't it, that the very segment of American society that was so horrified and terrified at the thought of a Catholic president and being made subservient to "the Pope" now supports and cheers the most radical element of that Christian church?
2
Aggressively crashing the constitution and rule of law with fiercely Talmudic-like interpretations to expiate the treasonous from treason and turn it into legal and legitimate is nothing short of criminal. Is AG Barr a crypto Putinist as well? There’s a nefarious undercurrent among Trump’s supporters that we don’t understand yet. We know, because we can see Trump’s crimes, that’s he’s clearly guilty and working against the interests of the country for profit, but why are Lindsey Graham and Barr so supportive of what is, but any definition, amoral? Are they being blackmailed? In the age of social media and hacking, anything is possible. This isn’t a left vs. right drama.
11
One a corrupt president has an Attorney General willing to subvert the law and stack the courts with loyalists, real democracy cannot survive. It may not be too late yet to reverse the damage if Trump is kicked out of office soon, but it is close. How a man who testified to the Senate about the honor of the Justice Department could so debase himself and the institutions of the country is astounding. This article shows how incredibly dangerous right wing religious fervor is to a free and fair democracy.
Oh and on his rabid Catholicism, Barr should consider listening to his pope, who promotes social justice and humane treatment of the downtrodden. As corrupt at the Catholic Church is, it has moved on somewhat from the 19th century thinking espoused by Barr.
14
Barr, zealous Grand Inquisitor, with allegiance to Rome over his country and office, needs to be removed as AG and lose his law license.
Zealous ultra conservatives often have a deep need to hurt, even torture others, another reason for the separation of church and state. Sick and frightening and in the end no one is safe.
Meanwhile in Boston, another prelate of the church is removed in the sexual abuse scandal.
11
@poslug au contraire! If only his allegiance WERE to Rome! instead, it is to the imperial president and our country could not be in greater danger.
1
Perhaps the most corrupt of all the current officials, Barr sets the bar low. I use him in class as the embodiment of self-serving abuse of power in a system of checks and balances. No one in American history shows how corruption and hypocrisy and straight out lies can pervert our system better than Barr. Others have been louder or even more directly financed, but he and the people who work for him will long serve as symbols of how even amazing systems can fall to the truly evil.
15
As a reader of the brilliant Catholic philosopher Roger Scruton, I can certainly respect the views of a man concerned about the decline of objective standards of value. As a reader of Pope Francis and Karl Barth, I am inspired by their reminders of the sublime nature of objectivity as a guide to civilized life. But William Barr, for reasons known only to himself, has snatched those jewel like ideals and utterly defiled them in his sickening, totally degenerate conflation of personal ego and megalomania. What a sickening, grotesque monster! And what right does he have to hijack the most perfect nation on earth to his foul purpose? When the tragedy of the Trump era is written, it is perhaps Barr who will become the most memorable embodiment of evil, for perhaps at one time he had the seeds of greatness, whereas Trump can never have fallen, for he has always been feeding on the bottom.
13
Papal Infallibility and Art II of the US Constitution, apparently, are one and the same in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Barr.
Pope Francis must be the fly in the ointment for Barr, member of Opus Dei, which is on record as deeply antagonistic to Francis.
Are we sure that Barr was in Italy, on the dime of the US taxpayer, only to chase down undermining our own US DOJ with "investigating" Trump's moronic conspiracy theories? Perhaps he was also there plotting against Pope Francis.
Let's see, how many "guardrails" have we needed so far to protect us from Trump? We can only hope Mr. Durham is yet another "guardrail" to prevent, say, Barr wanting to issue criminal charges against President Obama; an event that is, given the abusive wielding of power by Barr, not too far-fetched to contemplate.
Oh, and that $30,000 Holiday Party Barr has booked for the Trump Hotel in December? I'm sure they'll pass the hat among the tuxedoed and be-gowned guests, and, as Jesus teachings urge us to do, donate it to local organizations that serve and help the homeless, voiceless and powerless.
12
William Barr is a serious threat to our democracy.
Barr is corrupt and is abusing the powers of the Justice Department to investigate and silence Trump's critics and to insulate Trump's conduct from scrutiny or penalty.
These are dangerous times for America.
18
Barr wasn't tainted by Trump. When he reported for work at the Dept. of Justice, he was already as accomplished a liar as his new boss. The two actually have even more in common--they're both "confidence tricksters," as they used to say. I suspect Congress would be looking into impeaching Barr if it weren't preoccupied with the president. He certainly warrants it.
13
AG William Barr has forever diminished the Dept of Justice. He's been an embarrassment to the rule of law, and unfortunately he's still not done. With some minor exceptions, the legal world has not expressed its outrage or even much displeasure with his actions. It's not too late, but they better step up soon. A criminal president, aided by a criminal AG, can destroy our country.
11
All the evidence I have seen suggests Barr is a fanatic, obsessed with right wing conspiracies and illusions of a society threatened by moral rot. The Congress should repay Barr’s investigation of the Trump Russia investigators by investigating Barr. There are laws he may be breaking in his fanatical defense of Trump, and if there are not, Congress ought to create them. If Barr broke laws, he ought to impeached or tried for his criminal acts. The Attorney General is not above the law.
