This is what a corrupt government looks like.
7
You just had a special prosecutor and an FBI that apparently took some liberties in effort to get rid of Trump and nothing ( Tweets as evidence of obstruction that did not obstruct against a crime that did not happen) , let it go. You're going to get him re-elected. Trump was largely elected on Immigration and the Dems want to double down on open borders, Beto wants to tear down border walls, nice try and enjoy your quick exit to obscurity. Bernie wants psychopaths to have the right to vote? What? Bernie will not win a general election despite the endless pandering ( although hard to top Warren in the pandering Olympics, she is something else. Who doesn't get money? I know Bezos, Oprah and Gates are rich, but I do not think even they could foot the first month of Warren.) My kids go to Public School and we constantly have to fund raise because the State does not fund properly( they are broke) , then they want us to accept 10, Just 10 "migrant" children and now we have to come up with even more money ( it's over a million, but they send more every year and so it's in the tens of millions over the k- to 8 cycle). I wish I was rich enough to be so compassionate, that I would not send my own kids to these schools ( not many "migrants" in the gated community) and feel no problem on putting the burden on "others".
1
This is yet another example of progressive efforts to engineer an alternate reality.
1
Mueller identified 10 potential acts of obstruction and specifically stated the report did not exonerate Trump, but you stick to your alternative facts, Kellyanne.
6
Special Counsel Mueller spelled out in his report a dozen examples of President Trump taking concrete steps to obstruct justice by directing his White House lawyer McNab to fire Mueller and other acts violating his Oath of Office regarding the Constitution. Republicans in Congress should cooperate with House Democrats to impeach the president and move him from office through trial in the Senate, or else the Republican Party is likely to quickly fade into the past like the Know-Nothing Party (which they appear to be imitating).
7
I read Trump's administration described as the "lawless regime" in the comments today. The point is certainly clear. However, I prefer an alternative I found elsewhere: The oathless presidency.
That's the central point here, isn't it? Trump consistently defies his oath of office and cannot be trusted to understand or execute it properly. He's the bad-faith President.
8
To play to this president’s worst instincts and act like a ventriloquist’s dummy before the whole world, is an abomination and shows contempt for the very office and Constitution he swore to uphold.
To blatantly deny Congress oversight powers and to be too afraid to defend his outrageously skewed interpretation of the Mueller Report is sheer cowardice. If he cannot defend his stance, then let him show his shame in front of all of us, the American people he is supposedly there to represent, not a rogue presidency.
6
I think he's compromised. He needs to go on the record, and he needs to be investigated. He's being blackmailed or something. Why would he parrot Trump's exact words, unless he got explicit instructions to say them specifically?
3
Most workers get fired when they don't do their job--Barr got his job because he indicated to Trump before getting the job he wouldn't keep his Constitutional oath.
5
I hope that the Congressional security staff drops by his office, serves him, asks politely, and if he refuses, cuffs and drags him into a car.
When he refuses to testify as they wish, may he be held in contempt and locked away either in the Judiciary Committee’s secure room, if he’s nice, if not, in one of the curious 150-year-old huge vaults in the basement of the Capitol. I do hope they’re properly ventilated.
Seriously, it is time for the House and its committees to regain the rights and privileges they have abandoned to several Presidents over the years.
It would also be nice to see the ensuing battle reported as what it is: The House of Representatives v White house and not party v party, which The Imperial Presidents always play as those nothing Representatives v l’etat (se moi).
The problem is too many people enamored as Power Of the Head of State refusing to acknowledge that we have no single Head of Government, and that the President’s role as Head of State is almost as limited as Queen Elizabeth IInd’s.
(Then just Once, I would love to hear the Monarch open Parliament declaring, “the Prime Minister will read you the speech written for me to parrot in a second - here’s how I see things”.
We have a deliberate deliberative slow-moving government - may it be so again.
4
Democrats just can’t accept the facts of no collusion and no obstruction
2
Why not just Subpoena Mueller?
Get to the facts.
Who care what lies Barr will gaslight the congress with.
Democrats in Congress, go after the truth.
8
The Declaration of Independence says Americans are endowed "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
"--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
"--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Under the Trump administration, his appointees and elected Republicans, our government has not followed the law, or the Constitution, and has made decisions counter to the happiness, to the life and to the liberty of 90% of Americans.
It is our right, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, to abolish a government that does not serve Americans, like the current one. Barr is not above the law, and can be prosecuted for ignoring a subpoena. Likewise with all the rest of Trump's hired and appointed hooligans.
The founding documents and law are sound enough, but not the current officeholders who run the government. We must abolish this 45th president's administration, and reinstate one that will provide the highest level of safety and happiness for Americans.
5
The media keeps saying that Barr 'auditioned' for the AG job by sending 18 page unsolicited letter on Executive Power and that president could not be guilty of cover-up. I think further investigation will show that Barr's letter was not 'unsolicited but in fact a planned event orchestrated by key Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham. They knew the Mueller investigation could not be terminated and they could not control its contents. But they knew they could control the timing and what information was released to congress and the public. Barr was selected as someone with seemingly decent reputation who as AG could manipulate the flow of information. They knew that by having Barr issue the four page summary that they could effectively plant the 'No collusion, No cover-up' story in the public's mind before the full details of the investigation became known. Barr's 'unsolicited' letter, selection and appointment as AG was all very much orchestrated by key Republicans and Trump was advised to go along as the best course of action.
4
Failure to comply with a Congressional subpoena is punishable as for contempt.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/contempt_of_congress
8
One does not have to agee with questining Barr, but he must appear. The rules are the Rules for both parties, Hillary sat before the congressional Congresonal comitee for 11 hours. This is the way our system works. So I guess the Republicans would be fine in the future if a Democrat refuses to Testify. It must be a Two way Street!
3
The house finds that Mueller deciding not to indict for obstruction to mean that Barr should indict when it was Mueller who was given a blank check and no time limit to investigate Trump obstruction and found not one indictable offense.
If the house was not going to listen to Mueller findings then why have A special prosecutor to begin with. Is this Stalinist Russia where you determine who you want to punish and find someone to find the crime to do so?
5
Much has been said about the Trump team waiting out Dems into 2020, with considerably less said about making the Dems look weak. The dialogue must be shifted from playing legal tit-for-tat between government branches to one of accusation. Dems need take control of the dialogue by not only asking what the Trump is hiding, but by going beyond this to concoct a narrative about the crimes that he and his kleptocratic administration have committed. Stories about what Kushner has used his illegal national security clearance with evil Saudis are particularly compelling. With a President now documented as having exceeded 10,000 lies, absolute certainty for accusatory statements by Dems is downright antiquated.
2
Republicans hired outside counsel Rachel Mitchell to question Kavanaugh during his hearings.
Barr needs to stop stalling and testify.
6
@D. DeMarco
Not the same, democrats didn't care when she lied.
1
Dr. Ford testified under oath and to most normal, well-adjusted people it’s obvious she testified truthfully. Only a Trump follower would slander her by baselessly accusing her of “lying.”
There’s no depth to which these people won’t sink. No wonder they love Trump.
6
@Kip
There was zero evidence that she was telling the truth. Her story was fiction and she knew it. Anyone with a couple neurons knew it.
1
Many of the same people who misled the public about the Mueller investigation and Russian Collusion are at it again misleading. This time they're attempting to convince people there's a crisis when there is none. Barr isn't saying or doing anything outside the law or precedent. Calm down and get over this collusion / obstruction fantasy. If you don't like Trump's policies then pick one of the 20+ and win in 2020.
5
Go right to subpoena if he fails to show. Go straight to court, don't pass go...
3
If "AG" Barr refuses to testify is given a subpoena and still refuses wouldn't that be contempt of congress?
4
@Pataman
So what? I have nothing but contempt for this congress.
1
@Pataman Congress is contemptible. Their behavior is ridiculous.
1
Gee. Didn't Congress hold Eric Holder in contempt because he stonewalled and wouldn't answer questions about "Fast and Furious?"
I don't think anything happened to him: no handcuffs, no "perp walk" out of the Congressional Chambers.
The truth is Congress really has no teeth because they never use their power. Republicans going after Democratic Administrations and now the reverse. Nothing ever happens because they don't use the power they have to make it happen.
Pretty pathetic if you ask me.
5
The underlying issue here is that the congressional "oversight" of the executive branch is an implied power in the Constitution--not an explicit one. By tradition, house committees hold hearings and folks from the executive branch answer (most) questions. It's stretching "oversight" to have not only committee members exercising this power but also hostile opposition attorneys who are not members of congress at all.
4
This behavior seems eerily prophetic. Is this how the Civil War started in 1861?
3
Truman's cronies have their own Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance, to the Fake President of the United States of America, and to the Republicans, for which we represent, two nations (Traitors and Resisters) under an Evangelical God, divisible, with liberty and justice for the wealthy.
2
So, does this mean I can refuse to sit for jury duty when I get my "summons"?
It's good to be the king....or one of his toadies.
6
I get how much Trumpists hate everyone else in the US from reading here. They are 100% projection 100% of the time.
6
Blah blah blah....let's remember that Hillary Clinton destroyed 30,000 emails that were under subpoena by congress. She also destroyed the server.
So don't preach to anyone about Barr not responding to a subpoena.
And Eric Holder also refused to comply with a subpoena.
Get over it. Trump is president. Repubs won. Dems lost. For good reason. Not because of Russia but because the dems nominated a horrible candidate. The same person who showed complete contempt for congress per above.
5
Donald Trump regards the US Constitution as "bad" & "archaic". He considers himself above the law & has no respect for the separation of powers--a doctrine fundamental to our system of governance. If Mitch McConnell & other leading Congressional Republicans have ANY respect for our system of government & the rule of law, now is the time to show it.
1
Is this all just a precursor to the upcoming release of investigative findings on the Obama Administration's spying on the Trump campaign?
Are they just shooting the messenger, Barr, in advance?
4
I am not at all surprised that AG Barr does not want to appear before the House of Representatives.There are many reasons for his declination, including:
1- He has lived up to his 18 page and unsolicited job application.
2- He believes the President is above the law. This he has exhibited multiple times in the past.
3- He does not act like America's AG, instead another of the President's attorneys.
*If one reads the Mueller report there is enough crime going on to warrant Congressional Oversight. Here, as with other attempts at blocking i,t is and of itself a crime against the American people.
Like Trump, Mr. Barr seems to be afraid of what he might be forced to testify. A person with nothing to hide would testify and have it done with.
3
If Barr's testimony is so critical why won't Congress question him itself? Why the staff attorneys?
3
It's so frustrating that powerful men can do whatever they want. can you imagine what could happen to me if I ignored a congressional subpoena?
2
Trump is doing everything that he can to finish off the Rule of Law in America.
Americans have to decide whether or not they want a dictatorship.
4
The Supreme Court should reign in congressional committees when they abuse “congressional oversight. The Constitution does not give Congress oversight power over the executive branch. Oversight is an “implied” rather than an enumerated power. The problem with implied powers is that founders set no boundaries on implied power because they did realize such a things as implied powers existed.
In his farewell address, George Washington warned America against political parties, but the warning came too late. While the Constitution assigns political parties no role in government, it does not provide adequate safeguards against against them. Today Democrats and Republicans committee members use congressional oversight in ways that clearly transgresses the constitutional separation of power principle.
1
@William Case
Democrats won't necessarily win this battle in court so they'll likely divert attention to something else very shortly.
1
@AACNY
I would like to see a Supreme Court ruling on oversight. Republicans as well as Democrats will abuse it.
Barr is the AG of the American people, not Trump's personal lawyer. He's supposed to support the law, not fight it.
It fits, with all the other Trump appointees, that Barr does not do the job for which he was appointed. The EPA head is a former oil lobbyist. The Secretary of the Interior wants to undercount the census so that states do not receive their fair share of Federal apportionments, nor an accurate count to determine voting districts. The Secretary of Education is in support of private schools and religious education, both, by law, not to be supported by taxpayer dollars.
It's a dark time to be a Democrat in Washington, with the Senate, the Cabinet and the majority of the Supreme Court hostile to the majority of Americans. The House is doing an excellent job of doing its job, as described in the Constitution.
Barr can be impeached, as can all elected members of Congress and members of the Cabinet...this is not something reserved solely for sitting Presidents. It would take an incredible amount of time and money, more than the House has to spare, considering they have to run the government, too.
But it could be argued that Congressional Republicans, Cabinet members and the President have, together, committed 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that threatened the national security of all Americans, by ignoring the Constitution and the law, obstructing justice, reducing or annulling healthcare and environmental protection, raising taxes, and embracing enemy states.
We are watching our democracy fragment into camps of factions bent on making their own rules, without regard to the laws of the land, without respect for their constitutional responsibilities, without concern about the ethics of their actions.
The three branches of the Federal Government, the administrative branch, the judicial branch, and the executive branch have equal powers of governing the country. Barr has no say in how Congress should conduct its hearings, especially considering that there are precedents for including outside attorneys.
Barr presented Congress with a flimsy, four-page condensation of a years long investigation, meant to silence questions about the President's possible collusion with a foreign power, to end accusations of obstruction of justice, and then sought to obstruct access to an unredacted version of the report. This was a serious breach of his responsibilities as Attorney General.
It appears that our only recourse for stopping this fragmentation is at the polls, by electing responsible, knowledgeable, ethical people to the two branches we directly control: politicians who see their first duty is to the American people, not to a political party or their own personal whims.
2
Should AG Barr refuse to testify before Congress, in open or closed session, it makes a case for his impeachment. He'll have failed to protect and uphold the Constitution defined in his oath of office.
AG Comey and many others testified before a Republican-led House Judiciary Committee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. AG Barr refusing a Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee subpoena continuing the same investigation proves he's a Trump toady, not Attorney General for We The People. Congress can issue daily fines (upwards of $20,000 per day) and stipulate possible arrest by the House Sergeant at Arms for contempt of Congress is his unConstitutional behavior continues.
Sadly yet another Trump "loyalist" refuses to abide by the Constitution and laws of our country. Trump's minions are traitors who willfully lie and commit crimes for Trump to the detriment of what's best for the United States.
The Trump Administration are hypocrites when it comes to demanding Americans respect the law. I remind them of the legal and Biblical references by then AG Sessions that are fitting for many, specifically the current AG Barr.
"Persons who violate the law of our nation are subject to prosecution. I would cite to you the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order. Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful."
2
It is time for the Democrats to start subpoenaing Barr and the rest of the Trump allies who continue to stonewall and have the so-called constitutional crises. The Democrats threats without action and Trump's seeming ability to get by with refusing to comply looks like extreme weakness to everyone. Trump preys on and thrives on weakness from his opponents!
2
Barr is playing the loyal thrall of Trump. Why is hard to tell.
The redactions he made to the Mueller report did not result in a document that exonerated Trump in any way short of recommending his indict. Anyone who just read what he left would not be able to justify anything and would not assert that it exonerated Trump.
Yet, Barr told the public that Trump was exonerated. When asked explicit, direct, and relevant questions by the Congress he just did not answer. His vow to refuse to testify as Attorney General to the body responsible for the laws his office must enforce is clearly defiance of our government of laws in illegal supplication to a President seeking to act without legitimate authority.
Barr would fit perfectly as a minister to Louis XV of France. That king was so careless and unsuited to his throne that he left France bankrupt and at high risk of civil disorder. His son did not last long as king because of these circumstances. Barr is helping Trump undermine our republic and setting it up for civil conflicts.
2
The most recent example of Republican hypocrisy about this matter comes courtesy of the Brett "I like beer" Kavanaugh hearings. How can the GOP claim lack of precedent, that "it was improper to have staff lawyers ask questions in place of committee members", when they called in the presumably sympathetic Arizona prosecutor to question Ms Blasey Ford? Do these corrupt pols really think the public has forgotten this fiasco?
If the AG is truly worried about what competent inquisitors might ask him so as to pull this kind of power play/delaying tactic/appeal to Barr's audience in the White House, then should we conclude by his fiasco of a front for "The Great Divider" Trump that he's incompetent in his job? Or is it corruption? When we hear him ever so falsely claim Trump fully cooperated with the Mueller investigation and that he's legally innocent of charges the public can tell he's guilty of, then said public would like to hear more from him to conclude which of these choices is correct.
2
“Since the report of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, was released this month, establishing no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia”
Where does this ideas come from and why does it keep getting repeated? The report did not “establish” there was no conspiracy. Unless your definition of “established” is that the OJ trial “established” that he did not kill his ex-wife.
Muelker’s report actually established there was a conspiracy (although we were already aware of it) at Trump Tower. The Mirller report simply declined to pursue it for reasons best known to him.
2
Trump conned his supporters that he was going to be a law and order president, he’s the opposite.
3
Barr is trying to normalize the ignoring of laws.
He should be arrested, held in utter and legal contempt, and then summarily disBarred.
Blazing a trail for Trump to follow toward autocracy must be stopped.
7
Mr Nadler has thoroughly discredited himself in his propagation of the Russia delusion. He needs a new battle to wash away the muck and blatant dishonesty of the last two years.
So Barr agrees to the request to come to the judiciary committee to answer questions from members. And what does Nadler pull? He insists that Barr also be interrogated by attorneys.
More circus. More distractions. More waste of time. A few more Dem-media headlines on his side. And a few more Dem voters lost because of the wrongness of what Nadler and his cohorts continue to do with their position and power--more bickering, little legislation. That is not what people vote for. Wake up Dems!
1
This process is disgusting, in fact it seems that the Dems. have lost all reasonable ability to accept the special counsels report.
I believe the AG should follow through with the original hearing request and any further requests be delayed until after the IG and Huber reports and also the investigation of wrong doing by the previous administration, at that point the real picture should be apparent.
The bottom line is the Dems. are in a corner by making poor decisions and they can't play straight!