14
The biggest threat to the Catholic Church is the church it self and its leadership- perhaps Mr. Barr should focus on that. If the Church needs to be a moral leader, then maybe allowing some married priests and reopening a few inner city parishes might do wonders for the people that need help.
7
We’re this not true it could easily be the basis for a B movie about the government being taken over by extraterrestrials. But we sit here watching as it unfolds, with Barr and his associates retooling the DOJ and doing their utmost to provide bogus substance to presidential conspiracy theories; validate Trump’s Delusions; and make thousands of lies “seem” true. This administration becomes more like Orwell’s “Ministry of Truth” with each passing day. All of them - along with their twisted logic and hypocrisy - need to go, the sooner the better.
10
Barr combines a lawyerly demeanor and method with a zealot's view of morality and politics. In Trump, he saw the perfect avatar through which to pursue his world view.
Trump is an undisciplined man in every aspect of his life--business, religion, relationships and politics. Yet Barr has nonetheless latched on to Trump, which is perhaps the biggest irony: Trump himself is the exemplar of moral relativism Barr claims to abhor.
6
It's a shame that we have as Chief Law Enforcement Officer a man who appears not to have read the very 1st amendment to our Constitution and is defying the hallowed concept to "freedom of religion" and "separation of church and state" to bring the autocratic white male patriarchy that is the Roman Catholic Church into government as the new "rule of Trump." His current inquisition of our national intelligence agencies is an equally misguided "witch hunt." His version of religious freedom is, as we see daily with Donald Trump, for others a lack of freedom whether its a Muslim ban or denying women control over their bodies by promoting Catholicism's stance against abortion. It's a regressive, almost medieval, concept of the divine right of kings as in Louis XIV famous quote, "L'etat c'est moi," I am the state. Of course, this represents the overthrow of our Constitution and amounts to treason.
11
I was critical of AG Barr's speech at Notre Dame Law School on Oct. 18. His purported purpose was to strongly endorse one of President Trump's banner causes, religious liberty. But in reviewing the speech and later watching it on YouTube, I concluded that he had a more pressing theme as a stalking horse for the president's ongoing impeachment and electoral campaigns. In my reading he intended also to set up a dire secularism as the bete noir President Trump would attack. His language was harsh, virtually alleging a conspiracy among secularists that has a destructive effect on the country. The following is the truth he should have explained. ... ++ ... In a thoughtful essay on the culture war, Michael Sean Winters quotes a book coauthored by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI: "Secular people are not a rigid block. They do not constitute a set denomination, or worse, an 'anti-denomination.' They are people who do not yet feel able to take the step of ecclesiastical faith with everything that such a step involves. Very often they are people who passionately seek the truth, who are pained by the lack of truth in humankind. Consequently they return to the essential contents of culture and faith, and through their commitment often make these contents even more luminous than an unquestioned faith, accepted more out of habit than out of the sufferings of the conscience." -- La Civilta' Cattolica
5
Bill Barr, it seems, is as pathologically megalomaniacal as the President. He will do anything, anything to retain power. And, he perversely enjoys wielding it. Once the President is gone, I predict, so too may Mr. Barr's law license.
13
In his Notre Dame speech last month Barr expressed his fears: “This is not decay. This is organized destruction. Secularists and their allies have marshaled all the forces of mass communication, popular culture, the entertainment industry, and academia in an unremitting assault on religion and traditional values.”
Are these the thoughts of a man not in touch with reality? Or have I failed to see this vast secularist cabal at work everywhere?
11
Barr and Kavanaugh believe in an imperial presidency where the President is immune from lawsuits, investigation and prosecution . They do not support thye Constitution. As such they are unqualified to hold public office.
12
For years I have believed that I could conduct all personal business without bowing to anyone’s religion and that no one is above the law. I will not surrender those life defining rights to the likes of Bill Barr and Donald Trump.
10
I’m surprised at the lack of depth in Barr’s thinking. There were never “...objective standards of right and wrong”. There was only fearful certainty and self-righteousness. Of course, the bigots who enforced homophobic laws, or miscegenation, or misogyny, convinced themselves they were acting under objective standards of right and wrong. But it was really only a moral facade hiding bigotry and fear. I am chagrined but not surprised when some Trump supporter with a high school education supports a return to homophobia in a call for restoring “religious freedom”. But when a man like Barr, whose education and experience should have prepared him to deal with the range of human experience and the nuances of constitutional law, is nothing more than knee-jerk reactionary, then I worry that our leaders are marching backwards in time.
9
"Either people in the president's circle are using Mr. Barr as a pawn, or he's in deeper than he has said". Or, is it the case that Mr. Barr is using the President, the Executive Office and the Administration as pawns in his agenda as an extremely zealous, "ultraconservative" Roman Catholic and affiliate of Opus Dei? (In this there are shades of Steve Bannon who was also fond of visiting Italy.) The danger of the zealot is that he believes (as Pat Robertson put it) that Trump has "a mandate from Heaven"!
6
“There are no objective standards of right and wrong,” - Bill Barr
YES there are objective standards of right and wrong! The bribery and extortion of Ukraine were and are WRONG!
Barr is jet-setting around the world so that he and and Trump can create a false narrative that the Russian investigations by Mueller should never have been started so therefore, Trump will have a thin veil to pardon Manafort, Flynn, Stone and absolve Putin so that Russian sanctions imposed because of their interference in the 2016 election, will be lifted.
Because Barr has no moral compass that tells him right from wrong, he twists his own (and Trump's) moral failures into a facade of normalcy for the Trump base.
Trump was right to equate Barr and Giuliani - they are both amoral. The only difference is that Barr has more self-control.
Barr is the most dangerous man in America and should be impeached, but the Republicans will never do that because they cherish his lack of morals.
9
Mulvaney said the president is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States. No, the attorney general has that title.
Barr's statement that the president incarnates the executive branch is no different than Louis XIV saying he incarnates the state.
Barr may be the most dangerous person in the administration. He is competent. He outwitted Special Counsel Mueller and vitiated the Mueller report. Barr is Trump's Roy Cohn and even stronger than Cohn could ever be, because Barr controls the Department of Justice.
3
“ . . . when he limited damage from the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by shaping the public narrative of the Mueller report before he released any of it.”
You mean when he lied about the contents of Mueller’s report. Apparently bearing false witness is not a sin.
3
I can't tell whether the act of standing by a president of 10,000 lies in the name of fighting moral relativism is supremely Machiavelian, or supremely clueless.
5
Mr. Barr decries moral relativism. From this, I infer that he favors moral absolutism, but Ms. Bazelon offers me no help in describing Mr. Barr's favorite moral absolutes. I would be happy to embrace a moral absolute if someone would just name one. Did GWU law school offer a course in the 3 or 13 moral absolutes? I get discouraged when I hear presumptively educated people decrying moral relativism. The early church fathers tempered thou shall not kill with the idea of a just war. This bit of moral relativism allowed us to fight Hitler, a relatively good thing from my point of view. Absent any moral absolutes, we have to do our moral best with the situation in front of us, even when that situation includes an AG who thinks the rules are only relative as they apply to Donald Trump and, of course, William Barr.
Mac Griffith
5
This country is engaged in another Civil War, not the shooting kind (yet), but a serious and potential fatal divide among its citizens led by the likes of people such as Bill Barr and Donald Trump.
Maybe we can learn from a quote from Abraham Lincoln - "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."
5
The real relativist here is Mr. Barr. In Mr. Barr we find no limits, no boundaries, and no morals except what is made up by capricious leaders. Mr. Barr makes secularists look moral in spades.
We live in an era where well read fools drown in their own thoughts, having lost any bearing or ethics. Mr. Barr is a man lost in the wilderness of his own thoughts. God save Mr. Barr and our country.
3
Barr and others who think like him, including the times columnist Bret Stephens, should take to heart the words of Pope Francis quoted in another article in today´s NYT: , “If everything continues as it was, if we spend our days content that ‘this is the way things have always been done,’ then the gift vanishes.” Here the gift being the human capacity for having an ethical basis for behaviour and at the same time for adapting and change.
3
@Michael
I might have added: Thank God that Barr´s father converted to Christianity! Imagine having another Jewish-raised person in Trump´s mafia, such as Mnuchin, M. Cohen and several more, who desecrate all that the Jewish tradition upholds re: respect and responsibility for the Other, honesty and much more. Of course these are not only "Jewish values", just as they are not just "Christian values" (pay attention to that, Mr. Kristoff!).
In the same context: Unfortunately the number of Jewish persons, those supporting the Republican party and those "establishment Democrats", who do not put social justice at the top of their priority list, has increased over the last years. Perhaps another factor for the "coming out" of antisemitism?
My how times have changed:
' In 2001, Mr. Barr praised the first President Bush for leaving the Justice Department alone. Mr. Bush’s White House “appreciated the independence of Justice,” Mr. Barr said. “We didn’t lose sight of the fact that there’s a difference between being a government lawyer and representing an individual in his personal capacity in a criminal case.” '
AG Barr and his representation of our criminal POTUS are a threat to our country and the rule of law.
Who will save us now?
6
The Bible had slavery.
The Bible had polygamy, for men.
They used to stone a woman to death for polygamy.
Funny they never stoned a man to death for polygamy.
And for our country we had slavery.
Women couldn't vote.
We had segregation.
Today, people are fighting for same sex equality.
Hate to break the news to Mr. Barr, but our values do change.
Thank God.
6
Much of what Barr and others were able to hide from public view in the past was before the age of the internet and the 24-hour news cycle. Between the honest people in our government and the robust free press all of Trump’s and Barr’s skullduggery will be uncovered and probably sooner rather than later. The main question I would ask AG Barr, apparently a self anointed morally upright person, is how do you so easily lie and distort facts and then go to church presenting yourself as a pious follower of God’s commandments? All I really needed to know about Barr was when he responded under oath to a question by Kamala Harris by implying that the word “suggest” was somehow unclear. At that point his dishonesty was in the open for all to see. If at some point in the future Barr decides to be honest with others and more importantly with himself he will admit that he rues the day he joined the Trump Administration. However, my money is on him never deciding to make such an admission.