1
AG Barr can himself be impeached, no? That would seem to be the correct response to his refusal to appear.
As Norman Ornstein says in the article: "It’s basically a middle finger to Congress and its powers, ..."
No, it's blaytantly a middle finger the the American People and our Constitution by Trump thru his cronies.
13
@Bruce Olson: Actually the Congress doesn't have complete and total oversight and micromanagement authority. It has limited oversight and the Executive Branch is a co-equal branch not an inferior one. It is common for Presidents to resist overstepping by Congress. They have all done it and mostly win as the courts are not inclined to get involved with a dispute between the Legislative and Executive branch unless it is a blatant constitutional question, which this is decidedly not. Frankly Congressional Democrats deserve a middle finger as this is nothing more than a power play with a view towards the 2020 election and has no other necessity. The public isn't clamoring for this, only the Democrats and their accomplices in the MSM. It's about number 30 on a list of interests by all but the most rabid Trump haters.
2
Barr is required to testify for oversight purposes. He should be jailed if he refuses, for as long as he refuses. Congress needs to renew, upgrade, and expand their facilities to put people in jail within the Capitol Building. Many current Executive Branch officials would likely need to be jailed for this same reason.
Barr can always take the fifth amendment if he has committed a crime and doesn't want to incriminate himself, but he must do so while testifying in public before the judiciary committee.
11
@S Butler: You mean the 5th like Lois Lerner? She very obviously violated the law and yet sits quietly at home drawing her considerable pension, but then she was a Democrat so that doesn't count. Give it up. Barr is NOT required to testify for blatant political purposes and Congress doesn't have the total authority to micromanage the Executive branch.
1
@S Butler Yes or to put it another way "foot meet fire".
@RAM6 Barr can take the fifth amendment without necessarily going to jail.
Lerner could still be prosecuted. The Republican Justice Department under Trump has chosen not to pursue her case. They might believe that it's not so obvious that she violated the law.
William Barr, Donald McGahn and any other attorney who refuses to obey a subpoena issued by Congress, must have their law license pulled. Period.
Are we or are we not a nation of laws for everyone? Or do laws not apply to the rich and the powerful?
14
Where is the precedent for an AG appearing before a congressional committee to be grilled by Democrat party lawyers?
6
@Brad - a failure to read through the last paragraph? Iran-Contra. 1987. AG Meese testified and took questions from committee attorneys
3
@Brad
Case law is not on Congress' side. I suspect this is another attempt by democrats to prove something after Trump was exonerated on collusion.
1
Barr has lowered the bar at every opportunity. He has a long history of living up to his namesake in the worst way. Enough!
Katie Barr the door!
5
don’t forget Rosanne!
1
I am appalled to notice that we the people, who pay the salaries of the President and his administration, do not have free access to the unfiltered Mueller report. The President, out of his generosity, may not be drawing a salary but he consumes perks of much greater value than his salary.
Barr's redaction of numerous passages in the report implies that there is something odious in the report that Mr. Barr decided to hide from public view.
If there is some real sensitive material related to foreign relations, Mr. Barr should submit the complete report to a select congressional committee who should meet in camera to review the report in order to decide what should be redacted.
That is the least that an honest Administration is expected to do.
3
Why was there all this publicity about Barr being a person of integrity, look at his background and prior actions.
6
The Dems just don’t want to let it go. They have no shame.
9
@Edward The Dems won't let democracy go - where is the shame in that?
3
@Edward
In light of everything we see and all the evidence pointing to the fact that both Barr and this president are clearly hiding SOMETHING -- it's amusing to see those who still reverently put the blame somewhere else.
Thanks for the laugh.
3
Let's keep in mind what this disregard for Constitutional norms means for the future.
Republicans have accepted that the president does not have to respond to a Special Counsel's interview request---or even answer all his/her questions in writing. They are now embracing disregard of Congressional oversight; no administration official need respond to or comply with their requests for hearings. It seems that an autocratic president and toothless Congress is just fine with them.
This is dangerous. We may never recover from the Trump presidency.
61
@JKF in NYC Last week, in Egypt, they held a questionable election allowing El-Sisi to stay in power until 2030. President Xi did something similar in China last year, and other leaders have been going this route since.
In a 2017 poll, 53% of Republicans felt that the US should not have elections in 2020, and allow Trump to stay in power. (I haven't found any such polls since). Would this be Trump's next step?
2
Hostile interrogation by opposition Attorneys is not what anyone has ever meant by congressional oversight.
Barr has agreed to be interviewed by the House Judiciary Committee. Nadler just wants to run a circus--get people to forget the hoax he helped to perpetuate for the lat few years. Isn't it time for the Dems to get back to legislating? Do they really think another circus will win them an election?
3
@JKF in NYC Trump talks about a coup against him. Actually there has been a nonviolent coup started by Trump with the support of the Republican Party and Russia. Who would have known that we could lose our country so easily.
4
I am old enough to remember the
House Hearings on Communists
and I seem to remember at least one witness
objecting to how the hearing was set up
and being told, via a lot of gavel banging,
that the witness was not going to tell the
House how to hold their hearings.
Perhaps Barr is in better company than
we might suppose.
What if Barr refuses to appear ?
Do Federal Marshals seek to force him to appear
or is he held in custody until he agrees and if he is -
can Trump order the Federal Marshals not to arrest him
and/or pardon him ?
3
Either way, a majority of the people hold him in contempt.
4
Barr is not acting for himself nor for the President while he is Attorney General. The Congress makes the laws and the Attorney General enforces them. Not testifying is just a failure to do his job. He wants to think like a minister of a king who by representing the king who is acting for the will of the people. His job is to enforce the laws for the people. He’s not able to fulfill that role and not infuriate Trump, but I think he just has a problem with any government not headed by a king.
1
@David J: The majority of what people? I would venture to guess that 90% of the American "people" have no clue who Barr is and don't give one whit about this supposed but discounted investigation. Which was nothing more than a veiled attempt at a coup and the removal of a duly elected President. Don't like him? Elect someone else in 2020.
So, when do we march on the capitol?
9
This would never happen to any normal citizen, but when you are in a position of power and dare I say, white privilege the rule of law does not apply. I too wish I could ignore paying my taxes or set the parameters on how and when I want to pay, I too should not show up to work and demand when I want to show up and how much I should get paid. America has become unrecognizable, unidentifiable, unknowable. I'm so tired.
9
Think of it this way.
If I had a husband who communicated when it was good for him, exaggerated when it worked for him, lied when it worked for him, threw others under the bus to make himself look better, never missed a weekend golf game at his own resort and had happy friendly private chats with Dictators and still has the spoken and unspoken ire of a severely constipated porcupine, I’d say l want a divorce.
Bad husband.
Worse President.
12
"While Democrats remain deeply divided over whether to pursue impeachment, party leaders agree that they should use hearings to build a case on live television and see where it takes them."
Democrat Strategy ... Drag in some witnesses; demand a new format that is far different than the traditional, standard format (to get a leg up on the competition); never compromise, only complain; broadcast "the hearing" live; and, "see where it takes" you.
Basically, the "plan" is to create a media circus.
6
@kz
Especially when a majority of Americans (a) know this is highly partisan, and (b) were satisfied with the results of the Mueller investigation, which exonerated Trump on collusion -- the actual focus of the investigation.
1
The penalties for lying (jail) should be increased: but then there would be far less Republicans in Congress.
6
The AG is the top of the line and if he has contempt for the law, we should all be ready for lawlessness every where. It is a psyche thing, when our leaders refuse to obey our laws it trickles down to the peons. Out West we are constantly battling government intervention but we also know how law and order brought democratic ideals within our communities. What we are seeing is criminals behaving like criminals. Out West we know how to deal with them, but it seems Congress has no backbone. Soon they will go to recess leaving us to be unwilling participates in whatever mindless and inhumane edicts the Pretend King Trump will fabricate over the summer so he can boost his ratings. Let us all thank our Congress and those heads of Agencies who are perpetuating our demise.
3
House Dems need to see this opportunity in its entirety. They must ignore the 2020 election and damn the torpedoes.
With obstruction clearly set forth in Mueller's report and the willful disregard of the rule of law by the WH and its enablers (Barr, Kline, etc), now is the time to force McConnell's hand. Make an iron-clad case on obstruction which will then go to the Senate and McConnell will then need to follow through. By doing so McConnell will be forced to put down his precious trojan horse (45) or he will be removed from office for his blatant disregard of all things proper and legal.
From the Special Counsel report:
“By the time the President spoke to Comey about Flynn, DOJ officials had informed McGahn, who informed the President, that Flynn’s statements to senior White House officials about his contacts with Kislyak were not true and that Flynn had told the same version of events to the FBI. McGahn also informed the President that Flynn’s conduct could violate 18 USC §1001.”
The takeaway: 45 knew Flynn was under investigation when he asked Comey to let Flynn go. Therefore, there was indeed a “nexus to an official proceeding.” Regardless of his initial summation and spin of Mueller's report, Barr understands this and knows he has moved outside the bounds of the law to protect 45.
4
Barr is an utterly deplorable man and supreme partisan who openly campaigned for the AG position.
But we al knew that since Iran Contra.
He is a disgrace to the rule of law in this country but that is pretty much par for the ruling elite in DC today.
8
nadler "“The witness is not going to tell the committee how to conduct its hearing, period" Barr just did. The result will be the same as N Pelosi's comment that she will never pay anything for the wall, although at the end she did approve some payment. The AG enforces subpoenas - nadler's comments will end up getting stuffed in his own ridiculous mouth.
6
The Constitution is on the side of Congress. They have the right and duty of oversight. It isn't Barry's prerogative to dictate anything or to decline.
6
All is rotten in the USA. A borrowed phrase, but too accurate to resist. Trump is trying to make this his kingdom, while the Republican leadership opens the gate. This is, by far, the most egregious abuse of executive 'privilege' this country has ever seen. If none of the evidence laid out in Mueller's report isn't enough to bring Impeachment proceedings forward, then this ought to be.
7
Barr is a disgrace to the legal profession, but certainly not the first disgraceful unprofessional lawyer among Trump's chosen teams of lawyers that Trump has hired to protect him.
The trouble is as Attorney-General of the United States, Barr's client is not one person Donald J. Trump; Barr's client is the government and people of the United States of America.
We the people are the ones paying Barr's salary, and by refusing to cooperate with Congress, Barr is failing to to do his job to protect the U.S. government in favor of doing the bidding of a lawless president.
Does the American Bar Association have anything to say about Barr's ethical and professional behavior as a lawyer for the U.S. government? Could Barr be disbarred?
9
Send over to Justice the Sergeant at Arms and arrest him when he fails to show.
7
@John
Like they arrested Holder? Yeah, that’ll do it.
House Judiciary, Intelligence, and Oversight Committees, as well as the Gang of 8 would normally see the full, unredacted Mueller report.
What are they hiding?
According to Murray Waas of the NYR Daily, "Prosecutors working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded last year that they had sufficient evidence to seek criminal charges against President Donald Trump for obstruction of justice... "
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/04/26/mueller-prosecutors-trump-did-obstruct-justice/
2
Nadler is an annoying fly in need of a flick of Trump’s tail. That’s how important this ridiculous hearing is. Once again the Dems and their faithful claque are setting themselves up for humiliation.
5
Is there a law that you feel should be observed? Or the US only obeys the law according to the world of trump? Is that where we are now?
6
@Edward
Have you actually looked at the U.S. Constitution...ever?
Congress and the House Committees are acting fully within their rights to ask for this information.
But then again, you'd probably have no problem if all this were happening against a Democrat president.
2
When it comes to integrity to the rule of law, the Trump Administration has set a low Barr.
5
Jail Bill and arrest Don: scofflaws .
2
I guess democrats Nadler and Cummings running like their namesakes, rats, is really not news.
They so ably represented the unconstitutional and illegal behaviors in federal government between 2009-2018 why should we be surprised?
3
Something is clearly wrong here. No president has ever worked so hard to thwart investigations and defy congress and our Constitution. These are the actions of a desperate guilty man, what he is guilty of we can only suspect but the truth eventually comes out Donald no matter the layers of lies and acts of defiance. Your day of reckoning is coming and it will not reflect well upon you, your party or our nation. Shame on you.
10
@Raul Campos
Nope. Criminals don't generally submit to justice willingly. If Congress doesn't bring criminal charges New York will. Either way your boy Trump is going to prison.
4
@Max Deitenbeck Sure, just like Mueller was going to take down Trump any second now, just wait, the bombshell is just around the corner, they have him now and he's in a panic...
We've seen over two years of such absolute idiocy and attacks from the left, all were proven false, and still they continue.
The Democrats are still trying to fish for something, anything they can to try to stick on Trump, and while he gave Mueller everything and everybody he wanted to interview that investigation is done, over, and if they don't like the results haul Mueller before the committee.
1
In light of recent events, you have to laugh at the fact that all of a sudden the repubs insist that only congressmen question Barr. Remember the following:
Republican senators on the (Kavanaugh) panel brought in Rachel Mitchell, a career prosecutor experienced in prosecuting sex crimes, to question witnesses at the hearing -- a move that Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said would help "de-politicize the process and get to the truth, instead of grandstanding," when he announced the decision earlier in the week.
4
Barr could show up and answer questions presented by only members of Congress and remain silent to questions from attorneys. But if Barr is forced to comment to the attorneys, why stop there? Barr should then be required to answer all questions from the news media. Or doesn’t the public need to know?
2
So what's he hiding? What are they all hiding? This is the least transparent administration we have ever had, next to Nixon. We all know how that one went down...
7
Of course, the attorney general should be subpoenaed at the very least. A recent poll found that 37% of the electorate favors impeachment. And Democrats cower. With 37% support from his base, Trump is emboldened. Such is the difference in moxie among the two parties.
2
Let me get this straight; it's okay for the Maricopa County prosecutor to ask questions when the GOPruns a hearing, but it's not okay for staff lawyers to ask questions when the Dems are running the hearing. The hypocrisy from these people is astounding.
5
@B
Staff can always question wittinesses; it is exceptionally rare for the legislative branch to use partisan lawyers to question a representative of the executive branch. Secretary Barr hasn’t been charged with a crime and the president is doing the right thing. If Democrats want to ask him questions they should avail themselves of the opportunity Wednesday.
3
@Bill - Barr is the poster child for partisan lawyers. It's quite funny that you don't see this.
Watching career professionals and politicians not just enable the most corrupt, inept, divisive and dishonest president, but take on his worst characteristics, amorality, ethical malfeasance and dictatorial hubris makes me feel like we are now living in a dystopian novel where everyone loses.
6
The first chapter in the Dictator's handbook is to take over the interior ministry, which in our case is DOJ. It seems this is well under way. A question. Who arrests the Attorney General? The U.S. Marshals who work for him? Who prosecutes him? The DOJ which he heads? We are in uncharted waters and the Republicans in Congress must realize what a grave threat Barr poses to our Country. He should be forced out, ASAP, or impeachment articles should be filed against Barr.
6
@bikegeezer
It would be nice if you could actually sight a crime. This isn’t the USSR and I doubt you are the reincarnation of a Barea Based on your commentary I could be wrong but I don’t think so
1
@Bill
First, it's "cite," not "sight."
Second, Barr is helping Trump obstruct justice. That's the crime.
5
This is the right path. Give them every chance to come around, but if they don't impeachment is the only road to take.
3
Have they forgotten who pays their handsome salaries and generous benefits? These guys (!) work for US, the tax paying citizens of this country
4
I'm wondering how many times Hillary Clinton refused to attend a House or Senate committee hearing where she was to be questioned. As I recall, she just showed up, sat for hours and hours and answered any and all questions that were asked.
6
@Sean Belt
Of course she deleted 30,000 emails and destroyed her hard drive after it was ordered to be held. Has the president done anything to actually hamper the investigation? .
1
Hillary didn’t delete anything. Her lawyers deleted what they perceived to be personal emails, mostly dealing with planning her daughters wedding. It’s really a mundane story. Kind of like how Trump uses his personal iPhone even though the secret service has asked him not to. And that Jared and Ivanka have been using their personal emails for government business. It’s against policy but there has yet to be any kind of formal FBI inquiry.
1
@Bill - Read the Mueller report. Trump did quite a bit to hamper the investigation and his cronies did delete emails.
2
Trump’s gettin’ by with a more than a little help from his Friends Without Consciences (FWCs). If only ten elected Republican senators or the AG of the United States, respected the Constitution or represented their constituents, Trump would be accountable under the law. What’s going on is a tragic wounding of our nation.
4
Why should Barr consent to be questioned by hostile Democrat attorneys? He doesn’t have to appear at all but is willing to do so for the sake of transparency. If the Democrats want a hearing so badly, they’ll do it his way. Otherwise they can posture and vent as usual.
23
@Edward Um, no. Thats not how congressional subpeonas work, dude.
37
@Edward
Baloney.
22
I see your point. When the people elect Democrats to the Congress and the President is a Republican, the will of the people is divided. Thus neither the Congress nor the Executive branch are obliged to govern according to the laws of our form of government. It becomes a struggle for power and the government should just close down until one side or the other is in complete control.
10
The democrats in congress are simply on a witch hunt. They patiently waited for Mueller's report (although many spent every day calling Trump a traitor, Putin's puppet, etc.) and now that it didn't deliver what they wanted they are throwing a full blown hissy fit. A chernobyl style melt down.
I don't blame Trump and Barr for not cooperating with congress because the dems are simply looking for anything they can find to create (and I create) grounds for impeachment or at minimum to score political points.
When you have a guy like Swalwell -- who is asked to appear regularly on Fox news, not because he is brilliant because he's not -- saying that Trump has to prove that he's not an agent of Russia. Exactly how do you do that? When a public official doesn't understand that the burden of proof is on those who make the accusation, put forth the hypothesis, etc. - then our democracy is in deep trouble.