4
from a 2006 Frank Cocozelli piece on Opus Dei "Escriva also taught his followers to put away their scruples (The Way, Nos. 258 and 259), seemingly teaching that the ends always justify the means. It must be remembered that Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas are Straussians who are at the least Opus Dei “cooperators. Perhaps maxims 258 and 259 might explain Scalia’s and Thomas’s ability to abandon both their states’ rights and strict constitutionalist constructionist principles in Bush vs. Gore. Clearly, much of what Escriva preached dovetails nicely with the neoconservative ideal of a society built upon religious orthodoxy." The end justifies the means for aspirational theocons? We are all children of God, but we're not all equal.
2
Barr is an extremely dangerous, and cunning, individual. In his interpretation of the US Constitution the wall between Church and State is almost nonexistent. He is another reason why this country cannot allow a 2nd Trump term. I could care less if Barr doesn’t care about his legacy or believes what he believes. He is an existential threat to our democracy.
9
If this idea of "imperial executive" is long-held by Mr Barr, why did he not speak up about President Obama's right to name a justice to the Supreme Court in 2016?
9
"Everyone writes their own rule book" Barr writes.
He just described the play book of the Trump administration: use the rule of law when they benefit you; defy, twist, break, corrupt and undermine laws when they don't.
They are the worst moral relativists of all, and Barr is their defending knight.
6
Whatever Mr. Barr's motives are to serve this president, I have difficulty seeing how it reconciles with his agenda of 'preserving morality'. Mr. Barr will know that the same person he serves was involved in more than 3,000 legal cases, before becoming a president, that were not inspired by the morality that Barr claims needs preservation. The very act of appropriating the justice sector for one's partisan (religious, political, financial etc.) objectives corrupts and/or undermines it. Mr. Barr is a scoundrel. The fear I have is that with Mr. Barr where he is, Mr. Trump may succeed in making the law work in his interest as he was able to do before the presidency.
5
Maybe Barr thinks of himself as President? Being able to outright tell a President, in the case of G.H.W. Bush, that he can legally invade another county is pretty heady stuff. He might better serve Trump by taking him to Mass every Sunday.
3
King George III would have loved Barr's views of presidential power. Great quote. Sums it up. Why is this clown still allowed to practice law, given that he refuses to recognize and remedy his conflicts of interest? Disbar him ABA.
6
Every time I read the news media is "the enemy of the American people," as quoted from Trump, I wince for today's journalism. The same goes for the Trump hate for "immigration". Closer inspections prove he did not say either. Illegal immigration is the problem, not "immigration" which Trump has trumpeted. It's the "fake news is the enemy of the people" quote that is now even more eschewed in favor of the "news" being the victim of this President's taunts. When you quit this word switching, I'll believe your writing. Until then all I see is the kind of propaganda that Barr and Trump are fighting.
My sense is Barr was recruited to perform the very actions he's taken as AG by the deep pockets who insist on keeping Trump in place to continue the deregulation, the tax cuts and the packing of the courts and extend the shelf life of corporate control of policy and law making. Trump is obviously an incompetent and Barr is there to provide legal cover. Now with Impeachment looming, the deep pockets are locking down the Senate votes to avoid removal of Trump from office. A govt. for the people, of the people and by the people? Not even close.
641
@deathless horsie
Sounds like the real non-theoretical"The Deep State" to me.
31
@sashakl
Exactly my thought: "deep pockets" = "deep state."
20
@deathless horsie Your revelation of Mr Barrs' 'game plan' is quite clear - and accurate IMO!
16
Barr's fealty to Trump is not surprising. After Sessions declined to shield Trump, he was certain to appoint someone who would.
12
How do you know if something is True or False? What about Right or Wrong? Innocent or Guilty?
In some cases, you just know. You don’t really need an authority to explain it to you. Other times, you just need more information to make that decision, and that’s where TRUST comes into play.
When it comes to LAW, it’s extremely difficult because in most cases, it’s the lawyers who come up with the laws. The way lawyers make their money and cases has to do with interpretation of the laws they created!
Defending or looking deeper into most of these acts is The Free Press. Their job is to attempt to come up with FACTS that the layman can understand without having to be an expert on anything!
But what happens when the so-called Leader of a country dismisses that same press as Fake News?
Now you have to go back to instinct.
You just know when something isn’t right!
So sad that the vast majority of Republicans and Trump Supporters haven’t learned that yet!
5
If this article is all true and I think it does, then my country is on the precipice of an all out takeover of the judiciary and our way of life. I have never been a supporter of the constitution as read in the past but I am inching (running?) in fear of these people who believe only their way of thinking coming to my home and arresting me. The 2nd amendment for me, must now be read in a new light. I will not go down without a fight for my belief in an inclusive America with room for all races, religions, non religious people and a democracy that is supported by all. These people must be stopped, so we must vote them out. Vote blue.
8
Noticing that Mr. Barr served in the Opus Dei movement, it seems OK to ask exactly how the values and methods of that organization line up with the values and methods of the Democracies that emerged in the Enlightenment.
The same exploration should be applied to the Federalist Society.
Do the names of these organization reveal or disguise their purposes and goals?
18
There is no point in highlighting the one-sided nature of this article and comments. The ad hominem attacks on AG Barr are the standard social media approach to anyone who disagrees with your viewpoint.
Foreign interference in our elections is not in dispute. So why is it so hard to acknowledge that part of that interference was the DNC and Clinton campaign paying a foreign agent to produce Russian allegations against a candidate?
I lived through Watergate, Iran Contra, etc. Our intelligence agencies have not earned, nor do they deserve our blind trust. I would like a full accounting of their conduct around the election and investigations. If they behaved appropriately I will be relieved, if they did not, action needs to be taken to protect our democracy from them, as well as Trump, Barr, or anyone else. The Church Commission revealed outrageous conduct by our intelligence agencies. Someone needs to watch the watchers.
3
@Earl North Because the DNC and Clinton campaign did not engage the foreign agent who produced the dossier , Conservative media owner, Paul Singer did. The Clinton campaign eventually purchased that completed and valuable work for peanuts.
4
This is definitely the most unnerving article I've read in the last week. How, how could a man of this mindset have risen to such an influential position in our government? The Trump disaster is far easier to explain, a sort of electoral one off, but this, Barr's rise to such power, is much harder to interpret. Unless I accept the conclusion that our system has , in fact, collapsed and we are in a sort of political free fall. I am, truly, worried. Too many outliers on the scattergram.
28
@James F Traynor there are hundreds of unelected individuals in positions of great influence in our government, and always have been. So all it takes for hundreds of ideologically driven bureaucrats to replace actual public servants is a single “one off” aberration like Trump. The explanation and lesson is clearly that irresponsible choices (votes) have consequences. To use a well-used metaphor: what would happen if your “rich” crazy uncle was chosen executor of the family estate by your dying angry white supremacist “conservative” parents?
3
@Lewis Caraganis
The bureaucracy is more inclined, because of its civil service nature, to appoint and reward those who are expert in the techniques, the 'science' of the position. It resents and resists political interference from the outside. The exception is the human penchant for 'office politics'.
You seem to trust elected officials to do the right thing than do I.
2
A 'Justice Department' that serves chiefly to protect a president, settle political scores and prosecute his opponents is the kind of grotesque abuse of power that used to have Republicans calling for regime change when practiced by foreign countries. The only difference between Trump and Mugabe is that Trump hasn't had his political opponents executed. Yet.
29
Many things stand out in this article but two in particular.
1: I did not read of Barr’s defense of Bill Clinton’s impeachment. One would think that if Barr was so principled he would have risen to Clinton’s defense
2: this quote
“Either way, maybe the lesson is the same one that applies throughout the administration: The fallout from the president’s maneuvering taints the people around him. The longer Mr. Barr stays in office, the more that Mr. Trump will look for the attorney general to do for him.”
I beg to differ. The president does not “ taint” the people around him. The president is like an evil Chance the Gardner from Being There, everyone sees in him an end to their corrupt designs. They are not tainted as much as they bring the stain of their corrupt desires to fruition through him.
40
@Philo A good example would be Stephen Miller.
4
Well said. The danger of this presidency does not come from Trump himself. He is too focused on his narcissistic self to be dangerous. It is the rise of individuals who capitalize on this deficiency and see their chance to use his platform for the advancement of their own fringe causes. It is the final gasp of a system that thrives on money and power, not the genuine will of the people it is meant to serve.
5
It should be obvious to everyone that if a Trump appointee’s employment lasts more than six months in this administration, that employee is no longer working on behalf of the United States government, but solely on behalf of Donald Trump. In this case, Mr. Barr easily morphed into Trump’s personal defender, assuming he already hadn’t been in that role before replacing Jeff Sessions. It would not surprise me if there were evidence that Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr discussed the preconditions of Barr’s employment before he became attorney general. That would be the ultimate in corruption and treason.
Those first six months are like an orientation or job training. If an appointee doesn’t drink the Trump Koolaide by then he or she will be replaced and slandered by Trump in the process.
49
Not knowing his ideology and background enough, it is hard to figure out his reasons for supporting Trump this much, even at the expense of his reputation and legacy. He sure comes across as the main protector of his boss with distortions of reality. Why? What price your legacy and reputation?
22
@Cemal Ekin
As Barr said, he does not care about his reputation. He stated he would be dead so who cares (paraphrased).
His arrogance may be worse than the man for whom he
works.
this is a crucial and enlightening article. my question is whether this information was available to the Senate during the confirmation hearings, and if not, where was the press and the democrats? Surely, this information needed to come out then.
43
Barr has been vying to overturn the Constitution for his whole life. The Constitution got rid of the king but Barr acts like a loyal minister, not Attorney General.
In mathematics, a radical sign is used to find the root of an equation. A radical is someone who looks for the roots of a problem, instead of trying to fix the symptoms.
The root of our problem is the struggle between Left and Right.
During the American revolution "conservatives" were loyal to the king, while the "liberals" wanted to to create equality by dividing power.
The Right is ant-originalist! The Right is against equality! The right believes in rule by force.
The left has taken a long journey through ancient shamans, classical philosophers, Enlightenment thinkers, and community organizers. The left is on a constant search for ways to use debate and voting so that everyone is politically equal.The Left marches against police violence and against war.
The Right keeps demanding wars and unbridled police powers inside government, and commit 70% of mass murders and 90% of hate crimes outside.