I can understand members of the house wanting some information on redacted portions. But this is nothing but a kangaroo court, a show trial for political purposes.
Enough already. Why don't the dems focus on governing, not trying to find something on Trump -- because they can't. There's nothing there.
7
It's well past time to put an end to this nonsense. Issue a subpoena. And if he fails or refuses to appear at the designated time and place, send the Capitol Police to arrest him, and hold him until he complies.
4
@Diogenes the Cynic
Google Holder and subpoenas and find out what happens when the secretary refuses to obey a subpoena. The house can censure him; that’s it.
If they want him to testify the Democrats should follow procedure. They are the ones violating the process. The Democrats can ask for anything, the executive branch can just ignore unreasonable requested (what this clearly is).
5
@Bill
Actually, Congress does have the inherent power to arrest and punish as contempt the failure to comply with a subpeona. That inherent power is ancient and backed with precedent.
However, per federal statute the committee has the alternative to bring suit in federal court, seeking a court order requiring compliance. Failure to comply with such an order can result in being held in contempt of court, punishable by fine and imprisonment.
So yes, a congressional subpoena is enforceable, and if people disobey they do so at their peril.
(It's best to consult legal authorities, primary or secondary. But if you want to confine a search to nonlegal authorities, try looking for "list of those held in contempt since 1975" under the "Contempt of Congress" entry in Wikepedia.)
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary deferred questioning to a prosecutor during Kavanaugh/Blasey-Ford hearings. Doesn't that establish precedent for what Democrats are seeking to do now?
3
@David St. Hubbins
No because Barr is a repressive if the executive branch. The legislative branch doesn’t have an unrestricted power to compel a secretary of the president to testify. The “normal” process would be to request him to testify before the committee and to be asked questions by the members oof the committee. Not to be interrogated by opposing council.
1
Bill, what Barr has done, deliberately misleading the public to sway their opinions on the president’s malfeasance, is also “not normal”.
@Martini Exactly what did Barr say that was "deliberately misleading"? Everything he said was backed up by the full report.
The Democrats are demanding information they have no right to see- the grand jury evidence and the supporting evidence, they have no right to either of those and in fact by law Barr is only required to give a report to Congress, and it can be a non-specific one at that.
The Democrat voters are being played, they're being told to attack a man who is following the law, Barr, when their own reps like Nadler are not, and they're buying into the charade. And just like they did with Kavanaugh they're believing the liars rather than those who are telling the truth.
Trump was evasive. He spoke openly of firing Mueller. But it never happened, whether it was because of the good sense of his staff or Trump was making unguarded statements. The record is full of Trump being a big mouth. These historic episodes of recent run ins between the executive and congress cut both ways. Starr went far outside his mandate to discover the Lewinsky matter and Mueller found nothing on Russian collusion with Trump. The question is, can obstruction of justice occur with no underlying crime?
1
No underlying crime? We know Trump committed a campaign violation that his co-conspirator is currently going to jail for. And just because Trump didn’t “conspire” to win the election (is there no evidence or not enough for reasonable doubt?) doesn’t mean that Trump wasn’t afraid of, say, the discovery of his money laundering schemes. Apparently, Mueller didn’t even look at his finances or at other crimes unrelated to Russian election interference. Also, Trump may have thought that accepting and encouraging Russians help to illegally interfere in our election was illegal.
@c harris - Yes it can. That's been proven over and over again.
Given that Barr worked to get the Iran-Contra perpatrators off the hook for Bush41 — and to rescue Reagan's Latin America policies from further damage, can it be particularly surprising that Barr would sell what's left of his soul to Trump45?
Despite his titles of AG for Bush41 and now for Trump, it appears he has never accepted the job as working for the American People. The title of Attorney General is in name only. He has always defined his roll as a personal lawyer for the president who hired him.
Thus, just as Giuliani advised Trump to avoid a one-on-one interview with TeamMueller, fearing a "perjury trap," it appears AG Barr fears the same fate. But, then, why would an innocent man fear a perjury trap in front of a House committee?
This question had defined every member of the Trump team, as well as Trump himself. Truth, apparently, is a bridge to far for AG Barr. And his boss, Mr. Trump, cannot allow anyone on his team to shed truth and light on what is obviously the most corrupt and dangerous administration in our nation's history.
In that light, it calls into question: Which is more dangerous to the safety and survival of our Constitution? The Russians or, this administration itself? Ok, the two have, undeniably, been connected at the hip for more than 2 years. It's a combo package that must end no later than November 2020.
TeamMueller did not exonerate Trump. Rather, he established a roadmap for congressional investigations into Trump's corruption.
84
@David Ohman
You are right on. I repeat: Pull the fake Attorney General's law license and remind the so-called high and mighty that we are a nation of laws for everyone.
12
@David Ohman change Barr to Holder and Lynch, change President names and Bingo, same comment can be printed again. These are political appointments, always been always will be!
4
@David Ohman
No evidence of a chargeable crime, no collusion (not that it would be a crime either way) and now it isn’t enough for the house to hold a hearing with the secretary, they want their lawyers to cross examine him. There is no crime and the house doesn’t have the right to compel testimony in front of house lawyers. We get you hate the president; when do Democrats care about governing?
28
Failure to appear before Congress when so requested by a legally issued subpoena should be followed within 48 hours with a contempt citation and incarceration shortly thereafter.
9
Barr has stated in public that the Mueller report found Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Congress has a clear role in investigating that intrusion of U.S. sovereignty and enacting remedies against its repetition.
If any Attorney General, as the chief law enforcement officer, impedes or obstructs that congressional role, he or she should be impeached and removed as Attorney General.
Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Senate through their need for electoral support from his base does not extend to Barr.
6
@John
Sure it does and he has offered to testify. Just under the normal rules. No lawyers questioning the secretary.
1
It is an outrage and an affront to every decent American who believes in separation of powers, the right of congress to exercise oversight, and the rule of law. It is unfathomable that there could be ANY excuse about what congress must do. That some of its oversight actions might not play well with trump's deplorable base is irrelevant. The time to act is now.
8
@fsp And yet you're okay with Nadler and the Democrats demanding information they have no right to? Because that's exactly what they're doing, demanding information they know they can't have just so they can rile up their base. It's effective for sure, the charade has worked for over two years now, but it's over, done, and if the Democrats don't move on they will be wiped out at the polls next year. Because make no mistake, the Americans are tired of investigations despite what the Democrats say, they want the Congress to serve those who elected them and not thier ceaseless fishing expeditions and witch hunts that serve no one.
I think the House of Representatives needs to get a crew of US Marshall's on standby to start bringing in the people they want to question.
Just go ahead and automatically subpoena everyone so there is no doubt they have to show up and stake them out on the day to make sure they show up or can be picked up.
Republicans have turned us into a joke. They only "respect" laws they like and ignore those they don't.
9
@magicisnotreal
If the house could have someone from the executive branch arrested Holder would be in jail. Good luck.
1
Attorney General William Barr is making the United States look like a third-rate banana republic. This is not how our democracy is supposed to work. The whole world is watching, Mr. Barr.
9
Will it take 3 decades like it did Robert McNamara, (after a whole lot of suffering, devastation, hurt and harm), for someone to write a mea culpa stating that the failure to deal with this for the well-being of the country was through "ignorance, inattention, flawed thinking, political expediency lack of courage", greed, instant gratification and self-service
Or, will the US be so far down another road by then that this lack of integrity, honesty, transparency, democratic ideals will be business as usual?
4
This tainted administration is trying with all its might to invite impeachment proceedings. It thinks it can win and, in retribution, it will introduce sweeping precedents to cement Trump’s position and that of the Republican Party as his bulwark.
2
@Marcus Brant
Then let’s hope the Democrats don’t take the bait. Of course the house Democrats could do what is normally done when seeking testimony; follow regular order and eliminate using partisan lawyers.
Subpoena him. As others have said, this showdown is needed. The consequences are not yet known, but we need to see in full view just how lawless this administration truly is.
3
@Josh
The consequences are known; Erik Holder ignored a subpoena and was censured by the Republican lead house. Nothing else happened then, and nothing else will happen now.
What is different between the Obama and Trump administrations is Holder refused to answer questions from Republicans. Barr isn’t refusing to meet with the subcommittee, he is refusing to allow partisan lawyers to ask questions. That is normal; it is exceedingly rare for the request from the Democrats.
1
I mean, excuse me. Can you imagine? This is off the rails hubris. Which part of this AG's behavior is not contemptible?
I have faith in Jerry Nadler, but what is the rest of the legislative branch - whose powers are enumerated in the Constitution - doing?
5
@Munrovian
Look no further than President Obama’s Erik Holder who refused to meet with the Judicial subcommittee. Of course that was a Democrat refusing a Republican committee. So that’s different, right?
1
Trump and his cronies/appointees continue to trample the Constitution and obstruct justice. This travesty should be met by contempt charges and possibly impeachment. No one is above the law.
5
Republicans had no trouble appointing a staff member to question their darling Kavanaugh. Republican Hypocrisy at work again.
4
Barr needs to be subpoenaed. He is obviously afraid of the truth and that truth will out.
I am continuously amazed how Trump attracts so many people willing to be easily corrupted.
Eventually, the truth will come out about exactly what Barr is getting for his blind loyalty to corruption.
No one is above the law- no one.
6
William Barr, Attorney General in charge of making sure that the GOP can break the law without legal consequence.
5
In this administration every one thinks they’re above the law. The AG isn’t going to answer a subpoena. What a joke!
7
The Dems are wary of a subpoena for Barr and others because ultimately, after protracted legal maneuvering, the only move they have is to send in U.S. Marshalls to compel the recalcitrant to testify.
Which plays into Trump's hands and his claims of a coup. This is a perilous state of affairs. This nation is in the most serious trouble of our lifetimes, or several generations lifetimes.
Mueller was far too delicate. He acquiesced to Barr getting the jump on his report. His investigators even objected and moderately leaked their objections to the press. To this degree, the House Committees should subpoena Mueller, or perhaps more usefully, his investigators and lawyers prior to Barr and perhaps Mueller too.
Mueller could have compelled Trump to sit in front of a Grand Jury, but this too plays into Trump's hands and the threat he makes of "second amendment people" helping him out. They are bristling with guns and paranoia courses through their veins along with various strong drugs to exacerbate this.
This is the large gorilla in the room no one wants to talk about.
8
Make my day!
1
If Barr refuses to be subpoenaed, do what would happen to you or I if we refused - have him arrested.
4
Their both wrong, the country has moved on. This all about photo op and sound bite generation. The parties envoled know that, why are we forced to pretend this is a Constitutional crisis.
2
I am not defending Barr who does not seem impartial as promised, but why are you calling this a feud?
Over time it has gone from taking different approaches (confirmation) to disagreements (Mueller) to heated argument (subpoena).
Don't you think you contribute to the political polarization in the country with such bombastic headlines? Does it make me want to read the article? No! It causes me to think that reading your newspaper is unhealthy for me and the nation.
Just report the news and let us decide how to interpret it, i.e., heated argument vs. feud. Report so it allows to see all sides of the argument and let us freely make up our minds.
1
Seeing as this president and William Barr are both tied at the hip by some kind of Gordian knot, it's hardly surprising that the Attorney General would forget about his higher duty to the country in order to serve his master's interest.
And that they would both ignore Congressional Committee requests and subpoenas is clear -- the outcome, not so much.
2
I get that nadler wants to question and investigate further because Mueller and 19 lawyers and 40 FBI agents working full time for 2 years were unable to investigate as well as the congressional committee. And I'm ok with that. There is a "normal" procedure for this which the committee, with some precedent, is deviating from. This is not the normal course. But barr is not on trial, he is being asked to provide some additional information. Why the need to have him questioned by attorneys, as if he's on trial? Because we know that that's what it will be--a trial. Or is it that the committee members dont feel they are smart enough to ask the questions and need help?
3
If the Republicans had asked all the pertinent questions as they should have in 2017 and 2018, this wouldn’t be necessary. The Democrats are doing what they’re first and foremost paid to do: provide Presidential oversight and defend the Constitution. I’m glad at least one party still cares about that.
5
Mr. Barr may be an attorney and may serve as the United States attorney general. What he may not do is serve as a general in the unconstitutional war that Trump has declared against the House of Representatives.
2
Our laws and institutions are the bedrock of our society. It is jarring to see the head of the justice department undermining American Values.
7
Mueller report was a big nothing which wasted 25+ million dollars and the Democrats just cannot accept they got zip-nada. Prepare to lose in 2020.
5
Indeed, subpoena Mr. Bar.
The attorney general Barr works for all not a yes man for trump.
2
I'm thinking Mr. Barr may just end up in a situation like one of his predecessors, Mr. Mitchell -- who served 19 months in Federal prison (of a 4-year sentence) for perjury, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
Mr. Barr has already proven that he is willing to lie and obstruct -- no wonder he doesn't want to testify, but he will and he will be found out...What a bunch of crooks.
4
All I can say is that the Trump presidency is the absolute worst, most corrupt presidential administration in my lifetime which spans more than six decades. So, I've lived through the Nixon Watergate scandal, and his impeachment, and in my estimation, Trump's tenure in office has been far, far worse given his close ties to Putin and Russia and his questionable allegiance to the USA. He has now been documented to have said over 10,000 lies. It has reached a point where if his lips are moving, one can safely assume that he is in the process of telling another series of lies.
We deserve far, far better than this and we shouldn't accept anything less! Let the TRUTH be heard! America needs a cleansing at its highest levels of government.
Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, do whatever it takes to get to the TRUTH! Our survival as a free and open democracy, with three separate but EQUAL branches of government depends on it!
7
I hope that Nadler and Pelosi et al., will grow in courage sufficient to become a co-equal branch.
My hope had dimmed over the last few days. The lack of courage by the Democrats is startling. And, their certainty about the future, with regards to Republican actions AFTER a thorough public airing has been an arrogant self-justification and rationalization for not doing anything!
Buckle up Democrats. If you are to restore democracy in this once great nation, you have a long journey ahead.
Buckle up!
2
How much longer do we let these Russian-connected liars get away with deconstructing America?
Are there no real Americans left in the Republican Party?
2
50 mile wide blue margins that border this Republic on the east and west coasts have produced the radical Progressive/Socialists Pelosi, Nadler, Waters, Swalwell and other Representatives that reside and represent these dense blue districts are impossible to dislodge at the ballot box.
The disruption being created to attempt to once again stir the controversy about nonexistent crimes of the POTUS,, and will carry through into prime campaign time needed for the 20 Progressive/Socialist wanna-be president's debate time. The Left will likely end up with a very beatable contender when the "GOT" bloodbath is declared over and one of the walking dead emerge from the smoke.
3
Obviously based on behavior and false words, Barr is hiding some really encriminating facts and testiomony on Trump.
2
Why does the NYT regurgitate the Barr line about "no conspiracy". At least the report should phrase it as "no criminal conspiracy in the judgment of Mueller". There is a wealth of evidence of collusion and of conspiracy in the everyday sense of the word.
1
For those who think House oversight is making the Democrats look bad: who cares. We're in a political mess, and it's really come down to one thing - doing what's right. The House should call Barr to testify. And Rosenstein. And Mueller. And anybody else it wants. Do it now. Subpoena them if they refuse. Heck, subpoena the president if you want. Yes, the DOJ ultimately enforces those subpoenas and they may opt not to do so. Yes, they can wriggle their way out, or show up and lie. That's what bad guys do. You know what good guys do? They never stop trying to hold bad guys to account. The same can be said for impeachment. I am well aware that attempts to address corruption in this administration will probably fail because of gutless Republicans in the Senate. But that's a pretty lousy reason not to do what's right. I'm not interested in a giant public propaganda brawl--just file the papers and get on with it.
5
If the House cannot enforce its oversight power then the House has no oversight power.
By The Way, where is the House's dungeon? Just curious.
7
It’s in Hillary’s basement next to her server.
1
Barr was never going to testify after release of the Report any more than Trump was going to testify before Mueller or release his tax returns.
4
Barr made in the image of his maker - and now he has met his justice before the House of the People and its Draconian Nadler and so goes the affairs of state loud and clear - the voice of truth is success - as our dear President DJT weeps and weeps and has no idea why his world is turning upside down and so forget thus his second term.
3
If the AG does not comply with the request and then does not comply with a subpoena and if the Committee Chair has the power to imprison the AG ( I love the optics here) then I have three words that a famous man once said..
Lock Him Up!
I Donnie is playing hard ball let's play hard ball.
6
Republicans have always been their own worst enemies. Let Barr continue with his imperious and defiant posturing. It will only help break the deadlock democrats presently have over whether or not to engage in impeachment. Barr's arrogance may be the necessary formula to get Speaker Pelosi to change her mind and rally her troops for impeachment. The sooner the better.
3
Christine Blasey Ford had to undergo questioning by committee staff attorneys during the Kavanagh confirmation hearings. Why should Barr get to tell Congress how they can question him?
11
Because he can.
2
@John McD. Because "Might makes right" is the Republican credo.
1
@Edward
Really? Cite your sources.
4
Barr is a silly man who has no appreciation of what he is doing. He thinks that he is serving the country by protecting Trump from being challenged by Congress over his personal behaviors and his refusal to respect our system of laws and of limits upon government. It’s some weird idea that the President must have the powers of a ruler rather than a representative of the people governing in cooperation with Congress and with legal limits upon his authority. Bizarre authoritarian view of a government intended to be egalitarian.