The Right understands the nature of this relationship, because (as clever as they often are) their basic understanding of the universe is grounded in strife and fear.
For the entire history of the Constitution, super majorities have been politically powerful enough to pass amendments to the Constitution to move it toward equality and freedom.
The Right is a violent corrupting minority.
OUTNUMBER THE RIGHT!
29
The curious thing about moral relativism is that it doesn't really exist. People judge one another's behavior all the time. Some of it they applaud. Some of it they condemn. A certain amount of it doesn't rise to the level of critique. Barring mental disorder, human beings are fundamentally moral. When people such as Barr use the term "moral relativism" what they're really saying is "my values are different than yours and I judge yours to be wrong". It's not that so-called moral relativists don't possess morality, or are even relativists, it's merely that they have different beliefs. Being pro-choice on abortion, for instance, doesn't make one a moral relativist. It means that the tortured determination to support a woman's right to choose what happens to her body and her life has greater moral weight than what happens to the unborn fetus. Nothing relative about that.
49
@g. harlan
Bravo. And similarly, I expect that the group searching for religious discrimination isn’t going to find it lurking against non- Christians.
1
@g. harlan
I suggest the moral relativism we should focus on is that of the individual; not as between persons with a differing views of right and wrong. In other words, our concern should be with those weak souls who compromise their morality to suit their circumstances. Like Barr.
2
Thank you for putting his actions in context. So once again we see how the goals of the conservative religious right, trump the Rule of Law and the Constitution. The moral absolutism of Conservative Christian values are to prevail, no matter what the cost to our Democracy. By supporting Trump's Executive power, he provides cover for the insurgent Holy War being waged against our government.
34
The fundamental basis of the American government, according to our Constitution, is that our democracy consists of three co-equal branches of government. What is it about this that William Barr does not understand? An Attorney General who seeks to elevate the executive over the legislative and judicial branches is a travesty, and should, must, be removed.
39
I'm always fascinated by the fact that the sons of brutal, authoritarian fathers grow up and repeat the same behaviors. Both Trump and Barr are the sons of such fathers, and they are taking out their unresolved issues on all of us.
108
@Bronwyn
I suppose the lay persons reading is, "hey, now it's my turn. And it worked on me so it will work on you".
But I suppose real psychologists and psychiatrists have better answers.
4
@Bronwyn to be fair, not all sons of such fathers grow up and repeat the cycle. Many turn and go the other way.
6
Barr's assertion that "secularists have weaponized the law" is hilarious. Every group has always used laws to control others and make society function according to their values. That's the purpose of laws and government. It's become popular to vilify opponents for "weaponizing" all kinds of things--words, religious dogma, tradition, the courts, art. etc--because that characterization makes the opponent sound scary, evil, vaguely violent. It's used as a slur. But Americans should remember that "weapons" also serve defensive purposes, for the protection, preservation and promotion of all we hold dear.
35
The moral relativism condemned by Barr is in reality the liberation of human beings from previous forms of oppression—in thought as well as deed. Whether it is the freedom to fall in love with the person who captures your heart or the ability to express your thoughts without reprisal by the government, such "relativism" recognizes inherent rights as citizens.
Yes, there are gray areas. Yes, we are seeking the truth and don’t yet have all the facts. But to reach for absolutist condemnation based on principles espoused by the powerful of the Middle Ages negates our path to learning and stops our halting growth towards wisdom.
Moral absolutism holds that some have all the wisdom and the right to put those ideas into action. Human suffering is the result. Today these manifest in the insecurity of a woman in her own body, the belief that the person driving while black is inherently suspicious, or the idea that money is speech.
The moral absolutist belief system espouses that only the few have wisdom. That always becomes the reason to benefit them over the many. It contributes the exaltation of the power of a king over his subjects.
We are not subjects. We are citizens.
84
@David Potenziani
Precisely. Nail on the head. Thank you.
3
The concept of morality, when manipulated as a code word for a particular belief system or agenda of one brand of faith, has been used consistently to persecute or subjugate others: Confederates who cited the Bible as justification for slavery, the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, persecution of Jews, and on and on. People like William Barr and Mike Pence, both raised by extreme authoritarians, are a danger to democracy and the rule of law. The Framers, who were deists, recognizes the dangers of a religiously-based state, something we are perilously close to forgetting.
57
I grew up in Washington DC and attended Catholic schools for 12 years. I left the Church as a young adult because I was never able to square the authoritarian discipline and 2nd class status of women (and the "sisters" who taught me) with what I was taught was the Word of God.
While the majority of Catholics I know are generous and welcoming people, Bill Barr (and Bret Kavanaugh) represent a significant sub-set of my Catholic peers who embody an arrogant, self righteous, and male entitled world view that was reinforced in a Catholic school education.
129
@Donna Kraydo
Don't forget that the "word of God" was written by a bunch of self-serving men.
2
Now I completely understand why there is less and less possibility of keeping a Separation of Church and State.
Our Constitution is under grave danger with Barr as the Attorney General and the Supreme Court under Roberts. Throw in the Republican Congress and our chances of a continuation as a Democracy is more in danger than ever.
85
The President will declare a national emergency and cancel the election/refuse to accept the results of the fake election/declare himself president for life or at least for another term. Let's have a contest to predict what (un)constitutional justification will emanate from the AG for life. I vote for a biblical one.