In addition, Trump never in his life has thought about anything as much as has any first year law student. He relies upon snap judgments and surveying others opinions to find what feels right instead of taking a problem a working right through it. He makes up things that seem to affect others as he’d like and never corrects his mistakes. He has no leadership skills. He is dishonest and he has no convictions. Even for someone who prefers strong leaders, Trump is a dud, he is unable to lead. Trump is a clever manipulator but he does not lead effectively. Even aware authoritarians should see that he’s incapable of doing this job competently.
8
Barr has demonstrated he
is nothing more than a political tool. He bought the AG job by promising to protect the administration. Integrity is not his thing. Barr’s testimony is bound to be a sideshow, and ultimately, a distraction.
Question: Why wasn’t Trump interviewed? Why wasn’t Trump Jr. interviewed?
Those interviews obviously would have produced prosecutable evidence.
Mueller, a “good friend” of Barr, and an ex-member of Trump’s country club, remains silent as our beloved democracy dangles.
Mr. Mueller, the country put it’s faith in you to deliver the truth regarding conspiracy and obstruction to the public, and you have not delivered.
Stop with the nonsense that you were afraid of being fired. Stop with the rationalization that the investigation would drag on. And please put to rest the nonsense that you were hamstrung by DOJ policy. Exercise the law! That is what it is for! Your job was not to punt blatant criminality of the Executive Branch, as well as a festering national security crisis, to a partisan Congress.
The truth must come out. It is Mueller’s job, if not someone from his office, to deliver the country from this morass.
4
Is there much chance of Attorney General Barr
becoming the 2020 candidate for Vice President,
say if Donald Trump decides to replace Mike Pence as
too week in a very tough election , as this one will be.
1
Dan Cranshaw will be Trump’s choice. He and Trump will wipe up the floor with Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris. It’s in the stars.
The Democrats have nothing and are just looking for a PR hearing. I hope the Democrats keep it up so the public can see what a farce their party has become. Vote for America--Vote Republican.
9
God forbid Barr should face questioning by real live lawyers. Or Trump for that matter. In case you missed it, Barr has resigned his post as AG and joined the Trump team as the president’s personal lawyer.
4
Perhaps Trump's and Barr's unvarnished attempts to rob Congress of its Article 1 powers and responsibilities will start a reversal of ceding Congressional authority to the Executive branch. It's been going on for a while, and accelerated in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq, but it's well past time to put a halt to it.
5
Time to take off the gloves, ladies and gentleman. Subpoenas must be issued and enforced. Perhaps when people start getting arrested and put into jail for contempt of Congress and ignoring their subpoenas they'll get serious and comply with the law.
8
It won’t happen, and the Dems know it.
The Attorney General of the United States shows complete disdain for the rule of law and the authority of Congress. Is there any greater evidence that this administration has lost all sense of this nation's original values and purpose?
13
This is actually a wake up call to America. The refusal of the Executive Branch to comply with Federal law would demonstrate what is happening to our democracy. Will we allow an autocratic, dissembling president and his minions to ignore the law? Maybe a showdown is what we need. And while we're at it, perhaps Mr. Mueller would also testify as to any vague statements in his report.
154
@Daphne
At it's core it's not so much about the executive branch being unwilling to comply with the law as it is about the Republican parties contempt for democracy and the rule of law. An openly corrupt D president would be held accountable, but when your party protects you from accountability, you really are above the law.
10
Really? Holder refused, lynch,Obama played executive privilege. Hillary outright lied to congress and it was ok, then again they all are democrats, what's happening is 1. We live in a constitutional republic,not a democracy, 2. We are getting it back on track after the progressive autocrats almost destroyed it in the two terms of Obama. You are just upset that after 2.5 years, what the rest of us knew from the start it was all lies laid out by the left,to undermine the people and the President,turned out to be just that, lies set up by the dnc,Hillary,and Obama who started spying on a U.S. citizen
4
@Daphne The executive branch and the legislature are coequal branches of government, so Congress has limited authority to compel testimony or documents from sitting executive branch officials. If they seek to enforce the subpoena or hold a witness in contempt, Congress normally relies upon the Justice Department, which is headed by the witness in question, to enforce the subpoena. While this situation may seem anomalous or bizarre, you may be surprised that Attorney General Holder and other Obama officials refused at times to testify before a Republican Congress. Congress does have oversight responsibilities, but the contours of that grant have not been firmly established. In the past, Congress relies upon comity, inviting, rather than subpoenaing, Cabinet secretaries to testify. This stalemate between the administration and Congress appears poised to ripple into endless litigation which will probably be largely resolved against them.
3
What unmitigated conceit and gall AG Barr demonstrates!
Barr may regard Democratic Congress with contempt, but what he is demonstrating, in addition, is contempt for American laws and institutions.
49
As we have watched the executive branch express and apply its contempt for the authority and independence of the legislative and judicial branches, the historical record of empires comes to mind: they fail as they rot from within.
151
A silly incompetent autocrat as king who loses what was handed over to his care is a common theme in history. It was well understood by those who established our government. Barr is trying to protect an incompetent from the framework designed to deal with such individuals.
18
@Kirk Bready
As we have watched the the house express and apply its contempt for the authority, integrity and independence of the executive and judicial branches...
2
If Nadler wants his show hearing, he can do it Barr’s way or he can issue a subpoena and forgo having a chance to question Barr. It’s his choice.
7
@Edward Barr has already waived his executive privilege. Maybe he will enjoy spending time in a Congressional jail.
Barr is blatantly in contempt of Congress, but the Democrats have not had the courage to enforce it. Democratic leadership tells us they are moving slowly and deliberately. I do not agree that that’s a winning strategy.
I think handcuffs and jail are in order for Barr. Even now.
6
@Edward Do you mean it is ok for the Attorney General to defy Congress?
6
@Edward-It's funny, Edward, it's not Nadler's showboating that Barr is concerned with. He is balking at answering questions from the committee's trained lawyers. Now why do you think that may be?
9
US federal laws must be adhered.
16
@su
Must they? Like marijuana laws, and separate but equal Jim Crow laws?
Or how about playing fast and loose with Federal Election Finance laws? Or how about Federal Immigration laws, MUST they be followed too?
4
@Russian Bot
What is your point? Your jab about immigration is nonsense and the country is working on changing the laws surrounding weed. Besides, selling weed and destroying our democracy are two very different things.
1
Another lap-dog performance from William (should be dis)Barr(ed).
25
The democrats in the house are showing a weakness that will be their undoing. These threats of supenias with appearances 2-3 weeks to wait are an embarrassment. The story unfolding is that the democrats do not know how to lead, and I for one see Trumpism gaining ground every day. By 2020 Trump won't even need Putins's help. We who really care about the future are being blindsided by our own party. This paltry display is WORSE than anything this administration has ever done. Humiliated!!!!
8
Putin "won". Start learning Russian.
6
"White House lawyers have already indicated that they planned to tell the former White House counsel Donald F. McGahn II and other former officials not to comply with subpoenas for their testimonies." I see this as obstruction of justice in broad daylight.
If Barr also refuses to testify fearing telling the truth, I say lock them all behind bars and throw away the key.
20
The fraudulent government of cronyism, that "Illegitimate Trump" peddles, is on display, again !
19
"Since the report of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, was released this month, establishing no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia but detailing almost a dozen times Mr. Trump tried to thwart investigators, the president’s allies have seized on it as vindication and Democrats as an investigative road map.' 'Establishing no conspiracy' can be understood in more than one way, further obfuscating what is quite obfuscated enough by Mr. Trump, thank you very much. It can be read: "establishing No Conspiracy,' or 'The report established that there was no conspiracy.' or it can be read 'The report did not establish that there was a conspiracy.' These two valid ways of reading your text are worlds apart. I am guessing you meant the second.
2
Let me see if I have this straight. A Grand Jury, usually composed of between 12 to 23 members, questioned by a judge on serving, then can be asked to serve the time required on cases brought before them. Their final decisions are then handed to the Justice Dept. At this point, members of the jury, who have not taken an oath to defend the constitution or the nations defense, have all this information that cannot be privy to elected members of congress who have taken a solemn oath to defend the Constitution of these United Staes, so help them God. How many members of the Justice Dept., who will have access to the Grand Jury report have ever taken this same solemn oath??
Now AG Barr will dictate to the elected congress on what they may and may not view of the Mueller report.
Subpoena Barr if need be, bring in Donald McGhan for questioning, then follow up that with Mueller.
9
Barr did everything legally and by the book with his redactions, the attacks from the left are ludicrous and based on lies they're being told by their leaders. Look it up before you attack Barr, and look up the precedences. Barr will no be used as a campaign punching bag because the Mueller report wasn't what the Democrats wanted.
It's really sad to see how many Democrats are on these threads demading things they have no right to demand and calling those who follow the law criminals. We know who the criminals are and they are not of the Trump administration nor are they Republicans.
What can be expected from Trump’s lackeys if they testify? “I don’t remember” ? “I plead the fifth?” “Everything I saw was so MAGA?”
These folks aren’t going to have an attack of candor — having them testify is primarily to have voters see them squirm and evade when very clear and pointed questions are posed, and hope the GOP is a bit stupid. Dems have to present a saintly but not holier than thou presence.
Whether that spectacle decreases GOP electability is a matter of presentation. Maybe not worth too much?
4
What is law says?
Proceed till the end no other option?
Executive privilege etc. this concept must be erased from American mind. It gives a criminal edge to President and White House staff.
7
The Mueller report did NOT "establish[] no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia." Instead, the report concluded that it "did not establish" a conspiracy. There is a world of difference between proving something did not happen, and not being able to prove something in the face of massive obstruction. History will have a lot more to say about this sordid chapter when Trump is gone and no longer able to obstruct.
23
One has to wonder why all the roadblocks. . . if you're innocent, why wouldn't you be open to any question, any format?
Keep their feet to the flames, Dems, until we get some real answers. You'll only look weak if you punt on this and other issues.
26
Well it now has become completely obvious that Attorney General William Barr is President Trump's lawyer. Just what he wanted. Barr is no dummy and knows the format for the hearing has been done by both Democrat and Republican controlled congressional committees in the past so there is precedent for it. He is just looking for any silly excuse to avoid appearing. He is loathe to answer tough questions regarding his summary letter and especially the legal underpinnings in deciding Trump did not obstruct justice. Committee attorneys will make him admit in public that there are numerous precedents that show a person can be guilty of obstruction without committing an underlying crime which is the underpinning of his legal determination. Same goes with his dubious logic that if a president uses his authorized powers even in a corrupt way it isn't illegal.
15
Barr has only furthered the disdain and distrust rational persons have about the USA's justice system.
His actions are in lock-step with those of Trump's. . .the 'rule of law' is disregarded and replaced by the rule of autocracy.
If Barr refuses the subpoena, he must be impeached and convicted. Even the most arrogant GOP senator must recognize that without respect for our laws, even their jobs are imperiled.
22
Let's face it...Barr is absolutely terrified to testify because Barr knows he will have to perjure himself to stay in Trump's good graces and keep the AG job.
Barr's last appearance before Congress previewing the release of the Mueller Report was shockingly embarrassing as he sputtered, stammered and then refused to talk about the very subject he was there to talk about.
And once the heavily redacted Mueller Report was released, it became crystal clear that Barr's "Principle Conclusions" was a just monumental distortion of the truth intended to whitewash the egregious acts of repeated "obstruction of justice" by Donald Trump.
No way does Barr have the guts to go before Congress again.
He will instead huff and puff and beat his chest for the cameras and then quiver behind Trump's pant leg, wondering why in the world he ever took this AG job.
27
@JM--the report was NOT "heavily" redacted. Approximately 10% of the report was redacted. That was certainly way less than any of us were expecting. Stop perpetuating the propaganda. It's why we are losing credibility in the face of the rest of the country and the world. It makes us just as bad as them. I would like to be better.
3
@JM He could resign from his job. His reputation is destroyed already.
2
Is the Committee not qualified to question Mr. Barr? It seems they are trying to retaliate for Mr. Trump's attacks on them. I understand their irritation, but it seems to me there is no reason to have staff attorneys question Mr. Barr, unless they are hoping to some how trip him up. I am sure he senses this is their motive and is not too keen to play along.
5
@gpickard: "Hoping to somehow trip him up..." If getting the truth out of him involves "tripping him up" then so be it. A good case could be made that questioning should always better done by expert staff rather than be each committee member in turn, each given a very short time, which often results in a disjointed process of repetition, points not followed up, abrupt shifts in direction and so on, just because of the format.
9
@gpickard:
The use of staff attorneys, if managed properly, is to enable coordinated and more incisive questioning than occurs with the disorganized higgley-piggley questioning of Congresspersons. That may be what AG Barr seeks to avoid via his lofty, contemptuous refusal to accept the House Judiciary Committee’s right and prerogative to set its own rules.
Would he tell judges how to conduct their proceedings?
Behind his clever smokescreen, AG Barr acts like a man who has things to hide.
2
@gpickard the article stated (five paragraphs from its close) that the Muller report listed 10 episodes of obstruction. Why did Barr state that no obstruction existed? Let's ask him.
The report also suggested that Congress would investigate. Barr attempted to quash that move with his early comments. Let's ask him what he was thinking.
This isn't a case of quid pro quo; this is the beginning of impeachment proceedings.
More crassly, it's also a way to mitigate the PR damage done by Barr's erroneous comments.
3
Trump doesn't want to answer for anything and so GOP..
Dems - do what ever extreme measure you need to take, but DO IT.
GOP and Trump will do anything to get away. DON'T LET THEM.
12
@P2
Your comment is precisely why the Dems will lose in 2020.
Attack! Get them! Don't let "them" get away!
But shhhhhh....let's hope the voters don't notice we are not focusing on issues which affect Americans - healthcare, immigration, etc.
3
@DB The GOP will block any rational action on the issues you mention.
2
@ DB reinforcing the substance of rule-of-law does affect all Americans
1
Mr. Nadler, far from seeking truth and reality, is in hot pursuit of a live and televised circus. And this paper is all too willing to promote the event. The 19 rabid lawyers with Mr. Mueller and the 40 FBI agents working full time for two years weren't enough, it seems, for Mr. Nadler. No. He is determined to put on a show, scripted by those who are framing the democrat agenda for 2020.
Mr. Ornstein's crass comment,“It’s basically a middle finger to Congress..." is but the weird side show at the Nadler circus.
10
@Len
Nadler circus? You mean Trump circus.
12
@Len
"19 rabid lawyers" -- with that ludicrous phrase you have forfeited the right to be taken seriously. You are apparently yet another uncritical Trump devotee.
12
@Len
So how many lawyers and how much time was spent on the "there's no 'there' there" investigations of Whitewater, Bengazi and the *gasp* emails?
13
The GOP is turning our government into a Banana Republic, leaving Americans with absolutely NO trust at all. Congressional oversight is absolutely necessary. I am sick and tired of this president abusing his power and trying to turn our government into a Dictatorship, run by the trump family and oligarchs.
26
Attorney General Barr, has a legal obligation to testify before the House Judicary Commitee. He has a legal obligation to comply with a Congressional subeona. He knows the legal consequences for not complying with a Congressional subeona. He knows he does not have the right to dictate the format the Commitee, uses for his questionning. He should also know the precedents have been set for years now. If he does not comply, he is risking Contempt of Congress, fines, jail time and possible Obstruction of Justice charges being leveled against him. If these charges rise to the Supreme Court, responsible for protecting the Constitution and the separation of powers, contained within. He knows he will be facing a very conservative Supreme Court. Let those chips fall where they may. I bet they would fall right on top of him, because this is a Constitutional Crises.
20
@Paul Piluso: Yes, he knows all this, and presumably is waiting for his leader to defend him with some further disruptive move, maybe a pre-empive pardon for contempt of congress, or some other giant step towards presidential authoritarianism.
@Paul Piluso Unless the Court is infected with the Trump corruption and think it too exists to "protect" him.
Where do "WH lawyers" get off thinking they have any authority or jurisdiction to tell a former employee NOT to respond to a lawfully issued subpoena?
Every single member of the bar who would actively support such obstruction is in flagrant violation of the Canon of Ethics and should be disbarred.
And if McGahn is stupid enough to let these hack order him to obstruct, he must be disbarred too.
We are a nation of LAWS, not men.
24
I am surprised that Barr doesn't want to dictate the questions that he would be asked.
12
@David
If Barr gets his way, he’ll get something *better* (from his point of view) than dictating the questions: If the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings are any indication – that is, if only Representatives are allowed to ask questions – AG Barr will face a bunch of uncoordinated, shallow, meandering, and sometimes simply grandstanding questions from Democratic Representatives. Such questioning will discredit Democrats in the eyes of the broad public (although perhaps not the Democratic true believers) and will absolutely not advance the kind of incisive fact-finding Reps. Pelosi and Nadler need.
Nancy Pelosi is weak. She lacks conviction and courage. She will wring her hands and do nothing as republicans plunder our nation.
2
@Kurt
Wanna bet? You will eat your words.....
1
Trump is poison and I hope AG Barr understands that because if he doesn't we are all in trouble.
11
@John McLaughlin
Yes, Trump is poison, but Barr is the cup that holds the poison. And, yes, we're all in trouble.
11
As I understand the Constitution, the Congress is a co-equal branch of the U.S. government. HOW it conducts its business cannot be second-guessed by the Executive branch. If Congress decides to launch an investigation into campaign or Executive branch actions, the Executive branch has no right to do anything but comply with demands for documents and/or testimony. There is only one exception to Congressional investigative authority -- it cannot compel a witness to self-incriminate. If a Trump witness feels so threatened, he/she may "take the Fifth." Otherwise, testify.
19
Trump administration officials cannot be allowed to refuse Congressional subpoenas, or set the terms of their testimony to avoid Congressional oversight. Congress should hold them in contempt and threaten to jail them if they refuse to comply.