40
@John For two months I've believed some version of what you describe will happen if Trump loses. Who would enforce the election results? Not the Supreme Court. Not a GOP controlled Senate? Not a Democratic controlled House with no enforcement powers. And Trump would be controlling the Justice Department and Pentagon.
36
@Svante Aarhenius this is the most terrifying and most likely outcome. Of course, 45 was NOT democratically elected and doesn't even realize that. No way he leaves voluntarily.
As the article states, Barr is channeling George III and supports a monarchical presidency. I fear we will have to fight yet another Revolution to remove the usurper currently occupying the White House.
3
@Svante Aarhenius
The Pentagon is the real unknown. Will the so called citizens in uniform really be up to be loyal citizens or goons to a dictator, just because they were born, raised and bred to hate Liberals and Democrats? Prepare emigration papers if you can.
1
I'd like to recommend "Democracy In Chains" by Nancy MacLean, through which it's easy to see the history of the philosophy to which Bill Barr, The Federalist Society, The Cato Institute, and other individuals and groups of their ilk, adhere, and their powerful and well-funded anti-democratic trajectory.
45
@Michael Wilson Yes! MacLean’s book is meticulously researched, clearly written and sobering. You can find her presentations on YouTube as well. I recently attended a speech she gave at the U. of KY and then spoke at length with her afterward. She is trying to ring a fire bell. I hope we hear it.
23
@Demkey Please allow me to add my recommendation of Prof. McLean's book. She was ahead of the curve on this one. I first read the book almost two years ago, heard her at a local bookstore and was flummoxed at the depth and thoroughness. Like the proverbial prophet, she hasn't gotten nearly the recognition she deserves in her own back yard.
2
@Michael Wilson Thank you for this recommendation. I look forward...sort of..to reading Maclean's book.
1
NYT, thank you for this article. It appears Barr’s concept of morality includes protecting and advancing unethical, perhaps even criminal conduct and ignoring the Constitution to do so. After reading this and also hearing Leonard Leo’s recent interview where he described Trump as “terrifying”, it is apparent that a religious zealot with his own agenda and the power to advance it, is heading the Justice Department. God has nothing to do with it. We are headed toward The Inquisition.
71
@Rose I fear you are totally correct. The question is, what do we do about it?
15
@Rose The morality is purely through the filter of his conservative Catholic upbringing. He'll go to bat for piece of batguano if it serves the purpose of creating a more conservative society. I'm sure he watches The Handmaid's Tale with glee.
1
We are at an important intersection in American history. We have the choice to follow one of two paths. One road leads to despotism and the diminution of American values wherein supporters of the president, and the president himself, receive 'get out of jail free' cards based on a profound misinterpretation of executive privilege. The other path offers a beacon for the promise of democracy--a road that could rescue us from our descent into authoritarianism. Sadly, the road we follow is largely dependent on William Barr's decisions. Will he have the moral courage to usher us down an avenue that provides political salvation from the current madness, or will he choose to protect the chief executive for the sake of his biased political concerns? Based on his tenure as Attorney General, I am not hopeful.
32
@Glen I don’t think we can leave this up to Barr or Trump or Graham et al. Remember how the Vietnam War was ended? It took mass resistance in the streets. A national strike would do it and very well may be the only thing that would.
@Lewis Caraganis
Lewis, you are right.
Those who protect despots seldom fare well in the end. Alas, such people seem to read no history. Sooner or later all despots fall, and those who assisted them have no protection.
Mr Barr has a fine line to walk: he risks being sacked by the President for being insufficiently servile, and he risks prosecution by the FBI for preventing justice.
33
Ever since Barr appeared on the scene, I've been scratching my head trying to figure out "What's in it for him??" This column at least/at last shines a little light on what the possible motivation is.
BUT..."He’s the perfect attorney general for President Trump"? After reading this, I'm now thinking it might just as likely be the the other way around, and that "Trump's the perfect President for William Barr"
860
@MFC
Good point. What's in it for both of them is a pretty easy question to answer. Trump has Barr to protect him from the so called "co-equal" parts of our (dying) democracy. Barr has a green light to get his Religious/Catholic government free of the constraints spelled out in our (dying) Constitution.
90
@MFC What’s in it for Barr? A Supreme Court nomination.
57
@MFC
Excellent point, one that I had not considered. Given that the religious right would like to see the US become a christian nation (I cannot capitalize 'Christian' in this sense), perhaps, as the Russians, Turks, and North Koreans have found, Trump is the perfect tool to enact their plans.
With this in mind, it sounds rather like the US is slipping not toward your everyday autocracy, but toward an authoritarian, religious state.
51
It is noteworthy (as mentioned in the article) that young "Billy Barr" was raised by a father who was the headmaster at the elite Dalton School, but left because of criticism of his "authoritarion" policiies toward the student body. A lot of reports mention that Bill Barr's authoritarian father objected to clothing fashions, hair length, and, most telling, forced marijuana smokers to enter "therapy" before being re-admitted to the school.
This type of self-righteous arbitrary mentality seems to have passed down from father to son.