11
Telling people not to comply with a constitutionally sanctioned subpoena is obstruction of justice.
19
@Paul, and from the Times article just a few days ago:
“We’re fighting all the subpoenas,” Mr. Trump told reporters outside the White House. “These aren’t, like, impartial people. The Democrats are trying to win 2020.”
It is amazing to me that this is how the president of the United States behaves. Although, it IS consistent with his behavior throughout his "adult" life.
9
@Karen Lee
Is it your argument that Nadler and the democrats are impartial?
1
@Karen Lee He couldn't get away with this if the GOP were not as corrupt as he is. They make Trump possible. He would have been sent back to his tastelessly gilded tower in New York long since, if not for Mitch McConnell and his gang.
1
The Congress is no becoming the nascent National sandbox as the GOP and DP duke it out. The fight will more entertaining than anything they learn from each other. Mueller’s report is wasted print.
3
Take him down.
That's the only way that the Rule of Law will be preserved.
7
What if I don't answer/show up for a subpoena?
A subpoena to appear to testify is a court order. If you disobey the subpoena by failing to appear, you will be held in contempt, and the court will likely issue a bench warrant for you, and you will be arrested. You are better served by appearing in court in response to the subpoena.
How come I DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE, AND BARR DOES?
What's wrong with this picture?
22
It's clear Barr doesn't see himself as the U.S. Attorney General, but rather the Bush Administration Attorney General, but should anyone be surprised? This is the man that rescued Pres. HW Bush (41) from his clear involvement Iran-Contra.
9
@Five Oaks: Trump administration this time, but yes, exactly.
The Democrats on the committee are afraid to question Barr. They know they are no match for him. Jerry Nadler versus Bill Barr is not a fair fight.
6
@John
Uh, the Democrats on the committee are the ones who requested that Barr testify and they are the ones threatening to subpoena Barr. They are absolutely not afraid to question Barr. But you are right that Jerry Nadler vs. Barr is not a fair fight...Nadler has truth and honor on his side, Barr has Iran/Contra and a history of dissembling on his.
13
@lynchburglady
Then why is it that Nadler is insisting on staff lawyers be directly interrogating Barr? If the democrats on the committee are competent they wouldn't need their staff lawyers to do the questioning right?
1
@jaco:
I seem to recall that the Republicans had an attorney question Ford. There are many legal issues here that need to be addressed by people with a legal background. Why are the Republicans so afraid of Barr being questioned by attornies?
Barr smooth-talked his way through his Senate confirmation (this is my last job, I don't need to do this, I'll do the right thing, etc.), everyone grasping for any sign of a sane institutionalist who might blunt Trump's worst impulses. Instead, we got another enabler in contention for "Most Corrupt AG" on the scale of John Mitchell. America will get no help from Justice with Barr in the chair, so we need to vote them all out next year, and steam-clean Washington.
12
Wow...so if I get stopped by a cop or appear in court as a witness, I can object to the way they question me? The cancer of the Donald thinking he is above the law is spreading faster and faster!
13
@Mountain Dragonfly
Actually, you can object.
You can decide NOT to answer questions. Are there consequences to this, sure, most of which are not particularly pleasant.
But you have the right.
2
The sad thing is that it should not be up to Democrats to exercise Congressional oversight: It should be up to Congress. But because the GOP, besides (maybe) one or two members, will never break from Trump, it becomes inherently partisan and therefore impossible to get enough public support to pursue such oversight. The problem is far more complicated than Barr v. Congress and grows from decades of increased partisanship and the erosion of public trust in institutions.
28
This makes the Democrats look even more pathetic than before but honestly I don't think they care anymore. Occasionally there are welcome breaks from the witch hunt and this paranoid delusional quest for their own version of truth, like orphans abandoned on the border, a disaster somewhere, a plane crash or a terrorist attack to momentarily interrupt the news of this death spiral Democrats have put themselves into while those other problems just seem to kind of take care of themselves never to be heard of again while it's back to Democrats chasing their own tails. I guess that's what's meant by leading from behind.
10
@John Doe
How do you square the actual report (which you have read, right?) with Barr’s summary letter? There are discrepancies a-plenty.
It’s their right to ask and his duty to answer.
7
@John Doe
Interesting-- what plans or policy initiatives put forward by Trump are being delayed or stymied in some way by the actions of the (lawfully elected) House? One recalls Clinton being able to govern even while dealing with a frank impeachment hearing.
The rule of law means that there are, ultimately, rules and laws. Republican supporters have yet to define any behaviors by the Trump Administration that might cross said line. 'Anything Goes' is the name of a musical and not a section of the Constitution
3
@JP, please make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed while you’re at it reading it for me. At this point I don’t care what another report says. It seems like all this world does anymore is write reports. Job security foe lawyers and typists I suppose.
Banana Republic. I wonder if Barr and the cowardly and corrupt GOP toadies in the U.S. Senate and on the Supreme Court know what a joke they have become to so many Americans? They've brought down the level of respect people have toward their institutions to an historic low. In the gutter with the oligarchs and the Trump Family and Cabinet. Like the Mafia but without the sense of honor.
37
All of America….pay close attention to what is happening in this country ‘It Can Happen Here’. The demagogue / plutocrat in office will seize every opportunity to override and circumvent the country’s democracy and will inevitably set boundaries/restrictions so that only his terms are met. The indication of a threat to our Democracy is already here and requires no guess work to think otherwise. It sickens me to read and watch the dysfunction and actions of an inept, incompetent and corrupt President abusing the power of the highest office to no end. What’s even more frightening is his complicit GOP, supporters, evangelists and followers who blissfully turn a blind eye.
52
@A.A.F.The Trump voters are the scariest part, because they are about half of the US population and they are not going to change their minds that easily.
4
It is time to vote these sclerotic politicians out of office. All of them .
10
That photo is so disturbing: one a sad sack political hack the other looking terrified by the lies and hypocrisy of it all.
13
Hopefully America realizes this is just another ploy by Trump to create a "side line issue" that the press will eat up and divert attention to the real issues facing America today, issues the president should be concerned about for the welfare of the nation. But really, we have seen this for over two years now, and Trump continues to be one step ahead of the Dems. He may have never had any political experience before moving into D.C., but the man learns quickly how easily politicians can be moved to his wallet, and how easily it is to ultimately have those couple of votes in his back pocket. America, democracy, plutocracy....is there any difference here.
6
@Me Too
It is very difficult to out maneuver a sociopath. They do the unthinkable in pursuit of their goals. Be very afraid.
4
@Me Too Trump, as a completely amoral person with no respect for anyone or anything other than himself, has the advantage over others who are trying to maneuver within the law and ordinary standards of fair play. Trump and the GOP have no concern with such niceities.
1
I'm nostalgic for the notion of three co-equal branches of government.
20
Barr volunteered to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, not to engage layers employed by Democratic committee members in an argument over his prosecutorial decisions.
6
@William Case
The Committee gets to ask the questions. Whether the members or their employees actually do the asking is immaterial.
During the Kavanaugh hearings last year, the Senate Republicans hired Phoenix prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. a woman, to ask their questions of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Every one of them said "I relinquish my time to Attorney Mitchell" or the equivalent.
https://www.businessinsider.com/rachel-mitchell-prosecutor-christine-blasey-ford-kavanaugh-hearing-2018-9
10
@William Case
Their house, their rules. His personal or professional choices are not immune to oversight. Ask John Mitchell and Eric Holder.
6
"...establishing no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia..."
Get the negation right. It's "not establishing...." Not "establishing no"! Back to intro logic.
2
@Michael Kubara
The more complete logic can be tricky.
The absence of evidence (for truth or existence) is not evidence of absence (T or E)--unless there's been a careful--no limits--search for the evidence.
Mueller's was a careful search--but he had limits.
About 35 years ago, conservatives successfully lobbied to stop teaching Civics in public high schools. This is the result.
32
Barr being obstinate and obstructionist is the perfect play for the Democrats. He is already viewed as a partisan hack by many, but these actions will move the Independents. If he is unwilling to testify to explain his actions, which most people called extraordinary, then this is another drag on Trump et al. and their attempts to obstruct. And finally, Mueller is going to come next and paint him as even more of an obstructionist and personal lawyer for Trump.
9
@CA Dreamer
"...Mueller is going to come next and paint him as even more of an obstructionist and personal lawyer for Trump"
Not going to happen.
"Dreamer" indeed!
1
The irony of it all.
As it turns out, the Wall that is the President's obsession, is a Wall around Himself.
Interesting Strategery.
Let the next chapter of America's Monty Python Flying Circus commence.
4
@Truth Is True.
Nobody expects the Democrats inquisition! Give him the comfy cushion!
1
@Truth Is True.
please do not insult the Monty Python Flying Circus. It was imaginative, innovative and highly competent comedy, not the dark comedy of incompetence presented by the Trump administration.
5
@Bob Parker
You misunderstood me. I agree with you that Monty Python were very creative. I liked them because they used a great deal of absurd situations to describe people in power and their behavior.
The behavior of this president and his cohort is so absurd that it resembles the Monty Python Flying Circus' crazy antics of absurdity that we remember well. They all resemble buffoons pantomiming on stage like John Cleese used to.
These people deserve our ridicule.
1
It is long past time for the Democrats to stop being so Obi Wan and start being more Han Solo with these Republicans. They need to start levelling contempt charges on these people that violate subpoenas and blow through statutory deadlines imposed by committee chairs such as Mnuchin's non compliance with the deadline for Trump's taxes. The law is clear. They must be turned over to congress. PERIOD. Start putting them all in jail and keep them there until they comply. You have the power of the constitution and law behind you. Start using it!!! And if Barr refuses to testify, its time to impeach him. He may not be convicted and McConnell may not even hold the trial but it will bring headlines and national attention that the Attorney General has been impeached. Its time to bring the ruckus!!!
28
The reporter writes: ". . . the report of the special counsel . . . establish[ed] no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia . . ." That's simply not correct. Although the report did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy, it also did not establish that there was NO conspiracy. As the saying goes, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
6
The AG has a contentious gene- his father, Donald Barr, headmaster of the Dalton school from 1964-1974, spent most of his years there fighting with the parents, the Board and the teachers till he abruptly resigned.
There is a NYT article reporting his squabbles, so reminiscent of the son's behavior today.
7
Democrats, please subpoena any and all witnesses and evidence you think necessary to lift the veil of secrecy from the White House. Trump promised to drain the swamp - it is time to hold him to his word. If anyone doesn't comply with a subpoena, have marshals arrest them, slap them with fines, find them in contempt, anything that is necessary to get this White House to comply with the law. We have suffered with a would be tyrant who feels he is above the law long enough. If there is a case for impeachment, the American people need to hear it, and if we are persuaded, that path should be followed. The future of this democracy hangs in the balance.
29
"While Democrats remain deeply divided over whether to pursue impeachment, party leaders agree that they should use hearings to build a case on live television and see where it takes them. Mr. Barr’s testimony is part of that plan"
Their "plan" really has nothing to do with Mueller report. Nadler, Cummings et al do not care about the content of the Mueller report. What they are tasked with is, keeping the Dems "relevant and in the news" for as long as possible in order to coincide with the 2020 elections. Their belief is these actions will secure the next election for the Left.
It won't.
The only thing these hearings are going to lead to is the public's growing weariness of senseless investigations, desperate subpoenas and the fruitless move to impeach.
So good, fight these ridiculous motions every step of the way! Show that the Dems refuse to focus on governing our Nation and can do nothing else other than show their outright hatred for our President.
All of which will help our President win again in 2020.
4
@DB Endless hearing like what the Republicans conducted on Benghazi? Those type of endless hearings?
5
@DB
They don’t hate the sinner, they hate the sins.
As should all.
2
@DB
"Shows that the Dems refuse to focus on governing our Nation..." That's rich given the lengths Republicans went to in order to block Obama's SC choice; their refusal to address the problems of global warming; their incessant efforts to dismantle Obamacare; and their general week-kneed refusal to take Trump on even when he's most flagrantly in the wrong.
2
The democrats want a circus, I support Barr's position not to give them one.
4
I wonder what Trump holds over Barr: money, threats, or is Barr the same guy he's always been. The question is why would he want to retire with a forever tarnished reputation.
10
@Ellen F. Dobson
I keep watching “Billions” thinking it’s solid fiction. I’m not so sure anymore.
These are duly elected representatives of the people -- votes must mean something, if this admin conspires with Russia or any other foreign entity -- utilizing their illegal acts -- in the next election, this democracy is over, and Trump will have destroyed the constitution.
5
"Trump Defies Fundamental Principle of US Government" is the correct headline.
Apparently he doesn't believe in checks and balances.
23
This is just another delay tactic. They are trying to run out the clock. Shameful, but they don't care. It's all about Trump, not the country.
15
@Stan, what clock is that do you think? Until 2020? To me that makes no sense for by doing nothing until then all they're doing is making it worse by setting up any Democrat who could conceivably beat Trump with even a much bigger pothole to try and fix at America's expense. This tactic of theirs now demonstrates nothing but total self-indulgence and complete arrogant disregard for all Americans.
1
Before our eyes we see a growing autocracy and the abuse of power. Even the head of our justice system, the Attorney General himself, is manipulating and exploiting the tenets and roots of a democracy. He and Trump are omnipotent now; we are just pawns in a chess game of deceit and corruption. The sad thing is this will not stop. The House has limits; its counterpart, the Republican Senate, is spineless, indeed crippled by its own perverted self-interests. This fight between the lies and truth will continue. I just urge my fellow Americans to keep this pathetic and ominous display by Trump Inc fresh in their minds come November of 2020.
21
The onslaught of lawsuits reaching up to the Supreme Court that the Trump administration will undoubtedly pursue in this matters may have an unexpected benefit to the American people...
...presidential vs. congressional powers will be clarified and solidified for future generations. Obviously, we cannot rely on tradition. precedent, or the character and integrity of the President or his appointees to "do the right thing" any more.
The only question is...will our democracy survive in the meantime?
7
@Kelly Grace Smith I agree with you but there is another important question to consider. How will the Supreme Court decide these important legal disputes regarding the separation of powers described in the Constitution. Will it be objective and consider the long term consequences and thus find for the Congress in order to maintain its equal powers and our democracy? Or will it only consider short terms gains for the Republican party and favor the executive by limiting the investigative powers of the Congress? I wouldn't automatically assume the former considering the current make up of the Supreme Court. I know that's sad but it is being realistic.
5
The person to question is Mueller. And the questions to ask center on Mueller's "intention" in providing substantial and credible information in his report. Was Mueller intending to refer these insights to Congress for further analysis and possible action?
Mueller set his bar much higher then impeachment as in the Starr Report. Mueller used "beyond a reasonable doubt" to determine criminality in his investigation, and couldn't reach it.
Did Mueller nonetheless hope that Congress would take the next step? That would be a fascinating exchange.
19
@Mickey McMahon
THIS comment gets to the heart of the matter.
@Mickey McMahon Excellant point! I agree!
Democrats. Enforce the law.
Iran-Contra criminals were pardoned. No one punished.
Those responsible for the 2008 crash were not punished.
Bush/Cheney lied us into a two-trillion dollar war and were not punished.
These people all lied under oath—the basis of the Clinton impeachment: Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, Jared Kushner, Brett Kavanaugh—and more—like Barr himself.
Paul Manafort's defense lawyers said if he were not connected to Trump, his millions of dollars in fraud would not even be prosecuted.
Whittiker should still be under investigation for fraud, and he was our AG.
What keeps you from doing your constitutional duty? Are you afraid of money's power? Afraid of propaganda and social media and public dimness? Are you too polite? Our acting AG defrauded people in a cheap low-level scam. How low, exactly, do we have to go before you ENFORCE THE LAW FOR EVERYONE. Not just the poor and disadvantaged and addicted.
27
@Naples
They are afraid that they don't have a leg to stand on.
Not complicated.
2
@Naples
Sounds like a whole bunch of far Left conspiracies but makes lot of sense since we've become a rogue nation like in denying Iran even parts for their commercial planes. Like sanctioning everything in Venezuela without even having one public hearing justifying these wanton acts by our ex-casino Owner the President and his war happy Bolton and Pompeo.
1
@Frank J Haydn I guess you don’t value the constitution.
3
I wonder what the recourse is when the Attorney General is abusing his position to block critical facts in the Mueller Report?
Barr is also inappropriately supporting the President’s cruel and unusual immigration enforcement and he supports knocking out the ACA. Supposedly Chuck Grassley is writing the Republican health care law. I doubt Grassley is up to such a big task especially after watching this video:
https://shareblue.com/senator-chuck-grassley-mocks-voter-worrying-try-kill-aca-health-care/
5
I strongly recommend "How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziablatt. they die by a 1000 tiny cuts that few see until it is too late. Congress must crack down on anyone who defies a subpoena. failure to do so will be a serious break of our checks and balances.
20
@L'historien
More drama. Mr. Trump has been constrained by the Supreme Court, by appellate courts, and by Congress. Our checks and balances are working just fine. Our democracy will not "die." And if you are that worried, go vote and make a difference!
2
"May subpoena him"? Time to step up to the plate.
Appeasement, the policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict, didn't work for Neville Chamberlain and it won't work for the Democrats or indeed the future of everyone in the USA.
Trump's m.o. throughout his life has been to push the envelope, ride roughshod over everyone, weaponize the law and his celebrity power and now the presidency, buy off people, cross the line, use propaganda and street fight tactics to blacken the name of anyone who challenges him, and he is still on that course.
Difficult to tell where criminal enterprise ends and Government begins these days. Republicans (and those in the know) have shown themselves all too willing to keep omertà and sell America out to Don the Con for their own personal gain.
11
Just subpoena the guy already and get it over with.
22
It’s apparent the AG is a cheerleader for the WH. The DOJ, like almost every other Executive Department, is compromised. This is a constitutional crisis and it’s the patriotic obligation and sworn oath of the respective House chairmen to confront this threat to our Republic with vigorous hearings. The people’s right to know the extent of the corruption and incompetence and deceit emanating from this WH is paramount... issue and enforce those subpoenas without delay!
17
Congressional Democrats, we need you to hold firm for the sake of our country and democracy. If Barr refuses to testify because of his dislike of the 'terms', subpoena him- show him and other Trumps sycophants that you are firmly dedicated to seeking the full, unvarnished truth. Now is not the time to negotiate with those seeking to undermine our democracy and the rule of law. I strongly support and encourage you to do what an intelligent Trump critic recently said and did: "stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out".
16
“It’s basically a middle finger to Congress and its powers, and we’re going to see what Congress does about it.”
The House committees need to assert their unquestioned right and authority to perform oversight of the Executive Branch, which has been approved by the Supreme Court as early as 1821.
They should subpoena witnesses unless a witness appears voluntarily.
The House should set the terms under which it will question the witness, because it is conducting the examination.
Any person subpoenaed who fails to appear should immediately be cited for contempt, and the Sargent at Arms of the House should be ordered to arrest that person, and authorized to hire as many deputies as required to carry out such instructions.
The person so arrested should be held until he or she does testify (even if that means taking the 5th as a response to every question) or until the present Congress completes its term on January 3, 2021.
The House has the power to fine a non-responsive person, which fine should be at least $1000 per day.
Unless the House actually does the above, the Trump administration will continue raising its middle finger.
We are a country of laws. No person is above the law. Not even Donnie.
Congress, do your job. Send Donnie a message he will not misinterpret or ignore.
21
@Joe From Boston
In the wake of Mueller's finding of no criminal activity, a subpoena will do nothing but confirm -- even to conservative democrats -- that Mr. Nadler is engaged in a political witch hunt. Enough is enough.
3
@Frank J Haydn
Barr is a Trump hack.
He wrote an unsolicited 19 page "audition memo" knocking the Mueller investigation.
https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2018/12/20/read-bill-barrs-19-page-memo-ripping-mueller-probe/
Quote:
William Barr, President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department, has provided lawmakers a copy of his June memo to department officials, lambasting special counsel Robert Mueller III’s possible inquiry into whether Trump committed obstruction of justice.
The letter, which Barr wrote as a “former official,” is addressed to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Steven Engel, a former Dechert partner who now heads DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel. ...
End quote
He prejudiced himself to get the AG job, and now he is trying to make good on his earlier position.
He clearly misrepresented what the Mueller report says, and he failed to point out that Mueller did not indict because DoJ policy is not to indict a sitting Potus, ever.
Now, he wants to hide his bias in favor of Trump, but it is already on display.
His oath of office was to uphold the Constitution, not to lick Donnie's boots.
4
Attention Public Editor: The following statement is NOT TRUE.
‘Since the report of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, was released this month, establishing no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign...’
The report did not establish conspiracy to the level necessary for an indictment, but DID NOT establish that there was “no conspiracy.”
18
Donald Trump is blowing the Democrats out of the water.
Representative Nadler’s earnestly attempting to do the right thing but the president and his Doberman Pinscher of an attorney general have effectively and essentially erased the lines of responsibility for Congressional oversight. All foot soldiers in the Trump administration will now confidently, some perhaps with faint hearts, defy the Democrats. Who, outside of public opinion, will successfully contest them? They will ignore subpoenas and other calls for documents and accountability.
Folks, we’ve lost our country. The 2020 will be too late; Trump knows that and is digging in. Heard anything from Mitch McConnell lately?
Any litigation over this will go to the John Roberts Supreme Court. Doesn’t everyone know how that will turn out? In Trump’s next term, look for him to outlaw Democrats from SCOTUS appointments. Who’s to prevent this diktat? “We, the People,” who, in our everlasting stupidity, either stayed home in 2016 (100-millions) or thought Donald John Trump was a splendid idea, a dramatic, exciting change from Barack Obama.
We have, exactly and precisely, who and what we asked for. At the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin is leading the giddy “salut, comrades! We won!”
8
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18,
I really wish people would stop saying things like "We have, exactly and precisely, who and what we asked for."
No, we didn't. And despite Trump's constant playing of that song by The Rolling Stones, we CLEARLY didn't get what we need.
Be magnanimous, Chairman Nadler, and let Mr Barr have his way. Just make sure your Committee members have good questions prepared with good follow-ups. They need to be carefully prepped by knowledgeable staff how to prosecute someone with the experience of A.G. Barr. And pleeeeeeze no 5-minute self serving speeches that make the congressman himself look foolish.
3
Yep, the questioning members should get together in advance, with the staff lawyers to put together a solid questioning path.
Consider the q&a to be one big q&a, not a handful of individual house members looking for stupid soundbites.
Unless the questions are submitted in advance, the staff lawyers should be able to host a ‘back room’ and design questions for follow up.
Perhaps Barr doesn't want to be interviewed by Congressional staff lawyers because, judging by remarks I heard him say the last time he was in front of Congress, he did not come across very well at all. I think he is being advised , as was Trump, that pointed questions demanding yes or no answers is not his strong suit.
17
I see no reason for DJT to cooperate with the house dems. No matter what information he provides them, they will want more. He should fight every request.
4
There won't be any legislation done in the next 1.5 years. The job for the house is to wage war on the GOP and Trump and that means impeachment and hearings. Bring it all to TV.
6
Subpoena AG Barr. If both he and WH Counsel McGann refuse a lawful subpoena they should go to the DC Bar and have them called in to answer the complaint. They both have to have to be admitted to the Bar to practice law. Go after them that way and every other lawyer in the Administration with a law license in DC. Hit them where it hurts.
How can a lawyer that breaks the law, and is an officer of the court, not have their law license called in to question?
24
If the questions put before Mr. Barr et al are carefully worded and asked in appropriate order what difference does it make who mouths the questions. Every Congressperson on the committee should have a chosen staff member sitting next to him during the hearing just as a witness at a deposition might have a lawyer helping him with questions and answers. Don't let the Trump lawyers stymie the Judiciary Committee over who asks the questions. And, Congressmen should not give 5 minute speeches instead of questions. They make themselves look foolish before those of us who pay attention to what is said at these things.
11
Have a marshal at the ready. Isn't there a jail cell somewhere in the building? They wouldn't hesitate if it were you or me.
Do your jobs.
18
Trumpies have my pity. It's just amazing to read comments praising Barr's lawyer smarts, as if that prevents him from being a lying anti-Constitution toady for trump. Trumpies' morals are super flexible, allowing THEIR president to use our 3-branch system as his personal fiefdom. With cheers from his fans.
Let's try explaining it like this:
Your 10 year old is always in trouble at school. At grade time, he refuses to show his report card, but says it totally exonerates him, case closed! You demand to see the report card. The kid lies again and says he lost it. When you find the tiny pieces in his pocket, he says grades don't matter, so shut up! Also he claims that was last week, so you need to move on.
When you go to call the teacher to get the info, the kid screams that you're deranged - tells the teacher that his parents are bitter people who want to destroy their child. The principal tells your son that the school's law allows parents to see all their child's paperwork, including report cards, so you........start hating on the principal. Your 10 year old has pushed the boundaries of behavior, and you've rewarded him, because he didn't actually break a law requiring jail time. (Also, your kid's school file is filled with his bullying; you hate that they don't let your kid be himself!!)
trumpFOX has convinced you that Congress should be subject to the president's desires. Since the founding dads made sure that doesn't happen, why do you let trump override our constitution?
17
Any one in America is has been issued a Subpoena MUST appear at the day and time they are called -
If, they do not appear - they are in Contempt of Court - Fined and possibly face arrest with jail time.
So - these people have a choice - Appear - or - Be Held in Contempt of Court - Fined - Arrested and Sentenced to Jail if they continue to refuse to appear and testify under Oath.
No one in the America is above the Law - including Trump and his minions.
18
They should petition Mueller to testify first, in a closed session. THEN require Barr to testify, and ask him pointed questions to which you have proof of the correct answers, and which will both embarrass him and force him to concede that the President is essentially a crook. Or risk perjury before Congress, which you then do right-then-and-there and have Rosenstein walk the guy out in cuffs.
Enough of this playing nice.
16
It seems rather odd to me, and I suspect to many of your non-American readers, that people can apparently negotiate how a committee conducts its questioning; it is even odder that they can apparently defy a subpoena and not be arrested, taken before a court and held to account. If Mr. Barr does indeed refuse to heed a subpoena to appear before the House then he should suffer the consequences as should any citizen no matter their position and, yes, that goes for the Head of State as well.
291
Even odder still that a president under investigation would be allowed to choose his prosecutor. Trump is the most dangerous at this moment in time because he faces jail time if he loses in 2020.
34
@Allsop, it seems odd to many of us, too. Not to mention abhorrent.
27
@Allsop, it is odd to us Americans as well. For instance it never occurred to us that you can just say "no" to a congressional subpoena - who knew?
What's going on here is boundary-pushing. Trump, the AG and others are finding out how much they can get away with. They have some political cover and a powerful propaganda news network in place to help them.
34
I really don't see a feud. The House has done nothing. If they subpoena Barr it would be the first time they have done something other than nothing. I don't believe oversight can be accomplished when one entity is extremely passive and the other a belligerent bully.
Democrats would rather play politics and worry about their future hold on power than to address directly the things that need to be taken care of now.
Everyone knows the democrats only talk about helping people. They only talk about the rule of law. It is why Trump is president, because many people know that democrats are all talk. Stop worrying about your political careers and start doing what is the right thing to do. How about you start by enforcing the laws equally to all people including the president and the "Justice Department" which is now Trumps personal legal team.
14
@Chris: Trump is president because this infantile nation has grown suicidally nihilistic.
4
@Chris
"Stop worrying about your political careers and start doing what is the right thing to do."
This statement truly applies to the Republicans in Congress who are cowards by neglecting to stand up for separation of powers as spelled out in the Constitution.
3
@Chris Please! Trump opportunistically positioned himself as 'comfort food' and people gobbled it up. He will keep making a meal out of whatever serves him best - bread and circuses is a clear winner, for the moment.
Democrats are just digging their own hole. They could easily get questions from staff rather than having staff ask them and could have staff standing by to pass questions to them. It's obvious that they instead want staff to pose questions suggesting some type of coverup of something, we know not what next, and ensure deniability while claiming legitimacy because the questions would be coming from supposedly neutral professionals. Spare us the drama. Two years, hundreds of interviews, dozens of subpoenas, complete cooperation from the WH in providing documents and staff for questioning, etc.--and no collusion, no conspiracy, no questionable contacts with Russia or Russians and every so-called "bombshell" debunked. Enough is enough. This delusion must be ignored even as Democrats insist we believe them and not out lying eyes and ears.
5
@Allen You don't know that there is no obstruction of justice. Did you read the Mueller report? Because Mueller explicitly states that he could not exonerate the President.
We have not seen Trump's taxes. We have seen him lie (daily). There are no records of Trump's meeting with Putin. We do know that Trump continued to pursue business in Russia, in direct contradiction of running for the highest office in the land.
The drama that is being caused here is by a sitting POTUS* who cannot talk policy, but prefers talking smack. Fighting legal requests for his taxes, telling his staff to lie for him, and refusing to cooperate with Congress: that's where we are now, because a has-been reality-show host believes that he is King.
The obstruction is right in your face every day. No, Mr. Bonespurs is no leader -- Mueller's report is very clear that ethics are not Trump's concern. It falls to us to hold him accountable. What do you expect from a POTUS* who -- very likely -- could not explain to you what the Constitution says, or what the separation of powers means? THAT is your standard for good governance?
9
@Allen
I note the change to no "questionable" contacts with Russia. Sorry but didnt every single member of the Trump administration straight up lie and say they had none, zero contacts with Russia? Didn't Trump say this himself? And we are to believe its the Democrats that are lying?
5
@Allen The Mueller report did not conclude that there were "no questionable contacts with Russia or Russians." The report concluded just the opposite. The report concluded that the contacts did no amount to a crime that was actionable against a sitting president per Justice Department policy. And even of the report did conclude that the president and/or his minions did not commit crimes per se, their failure to report the offers of dirt on Ms. Clinton to the FBI was unethical and immoral. Congress has a constitutional right to look into these matters on their own and call relevant witnesses including some of those who spoke with Mueller.
3
So...only women can be questioned by an attorney in a hearing? I'm sure Barr fancies himself as a young vibrant man, like his "boss," he certainly shouldn't have a problem.
16
If I recall correctly, Eric Holder ignored a Congressional subpoena in the Fast and Furious investigation and nothing happened to him. I suspect the same nothing will happen to Barr.
4
@MFV, actually, the House voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over his failure to turn over documents.
However, putting that in perspective, that might also mean that "nothing happened to him".
@Karen Lee
It appears being held in contempt of Congress is meaningless considering the contempt held for Congress by an overwhelming majority of Americans.
What is he trying to hide?
12
Barr - another guy who thinks he is above the law. His arrogance is mind-boggling.
20
We're in a very bad place when the Attorney General displays an open contempt for honesty, integrity, and the rule of law. But what should we expect from someone who actively sought a position within the profoundly corrupt Trump administration?
331
@Christopher M I used to worry about America until I decided that death is coming to everyone eventually in case America becomes some dystopian autocratic state.
5
@Christopher M
Agreed.
This is all part of Barr's audition for the next potential vacancy on the Supreme Court.
11
The administration's attempts to sidestep congressional hearings is evidence of the president's continuing effort to bring governmental power unto himself, denying that Congress is a co-equal entity. Live telecasts of hearings will do more to expose these efforts than chatter about impeachment.
21
It seems Mr. Nadler wants his staff people to question the Attorney General as he is concerned the Democratic members of his Committee are not intelligent enough to ask the AG questions themselves or even read questions prepared by the staff when handed to them. Having seem some of those folks in action I share his concern.
9
Or possibly that Barr has perfected his skills of dodging and lying so it take two sets of questions to nail down the deceit.
5
@James. Obviously you have not seen the members of the committee who have almost uniformly been able to expose what wretched creatures these Trump “workers” are no matter what agency they are in. The inability to read text also seems to be contagious and starts from the top, I mean The Trump.
3
@James, be a little brave and identify who you’re talking about.
3
You do realize that Nadler doesn't actually want Barr to testify right? That would provide Barr the national venue to eviscerate the Democrat's continued call for collusion and obstruction. So instead of getting a more thorough explanation of Barr, they want to put on a show having lawyers questioning him to present the narrative that he's on trial.
Otherwise, why not have Barr appear? Unanswered questions? Then have Barr appear again, and again, and again. If you were the prosecutor, would allow him not to appear under any circumstance and then get nothing? Nadler knows what the 1999 Special Counsel Regulations say; he was on the committee when it became law; he was literally read in on the explanation of what information Congress is entitled to receive from the AG; and Nadler was one of many Democrats insisting that there was no carve out exemption for Congress to receive Grand Jury Testimony as it would be a Rule 6(e) violation.
Nadler can't have Barr testify and then have Mueller backing up that testimony in May when he testifies. That would end his ability to say "we need to do more investigating."
I thought it was a huge tactical mistake to have Barr testify before Mueller, and now it's easy to see that he finally figured it out (was told).
8
@ehillesum: Why don't people like you stop trying to conflate politics, with seeking the real truth? Instead of carping that the Democrats are trying to essentially void the last major election, why don't you accept the fact that a corrupt sociopath, who lies like a rug, is being investigated? And,no matter this outcome, Trump is not even close to being put of the woods; and deep down, he knows it.
Nixon was clearly smarter than Trump; and look what happened?
Never say "never."
21
@Ponsobny Britt - I am shocked you use the term "corrupt Sociopath." I will tell you what is corrupt. The Hillary campaign paying a foreign intelligence officer with Russian connections to compile opppostion research on Trump that would later be used by the FBI in a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump campaign. Even more important we had to listen to countless hours from talking heads in the MSM shove a pure fabrication down our throats. If he is a sociopath so be it, at least he is exposing something is far worse. Something we should all care about as Americans.
1
@brian nelson
The Fisa warrants were justified even before the Steele dossier. Follow the chronicle of events before bloviating.
4
@brian nelson, For the life of me, I can't figure out what you understand as corrupt. Steele was a former British spy who was hired by the Marco Rubio campaign to dig up dirt on Trump. When Rubio dropped out of the race, the Clinton campaign contracted Steele. Steele was a private citizen with no affiliation to any foreign government and certainly not the Russians. Many of the things in his "dossier" have turned out to be true while some of the most salacious remain unsubstantiated. Where is there corruption in any this?
If they don't comply, arrest them. GENPOP
23
@Brez
Right, good advice. What is GENPOP?
5
And still millions of people close their eyes to the reality going on with this administration.
My God, the Attorney General, the criminal who heads the DOJ actually saying that he will skip testifying before congress if the terms of the questioning are not changed.
Does anyone else think it’s maddening that these criminals get to “negotiate” the terms of the questioning?
It should be illegal for any member of the Executive branch to have any say in what questions a Congressional committee poses during testimony that is investigating the criminal actions of a president. The AG should be forced to answer any and all questions, and if he doesn’t, or if he lies, he should be removed from office and sent to prison. This administration is so far out of hand, the criminal activity is never ending, the constant lies, the screwing over of working class and poor people, the stealing everything from us to give it to the wealthy, and nearly every single person in government is corrupt in one way or another.
I am ashamed to even call myself an American anymore in this land controlled by unethical liars and corrupt criminals.
Congress should have just subpoenaed Barr from the get-go, and issued an arrest warrant if he failed to comply, just like any other citizen. Being the AG should not place him above the law.