52
@Samm What is self-righteous and arbitrary, other than that, as an avid prototypical Times reader, "Samm" would not impose a dress code, an appearance code or take a hostile view on marijuana, even though the parents paying inflation-adjusted $65K a year thought it was ok.
I wonder when the Faustian bargain people like Barr have made with Trump will come due. They may have sold their souls for a few judges but at what cost to a nation they profess to love?
30
@Dundeemundee
At what cost? None to themselves as they are all exceedingly rich-in terms of $$$, not so much morality. That wealth will keep them in power in many different forms. The damage to our democracy will likely take generations to undo.
24
A friend who is a partner in a major law firm looked at Barr's position at Kirkland, prior to becoming Trump's lapdog, and sniffed, "he wasn't successful." And suddenly Barr snapped into focus for me. An old, irrelevant white guy -- Trump's base, save for his education -- who longs for more -- more relevance, more power, more influence, more free trips to Italy, more pasta, more more more. Given his poor performance with Kamala Harris, and the fact that he's so clearly willing to break the law for the most corrupt president in our history, that he's willing to stab his good friend Mueller in the back, that he's the kind of leader that doesn't trust his own people but instead throws them under the bus, I'd also say Barr is not very bright. These are not the actions of a strong, confident man. And morals don't even enter the picture, a sad thing for the country's titular AG.
72
@Andy . . . most people who need to rely on authoritarian systems, like religions and laws and "traditions" like male dominance, seem to be very very very insecure people who need some greater authority to tell them how to think and behave. Barr needs these viewpoints because he is gravely insecure.
8
Barr is living in another century. And not the last one. He has no objectivity towards the president, and is more than ill-suited to lead the DOJ. The peril quotient is off the charts, and I'm left wondering who or what will cause the cast of characters in this tragic tale to tumble.
28
The final showdown is approaching faster than we think. Here's our problem. Our military has a sworn duty to obey their commander-in-chief at all times--unless the order is illegal. But who decides that? Well, the top law enforcement officer in the land, William Barr, that's who. So when Trump orders the Marines to storm the offices (Republican lawmakers have already done this at the Capitol) of the New York Times and the Washington Post, they MUST obey if the Attorney General rules that the action is not only legal, but also involves a patriotic duty to protect Americans from the "Enemy of the People."
You think things are bad now? You ain't seen nothing yet.
33
This is how dictatorship begins.
A narcissistic, charismatic executive, an obsessed lawyer in charge of justice, and a legislature that takes no action. in a country reeling from too much money spent on defense and loss of jobs.
Take a look at the fall of the Roman REPUBLIC. That happened centuries before the fall of the Empire.
37
@Maureen Steffek Exactly, this is the present trajectory.
1
@Maureen Steffek
I would also add the propaganda piece and misinformation/lies churned out by the executive branch on a daily basis. There is Fox News and many other forms of right wing media.
2
@Maureen Steffek Yup. And our 'reality' TV entertainment is not much different than what was offered up in the Colosseum by Nero/Caligula/etc (not that I'd compare Trump & his cabinet thugs to Nero .... well, perhaps on 2nd thought .....).
3
Who is Bill Barr?
At a minimum, he is a witness to obstruction of justice. He is not Trump's lawyer and there is no attorney client privilege to discoverable information relevant to the impeachment inquiry. He has no executive privilege regarding allegations of crimes.
17
Please note Barr did not attend Catholic schools for most of his education. Such people can easily develop a false view of the Church and religion as an anchor of certainty, and faith as a dodge for the hard questions of life. Catholics like me who attended Catholic schools know better. Catholicism has a history and its history features a lot of change as Cardinal (now a saint) Newman pointed out.
8
"In other words, amazingly, it wasn’t President Trump, or Attorney General Barr, who was violating the norms of American governance. It was their critics."
It's only fitting that the worst President in the history of the Republic has appointed the worst Attorney General, both of them apparently sworn to destroy and corrupt the Constitution.
28
Excellent article. However, I disagree with the last line- He’s the perfect attorney general for President Trump. Not so much, it seems, for the country.
it is good for the country as long as Barr supports the President that the country democratically elected.
The author's bias equivocates the word country to the losing party in the 2016 election, which is misleading and innacurate.
1
@European in NY . . . the people's voice was not heard in this election. 2.8 million people did not vote for this president and the electoral college had faithless electors. This is one point in our history where the democratic process was hardly served. And the constitution will save us from this event. Our Founders knew this could happen.
4
@European in NY Trump was not “democratically elected”. The democratically elected candidate was Hillary, who won 3 million more votes than Trump. Despite the false charges against her raised by Comey 10 days before the election. Despite a year of Russian election interference, in the service of Trump. Trump won far fewer votes but was awarded the White House through the vagaries of the electoral college. If you think 2016 was a democratic election, you’ll love the “democratic” elections held in places like Russia and Syria.
1
@European in NY
Be reminded that Trump lost the general election; only through the Electoral college was he “selected”. Beyond that, the norms of an independent judiciary are being dramatically violated under Barr’s discredited “Theory of the Unitary Executive”; conservatives such as yourself should make every effort to remain fact-based, despite your party’s embrace of alternative ones.
1
Barr is confirmation that the current danger to America is not conservatism but authoritarianism which the dictionary defines as advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
23