38
It looks like the White House is trying to keep Congress occupied until the 2020 elections. By the same token, I am happy to see Congress keeping the White House occupied until the 2020 elections. At least that way, less damage can be done on the issues that are important to me: Health Care, Immigration, Environment, Government Debt, Taxes, Social Security, Education, ....
17
I think if I were Barr I would be very afraid of being questioned by a real lawyer - and one experienced in taking depositions or criminal cases.
Remember when Barr was before a committee about his 4-page summary and was asked if he had shown the full Muller report to anyone in the WH. He talked around what was clearly a yes or no question and the questioner didn't call him on it. A real lawyer would have told him to answer the question - yes or no.
Of course, the way Barr answered the question left no doubt that he had shown the report to the WH.
27
I think Barr was seduced by the call of public attention once again. He must have been tired of being held back in the shadows for many years. This is a fine example of someone who had a somewhat decent reputation and gambled it away by joining a corrupt administration under the guise of being the Attorney General. I wouldn't expect any other behavior from him than fighting against testifying before Congress.
16
@Wally Wolf: sorry but plenty of us knew of his corrupt role in the department during his prior stint there. Google it. He even used the same language in hiding unpleasant (to GOP) facts then.
8
Why is there a threat of subpoena? Why hasn't it already been issued? What is wrong with Pelosi and the Democrats? Do they really want 4 more years of trump? Why? Why? Why?
Just like the infighting amongst the 20 Democratic candidates, which only serves to re-elect trump.
Barr must be subpoened and likely should be impeached due to his acting as trump's personal lawyer vice as the US's. This threat of subpoena is without any substance without a follow through.
13
@cagy
Democrats are so blinded by rage that they have lost their way.
3
@cagy MAGA! Subpoena? You do realize he's the top cop? Is he going to prosecute himself?
@cagy The Democrats, like the media, are still confusing respect and deference for the White House with the man. It's a hail mary that is not going anywhere.
The issue here, if I read this correctly, seems to be one of balance.
Mr. Mueller was charged with determining whether crimes were committed; Mueller was not / not charged with determining whether or not the evidence gathered was sufficient or insufficient for "exoneration."
That is a political judgment, and one that the Democrats have seized upon to follow up with continued questioning / investigations.
Mr. Barr obviously has come to the same conclusion, and wants to cooperate with Congress -- he agreed to testify.
I reckon that Mr. Barr can handle "staff lawyers" but why the heck should he? It seems to me that Barr is within his rights to set limits on what was once a legitimate, legal investigation, but has morphed into a political matter.
6
@Frank J Haydn: I reckon he’s scared of a continuous 30 mins of probing questions instead of a disjointed series of 5 mins one side and 5 mins of distraction by the other.
10
@Larry
"Scared"? Is that your analysis?
1
@Frank J Haydn: we both just reckoning Bro.
1
Watching this complete breakdown of our system of government from the democratic side is ghastly. I only wonder if there are still some republicans out there that believe in fighting corruption and preventing a dictatorship for the sake of our democracy but I don't see any in congress and few in the courts. In fact, I'm becoming convinced that they have no problems with abandoning democracy completely to ram their perverse version of pseudo-religious authoritarian fascism down our throats. But one day I'm sure they'll face a rude awakening when the actual majority in this country rises up to reject them and I hope their troubles will be proportionate to the risks they've posed to this nation with their unprecedented corruption and criminality. It's time for heads to roll IMHO.
13
This is ongoing obstruction to legitimate investigations. Numerous counts of obstruction have been handed to us by Mueller report and they are continuing the effort right in front of our eyes. How about instead of subpoena we just start impeachment? Trump and his cover up crew need to get out of office before every last shed of our Democracy dies. I imagine Putin with smiling and patting himself on the back for al this. Wonder what gems he will give us in 2020?
17
It's so funny. On the one hand Democrats are saying it's obvious Barr lies and Mueller found Trump guilty. But on the other hand they know they will lose in a normal hearing, so they propose an "unusual" one. And they do it not from the start when agreement was mutual, but right before the scheduled and agreed upon testifying.
3
@areader I remember this one time, when the Republicans wanted to have a nice woman gently question a female witness on the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice, and then, when it became clear that it was not going their way, and they waited until the accuser was safely removed from the room after completing her testimony ('cause Heaven forbid they should be viewed as insensitive), they switched up the agreed-upon format and let Lindsay Graham and all the other angry old white men fake outrage at the mistreatment of such a classy guy who just liked an occasional drink in his teens while he and a friend assaulted a female classmate in a locked room.
Real funny.
4
@Jeff,
You forgot to mention what a "nice woman" questioner said after: that she, the "nice woman" questioner and experienced investigator, found and could prove that the accuser was lying.
1
If there is no crime who cares if there may have been obstruction. Only people who want Trump out of office for anything do. Would one try to press charges for obstruction of a murder investigation if there was no murder? Or a bank robbery investigation if there was no robbery?
Now Barr who committed no crime is being treated like a criminal. He is now the one obstructing the investigation of no crime. Now in the democrats twisted world it doesn’t matter if there ever was a crime. The most important issue is how one reacts to the investigation of said no crime.
2
@Jim
The Mueller report uncovered and/or confirmed that the Russians tried to influence Trump's campaign and the election, members of Trump's team eagerly tried to accept that help, and then Trump tried to cover it up by having his own people fire Mueller.
No, he didn't get away with it, and this is the result.
9
@Jim—with clearly no idea of law.
2
I thought intent was the distinguishing factor. I've heard it said "but you can't prove intent". Now we have evidence of intent and the repubs still are blind to ANY trump wrongdoing. Is it ok to tell your underlings to lie? Why is our frightened president so frightened?
2
While I don't approve of Barr's defiance of Congress, I'm not sure why Congress wants to bother hearing from him. Might as well just call Rudy Giuliani or Jay Sekulow to testify.
5
If Trump Stooge Attorney General Barr ignores a subpoena, he should be thrown in jail until he does.
19
@Kip
You mean like Obama "wingman" Holder was for refusing to hand over documents or testify about Fast and Furious?
Democrats don’t threaten to subpoena DO IT!
15
@K
Absolutely. Then the whole thing can work its way through the court system for the next five years. Thanks Dems.
Let's say the company I work for is being investigated by the Feds because they are suspected of some wrong-doings. So I get a subpoena from the Feds but my CEO tells them that his employees aren't going to testify. I'm no lawyer, but I'm guessing if I ignore the subpoena, some people in uniforms are going to forcibly haul me into court. There a judge will ask, "You gonna testify, boy?" If I say "yes", I'll probably be fired. If I say "no", the judge will probably say, "Well son, you're gonna sit in a cell till you change your mind."
How hard would it be for the NYT to round up a few lawyers with expertise in this current situation and ask them some pertinent questions about the administration's declarations about testimonies, income tax disclosures, and access to other documents? You pay for them. You agree not to divulge their names. You demand simple understandable answers to your questions. You stress there are no wrong answers... only correct truthful answers. And, there is no problem with, "I don't know, judges would have to decide and here's my opinion on that would proceed through the courts. Think about it... please!
4
@Mark
Yes but in your example you do not work for a co-equal branch of the government. Congress doesn't have unlimited power where the executive branch is concerned. Some of this is likely to end up before the Supreme Court.
@Catholic and Conservative... First of all, thanks for your response... I'm afraid you're right about this mess being on its way to multiple levels of our courts. I watch interviews on the nightly news hours and they have numerous panelists who are introduced as experts in these matters. Unfortunately, they respond to these questions with dissertations so long you forget the original question. It's like they are lawyers or politicians or they don't have a clue... Oh yeah, that's what they usually are. The TV moderator in charge never calls them on their idiotic procrastinations because if they insult them they may not come back on the "show".
The Trump administration has become a lawless, rogue regime.
17
The transition to a totalitarian state continues. The republican tools better watch out. They too will be stripped of power.
10
If the shoe was on the other foot the lying cheating republicans would of staged a revolt by now. This Constitution shredding Illegitimate president must be impeached or the country will fail.
8
Democrats, like leftists anywhere, just love a good show trial.
5
@EGD—Benghazi, you say?
4
@Larry
Oh, I forgot.
It was all about a movie.
‘What difference at this point does it make...’
And to think she almost became president...
2
Instead of working for the American peoples legal interest while preserving, protecting and defending their Constitution Bill Barr and Rod Rosenstein are acting as the criminal defense lawyers for Donald Trump and his treacherous foreign scheme aka Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel, Vladimir Putin and Russia and Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Arabia.
" Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling out the vineyards where the grapes of wrath are stored. He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword. His truth is marching on. Glory glory Hallelujah!"
John Brown lives! Abraham Lincoln lives! Frederick Douglass lives! Martin Delany lives! Harriet Tubman lives!
1
Re: the headline on the home page. IT. IS. NOT. A. FEUD. Grow up, New York Times, and stop buying the Trump Reality TV spin.
6
Why don't the ace staff members ask their questions through members of Congress? That format seems acceptable. Having the Attorney General answering the questions of junior staffers in front of the cameras is an effort to demean. We the people are paying taxes so members of Congress can ask tough questions. So they can rapidly do their jobs. Are the people in government ever going to do the work of the taxpayers?
4
@C3PO—why? 5 mins of Dem Qs followed by 5 mins of Repub distraction to help Barr is obviously NOT as effective as 30 continuous questions from one key staff member.
2
@C3PO
Precisely. They can also be on hand to provide follow up questions for committee members. Dems are fooling no one but their rabid supporters.
Mr. Barr acts a lot like President Trump, both believing they are above the law. They are not. That Mr. Trump would act in this way is not surprising as he lost his moral compass long ago. But Mr. Barr is an attorney and is expected to operate at a much higher level of decorum. Perhaps becoming a shill for President Trump has weakened his legal foundation. Mr. Barr has shown he cannot discharge his responsibilities as the attorney general of the United States. This is very serious. At the very least, the governing body that regulates Mr. Barr's law license should open an investigation into his character and fitness to be a lawyer.
18
We need to start thinking like Republicans if we want to understand their behavior. Allow me to explain.
What is most odd about this situation is that all the obstruction of justice going on in plain site must be part of a Republican strategy as devious as Trump. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.
It is very clear by now that Republicans have to know of all the crimes that have been committed, and yet, Republicans continue to behave as if no crimes have been committed.
Why?
1. Trump and his supporters in the Senate and Judiciary must be counting on a weak response from House Democrats and disinterested and fatigued voter response, aided by their Fox propaganda efforts.
2. Or, Republicans must believe that their obstruction wall has been constructed so well this time around, that their obstruction will not fail this time as it failed for Nixon.
It is lesson 2, the lesson that Republicans learned from Watergate and Nixon. And, If your tool chest includes lies, cheating and stealing, this is what I would do.
9
This is not "Barr's feud with Congress."
This is a rogue executive branch with a gangster president who long ago exceeded Nixon's defiance of the rule of law and Congressional oversight and is impeachable right now.
We're in a constitutional crisis. There should be street protests such as what was done to surround the White House when Nixon was considering resignation.
Pelosi and the other corporate Dems should being impeachment proceedings immediately.
13
I guess we are going to find out if the house subpoena has any teeth in it or is just a political theater.
5
“No one hired to be in the White House would ever come to a conclusion not to my Trumps benefit. It’s part of our hiring magic.”
1
Oh yeah, he's surrounded himself with the best people. Right...
1
Trump and his crew will not ever back down. They are out to establish theocracy or bust.
4
It's time to subpoena Barr. He works for us, not Trump. Put the brakes on this behavior before we live in a dictatorship, please!
19
I guess Nadler believes the democrat house members are not smart enough to question Barr on their own? I have to agree with Nadler's assessment.
4
Once again, I refer you to the book "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," by the railroaded Senator Al Franken. It covers a lot of relevant ground here.
5
So, it turns out that Barr is no better than the rest of the Trump bunch.
11
In the light of his checkered past, how could Trump pass the security clearance if 25 of WH staffs including Kush and his daughter could hardly pass it?
5
Barr is:1; aiding and abetting in Trump's treason with Russia; and, 2; obstructing justice.
We have not seen the Mueller report.
We have seen the Barr report.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
9
If Barr doesn't comply, serve the subpoena with Sargent at Arms. If Barr refuses to comply, a Federal Marshall can take Barr into custody until he decides to follow the law.
Lock them up.
29
There is no feud.
Nadler changed the rules Barr agreed to testify to.
Now Nadler wants committee lawyers to question Barr instead of committee members as originally agreed to.
Barr is right to resists the Democrats and their show trial.
5
@EGD
Since when does someone who is called to testify get to assert the terms of the inquiry?
Barr is an employee of the US, aka, We the People, and the legislative body represents our voice in Washington.
Barr should do as he is being instructed, or be charged with Contempt.
11
@We the People.
I guess you missed the part about Nadler changing the rules of the game that were agreed to.
1
@EGD, Chairman Nadler gave him a week notice to prepare.
1
Exactly what are we expecting to learn from Barr? Saint Mueller subjected the country and many innocents to a two year inquisition, and despite Stalinesque coercion, could find no one willing to say they colluded with Russia; something most of us knew on November 9, 2016. And despite three dozen indictments, none for collusion, he was conveniently unable to render an opinion on obstruction.
So we begin another period of made for TV show hearings to bash all in Trump’s orbit. Bill Barr suffers no fools and appears poised to further humiliate hapless Dems.
But Dem theatrics are unlikely to dissuade Barr from pursuing the true colluders, stripping away their facade of innocence.
2
@Dutybound "true colluders"
Care to explain? Facts would be helpful, not innuendo.
4
What are the Democrats even investigating at this point? Do they seriously think they’re going to find something Mueller missed?
2
The House must persist. Barr now thinks as Trump does that he is above the law. It was obvious when someone who thinks the President is above prosecution gets to be Attorney General what the next action taken would be...more obstruction!
5
No one is above the law. Not even the chief law enforcement officer. Show up, answer the questions.
10
Trump has exploited all presidential powers to paralyze the rule of law and filled the White House with inferior, corrupt people. McConnell is in the process of stacking the courts with extreme-right conservative judges and Trump's done a fine job of corrupting the Supreme Court where it has become too partisan and people have lost confidence in its rulings. We are at a very dangerous point in American history and something must be done immediately to correct this while it’s still reversible.
11
Tump is just one more Tweed, Pendergast or Daley. The template of old city bosses and their (mostly Democratic) political machines of the past has been resurrected at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These would be cigar chompers are basically saying to its City Council, aka the US House of Representatives, "you'll get what you'll get and you'll like it!' It's all there, especially the patronage to favorite cronies who generously contributed to the machine or, in this case, suppressed rather than got out the vote. So, if you go to a Federal department'a office for help or to do business, maybe in DC, don't be surprised if your hear the honcho behind the office door growl, "We don't want nobody nobody sent!"
1
So what else is new? Another Trumpie defying any orderly attempt at getting to the truth. And the picture of Rosenstein standing in full support of it sums up the last two years. From time to time we were concerned that Mueller would go if Rosenstein went. Now it's clear that would never have happened, the fox was in charge at the hen house all along.
It's time to give up on Mueller and the whole sham and work night and day to remove the scourge of Trump throughout the entire system. It's a minority group, vote the minority out.
3
The people must have the last word or we no longer have a Democracy.Barr and his master must obey the people, This is the final showdown of who controls this Government.
11
How to avoid lying under oath.
6
Once again the Republican Party is showing us the conservative definition of "Law and Order". Law and order does not apply to them and their big business and millionaire friends. Law and order applies to working class people, the minorities and the poor.
6
Subpoena Barr and if he refuses to show up, have him arrested and jailed. Handle him as anyone else who flouted the law would be handled.
9
Albert Einstein: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
4
The White House is instructing witnesses not to comply with subpoenas.
Everyone take a breath and let that sink in. He’s obstructing while saying no obstructing. This foolishness needs to come to an END.
11
Oh yeah, I remember something I read in mid-January about, "WASHINGTON – William Barr, nominated to succeed ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, strongly proclaimed his independence from political influence Tuesday."
1
So much posturing by Barr and his "defenders" and typical SOP by the GOP: Do as I say, not as I do.
Vote the bums out in 2020 and let's bring integrity back into government and public service!
5
"Mr" Nadler is a thug, and no, he will not be granted unfettered access to redacted paragraphs simply because he intends to make a public circus of this. Trump is certainly distasteful, but this thuggery in the form of "we won't stop until we get the answer that we want" is political malpractice, and it is going to backfire on Nadler, big time.
1
@Dutch Jameson no it wont...how do you people come up with this stuff?
2
The executive branch has the FBI, the courts have the US Marshall's office, and Congress also has a police department, the Capitol Police.
Can the House committee order the Capitol Police to arrest Barr for contempt of Congress and compel him to appear?
Not releasing the Mueller report in full or dictating terms of interrogation to the House Judiciary Committee that Attorney General Williom Barr is doing could only mean a systematic conspiratorial gameplan of Trump and his henchmen to obstruct and scuttle the justice.
4
Congressional Democrats have become the last line of defense against autocracy becoming the law of the land. This week is the tipping point. Either House Chairs and members find the spine and the voice not only to speak up but to act for democracy or it's gone. If folks have to be subpoenaed and go to jail, then that is what must happen. If we don't have three co-equal branches of government, then our democracy is gone.
8
As if AG Barr is going to answer any question truthfully. HIS truth will be a calculated and chosen 'defense' of Trump cloaked in cherry picked legalism.
AG Barr is bought and paid for by Trump. HIS 'interpretation' of the report supplanted with conspiracy theory will be pushed for Trump's benefit.
4
Who does Barr think he is, "threatening" congressional committees? He works for us, not the White House, and he should remember that Congress has a Master at Arms with the power to jail him for contempt if he fails to show up.
10
Such arrogance and contempt for the law Barr has. Don’t threaten a subpoena. Do it!
3
The United States would face less dissension and conflict were Trump to be defeated in 2020, or decide not to run again. But the House will probably uncover so much more wrong-doing they will be compelled to impeach him.
6
Well the Russians are working for Trump with election interference so he has the deck stacked in his favor...again.
3
The Democrats have to engage in a "maximum pressure campaign" which should include imprisonment in the House. Weakness in the face of this defiance by the executive will destroy Congress' check over the executive. This is one time the Democrats have to take a lesson from the scorched earth tactics employed without hesitation by Republicans at every turn. Backing down is a betrayal.
10
Why is Nadler wasting time with Barr? Trump has already proved he has him in his pocket. Subpoena Mueller and ask him the question we all want to know and that is does he agree with Barr's assessment and if not why not.
If the Democrats don't do this soon it will look like they really have nothing and are just stalling for the 2020 election.
We all deserve to hear the truth so that we can fully understand Mueller's intention with this report.
6
We are presently skating dangerously close to an imperial presidency and Mr Barr is an enabler. Mr Barr needs to be brought to justice and if it takes a court order to force his testimony so be it! No one, not the President nor his attorney are above the law.
11
This reminds me of Trump providing written responses to Mueller's questions. Our president, who claims to have an outstanding memory, relied on written responses that stating he couldn't recall.
Barr is just like his boss. Trying to be a bully who hides.
Sad.
8
It is not difficult to see Barr's colors, as he is nothing but a Trump puppet. These are the kinds of people that makes up the White House government. A sad for the Department of Justice because they have become another agency that has lost the trust of Americans. Trump has done one good thing as President: he has opened the eyes of America to the greed, dishonesty, and corruption within our government. We can blame no one but ourselves as we let it happen, but we will see them all leave soon. 2020 is the beginning and it is just around the corner.
5
The Federalist Society is changing its name to The Monarchist Society, or better yet, The Czarist Society.
Anyone remember when Pres. Obama used the term “Czar” to refer to someone he was going to put in charge of overseeing drug enforcement (I think) and the Republicans went crazy.
They have one upped Obama and made Donald the first American Czar.
5
Here is a new worry to consider: when Trump loses in 2020, does anyone really believe he will go away quietly? I don't. He's going to cry foul!, rigged system!, etc. I see Trump starting a civil war.
5
I believe I read that if he refuses to go he will be escorted out.
Sending AG Barr to Congress before IG Horowitz's Report comes out specifically addressing Comey's FISA shenanigans in less than two weeks seems a tad premature to me.
2
Does not Congress still have the power of the purse? Money talks.
12
If I had every intention of dodging questions to avoid lying to congress, I wouldn't want to be questioned by staff lawyers either. Barr knows that he has put himself in legal jeopardy. My only question is how did he not know this was going to happen? He's not an unintelligent man. I find it fascinating that so many people are willing to destroy their reputations to protect Trump.
44
@Patty O
It would be interesting to count the golden parachutes these craven lackeys will certainly receive after they help Trump destroy this country for his own persona gain.
3
@Patty O
Barr agreed to testify because he wants to abide by the law and our Constitution.
@Ravenna
The question is receive from whom....Trump has no honor or loyalty, and while he may promise the moon, he will not truly give them anything if he has already received what he wants. Either they are stupid enough to believe he will do it for them, or someone else is covering the "bill"
1
Why can't that super legal-mind, Nadler ask his own questions? The AG of the United States should not have to spend his day being quizzed by underlings. That could be done underlings to underlings without any of the principals present and without the media involved. Barr is correct.
4
@Samuel Spade
Maybe because the American people do not consider Congress to be underlings to the AG. They are all our employees and we have a right to know the answers. The AG has sold his soul and doesn't know how to retrieve his reputation.
3
Trump has already check mated Democrats. They are just too lacking in self-awareness (or any other awareness for that matter) to realize it. Look for a really rough couple years for Dems up ahead. Hopefully that will be enough to cause Dems to wake up. I doubt they will even then though.
4
@Bill
Yes Bill,your man has been great for Democracy and institutions.That why the Congress is going through this process.That’s exactly why we don’t see his taxes or subpoenaed people.
Thank You,
J Fitz
1
Mr. Barr does not wish to be interrogated by lawyers who are without a doubt more skilled at interrogation than the members of Congress, who have proven this in the past. This proves he's not a fool albeit a 'loyal' Trump supporter. Our example of Democracy is one that does not make me proud.
5
Ignoring requests to testify, obstructing...these are threats to our legal system by this trump administration, aided entirely by this repub party.
To me, it appears that power and control are all that is desired by today’s repubs, not us, our democracy or our country.
This is just another reason to begin impeachment as neither the courts nor the White House can obstruct impeachment proceedings.
6
Barr should be pleased to answer questions from the committee regarding the findings of Mueller's investigation. The investigation exonerates Trump, as he keeps reminding us, so what's the problem with going before the House committee to once again brag about the president's innocence and martyrdom? Any platform in which Trump's men can claim victory should be welcomed. That Barr and Trump are resisting this opportunity makes one thing there's something fishy in their claims of vindication. But, that couldn't be, could it? The president and the AG wouldn't lie to the public, would they?
15
At this point, the politics favor resisting the resistance. We're in election season. Subpoenas against a coequal branch are unenforceable. That leaves the impeachment power as the only congressional arrow. Good luck with that. With each rachet down, the brilliance of our founders becomes clearer as failsafes prevent us from devolving into a civil war.
3
If the shoe was on the other foot, the republicans would stop at nothing to make sure their agenda moved forward. They wouldn't care who or what they would have to bulldoze in order to get people to testify in Congress. It's time that democrats take a page out of the republican playbook and get tough on anyone who refuses to testify. If they can't carry out and protect the rule of law then they don't belong in the lead.
13
The party of hyper hypocrisy is finally having to face up to what is its real face. The party of just say no is finally having to say yes. Morals, integrity, honesty, fairness, honor, duty and the ability to respond with those values has been sorely lacking for some time now. May the masks continue to fall.
9
Still waiting for Trump and his cohorts to show that transparency they claim to do more than any other previous administration.
If you have nothing to hide Mr. Barr then testify regardless of the format.
11
The minute Trump is out of office, he should be arrested.
Law enforcement has never looked kindly on the non-cooperative, which I know from working in the Federal Prison where Jonathan Pollard resided.
Trump's contemptuous defiance merits incarceration ASAP.
11
@David Izzo: Even if Trump slithers his way out of this, he has one mote gauntlet to face; one he is not immune from...SDNY.
1
It is time for the House to order a weekend refurbishment of the old Congressional Jail up on the Hill, add a few cells and issue subpoenas to every administration official and Trump family member and organization executive it wants to interview. Then, if any of those individuals refuse to comply, Judiciary Committee Chairman Nadler should send the Capitol Police off to arrest that person who should be incarcerated until he or she begins to sing like any other witness. I think Trump watching his daughter and sons being carted off to jail would be a transformative experience.
50
@Michael Excellent idea! Also, everyone of those served with a subpoena, who is a lawyer and does not comply with the subpoena, should be disbarred by the ABA.
13
The American Bar Association cannot disbar anyone. Admission to practice law is handled state-by-state, and so is disbarment.
1
@Michael
Sure. No doubt the Capital Hill police are more than a match for the Secret Service, the FBI, and the United States military.
1
William Barr has no business threatening the House Judiciary Committee with a refusal to testify before them.
The chairman of the Committee has no business threatening Barr back, either.
Subpoena him, and have done with it.
12
Mr Barr is absolutely right to resist the increasingly deranged and disrespectful House Dems, especially in light of their decision to have legal staff asking Mr Barr questions. The only purpose of doing so is to put Mr Barr and others in legal jeopardy. Politics is the art of the possible and House Dem leaderships has shown that it will destroy this administration by any means necessary. Mr Barr is right to resist. And, to wait for the IG’s report to reveal the real collusion in the 3016 campaign.
10
@ehillesum
"The only purpose of doing so is to put Mr Barr and others in legal jeopardy"
In other words, you expect him to lie under oath, just like his boss Trump was expected to lie under oath by his own lawyers.
6
@ehillesum "deranged and disrespectful" are words that apply to Mr. Trump.
3
Criminal liability (the “legal jeopardy” you refer to) is not established by the conduct of others. The liability incurred from contempt of a Congressional subpoena does not come about because Congress issued the subpoena; it comes about when a person ignores a subpoena (in light of the fact that in most cases, the person could still plead the Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating him- or herself).
1
Democrats need to vote to approve the judiciary committee beginning investigating whether the House should vote on articles of impeachment. Investigation is different from actually voting for articles of impeachment. The advantage of such a vote (which is what was done during Watergate) is that the administration would have absolutely no basis for refusing to comply and it would essentially nullify most arguments made in court seeking rulings in Trump’s favor. In fact, the impeachment process is inherently political and courts will likely dismiss attempts to delay compliance quickly.
A vote to investigate impeachment is also the best political compromise. The acts detailed in the Mueller Report are more egregious than those detailed in the proposed Watergate Articles of Impeachment. The Country is at risk of setting a precedence that obstruction of justice is business as usual and that the president is free from oversight. The checks and balances established in the Constitution is what protects the orderly progression of our government over the ages. Failure to act significantly not only let’s Trump off the hook, it undermines the very legitimacy of our system of government for the foreseeable future. Congress must act not solely because of Trump’s actions, but to preserve the checks that have permitted our government to thrive for over 200 years.
16
Until Congress is willing to find officials in contempt of Congress for ignoring subpoenas and actually enforce these contempt findings with physical detention, this is all just political theater.
13
Congress should refuse any preconditions for their questioning of Barr. In a democracy, government officials must be accountable to the people. If Barr refused to appear unconditionally, he should be subpoenaed. If he still refuses to appear, he should be arrested for contempt of Congress.
34
The problem is, the House members do not treat witnesses as witnesses. Too many Members treat it as an excuse to give a little speech, or to abuse the witness, or to put up a poster at the back of the room that calls the witness a liar. One of the Members can’t even be bothered to get fully dressed and he shows up for hearings in his shirtsleeves.
When Dr. Ford testified, someone had the foresight to bring in a real prosecutor to ask the questions. But she was quickly cast aside and the Members went back to the usual hectoring and insults.
Some of the Members are lawyers. They know that if they behaved like that in a courtroom, the judge would sustain objections to almost everything that came out of their mouths. And the judge might refer them to the bar association for disciplinary proceedings.
Barr is a lawyer, an experienced one. He’s too smart to be bullied by Members who are clueless about how to conduct a meaningful examination of a witness. If, and when, the Members commit to conducting themselves as they would be expected to act in a courtroom, then they can examine this important witness.
4
@Iconic Icon, Barr may be smart, but so is Putin. He's 'too smart' to be bullied by Congress?
Did you even watch Michael Cohen's testimony? The republicans literally threw paper around and yelled insults while the Democrats, you know, asked questions. A Congressional hearing is NOT a trial court, nor is Barr a witness in front of a judge.
You folks always insist that Democrats act with a high level of respect and decorum, don't you? It's weird how you then put up with the vilest, most confrontational insults from your party.
2
Maybe everyone in the country should ignore subpoenas 'like the president and stop paying taxes, like the president. He's such a smart genius .
25
If Barr gets away with withholding information from members of congress on grounds that they might leak it, there will be no reason to expect any accountability from the executive branch in the future. No more checks and balances of any kind. Sounds a lot like "You can't handle the truth."
8
The fun will really begin when the Justice Dept. is asked to enforce the subpoena for the Attorney General.
8
This whole theatrical production is making the Democrats look bad, because Nadler and friends lack the courage to follow through, and even if they did, it's doubtful the outcome would make any difference. Do you think, just because he got a subpoena, Barr would do a 180 and admit that Trump obstructed justice? Barr, Trump, and the rest of them aren't the least bit intimidated by the "powerful" chairman of the judiciary committee. Trump didn't testify for Mueller because he didn't want to. Barr doesn't want to testify, none of them want to testify. And they won't. Who's going to make them? It's doubtful there will be a subpoena, because if Barr calls their bluff and ignores it, it will be the judiciary committee that ends up looking weak - what are they going to do? Tell him to pay a fine, which he will also ignore? Maybe they'll demand he answer a few written questions, after promising they won't let anybody see his answers. (Which he will also ignore, but we won't have any way of knowing that for sure.)
43
@Peter Then why don't they want to testify? What are they hiding? All of this makes THEM look bad. Transparency...hahaha.
43
@Peter
No, it's the Republicans who appear cynical, nihilistic and lawless in all of this mess of their own creation. History will judge them harshly. In the meantime, we will have to see how the Democrats respond to Republican contempt for democratic norms and processes. I personally am hoping that the Dem's send a few of these Republican clowns to jail. And I certainly hope for the sake of the country and its political institutions that the majority of people are not as cynical as your words are.
65
... well you can be jailed for criminal contempt, so there’s that.
31
Democrats are turning this into a circus. AG Barr is right to decline to participate in this format.
7
@Dan Micklos
Eric Holder resisted a subpoena and was held in contempt of Congress. Of course, you may believe that only subpoenas from a Republican congress are worthy of respect.
9
@Dan Micklos
Barr is the problem here, not the Democratic House. Trump and his minions believe that they are above the law and procedure. The Republicans have been subverting democratic institutions and procedures for a few years now, and have become the greatest threat this country faces. They would be apoplectic if the Democrats behaved the same way.
9
@Dan Micklos The circus is the Trump administration as it has infected the entire U.S. government. A fish rots from the head down. Never have we seen such widespread compromised behavior. Putin laughs himself to sleep each night at what he has wrought in league with that scoundrel/minion, Trump.
4
If Barr and Mnuchin fail to show up to testify before the House despite being subpoenaed, what penalties would they face? Would that be a misdemeanor that can cause their impeachment’s? Would they defy Congress and continue to stay in office? Would Trump likewise refuse to leave the White House if he was impeached? These are people who don’t respect the law, after all.
25
If you have nothing to hide, why would you care who asks the questions?
50
Barrion... is refusing to uphold the constition license should be revoked for lying under oath
5
These Trump people, Barr included, think they are above the law and are trying to push and test everything to see what they can get away with. I say throw the book at them. Subpoena them all. I’m so disgusted with this renegade, autocratic administration, it makes me sick just to open the paper.
44
@Kan The Republicans/Trump m.o. is to pass new laws that serve their personal agendas alone, and break existing laws that don't (or at least stretch the loopholes for a clear run through). They have been pushing hard on that from day 1, stacking the federal, appellate and supreme court.
Oh! for Sessions, that's how bad things are.
Just skip Barr and question Robert Mueller. Barr is going to lie and shill for Trump so there is no point in talking to him anymore. Unless you want to throw him in jail for obstructing justice. Then I can see the point.
19
@Mary, first, it's about getting him on the record, under oath, of what was going on behind the scenes, and therefore setting the stage to catch Barr and other administration shills in a pattern of lies that would amount to perjury and obstruction of justice -- for more than just Barr.
6
"“It’s basically a middle finger to Congress and its powers, and we’re going to see what Congress does about it.”"
Are we? How can Donald Trump forbid Don McGahn to testify? He's a private citizen.
Something really unbelievable is happening right before our eyes, much like other unbelievable things that occur or occurred behind closed doors: the Constitution is being shredded.
We keep watching a number of "firsts" committed by this president, but the egregious "I will not comply with subpoenas" issued by a co-equal branch of government is truly unprecedented.
Democrats better fight this as hard as they can, because once their power is lost, it means the president can bulldoze over any legitimate investigation with impunity.
He's obstructing justice, again in plain sight, aided and abetted by a feckless Attorney General who's allowing his own department to be merged into service of an increasingly authoritarian chief executive, instead of upholding the rule of law.
84
@ChristineMcM
Not “unprecedented”. Re: Eric Holder
1
@koln99 only on "fast and furious," koln99. There is simply no precedent for a president to announce, nobody in his administration will comply with any congressional subpoena (democrats, that is) ever. Check your facts and your history, sir or madame.
2
@ChristineMcM
Eric Holder was held in Contempt of Congress by a substantial bipartisan margin for failure to comply with a Congressional subpoena.That was and is an event without precedent.
1
The American voter is better off once we have figured out that when we vote for republicans, we essentially voting for a dynasty, a monarch, and prince lings that are above the law, and will do as they please to direct resources to guns, bible, big business, banks (organized crime), what not; and as despots, will find ways to make people they don't like squirm.
The demeanor of anyone being called to testify these days to democrats is essentially an elaborate 'bleep you.' And also diametrically opposite when a democrat testifies.
Thomas Massie, a MIT trained scientist, not only denies global warming, he attacks a Yale qualified political scientist as a pseudo-scientist (Kerry) on national TV to win points in West Virginia.
Why would Massie not deny global warming and prevent his constituencies from choking on the products of mining coal: fly ash, bottom ash, and flue gas rich with arsenic, mercury, thorium, uranium, thorium, what not. What do you mean you want to save West Virginians from dying early from their own produce?
This is what happens when democracy is relegated to the disinterested and the disengaged. Barr on up can flip their finger at whom they want, when they want. They know we will either vote for them, or not vote at all.
4
@Kalidan MIT should rescind his degrees for obviously not having learned any real science while there.
1
This is more drama from the Reality TV President. Of course the subpoena has become a source of drama.
Congress should start working on additional legislation, such as requirements for tax reporting prior to running for office.
19
"Although allowing staff members to question witnesses is unusual"
I've read this often in Times reports, but it seems ignorant of congressional history. Years ago, before committee members sought and won their TV time, the questioning was principally done by staff attorneys trained and experienced in witness examination. Though some are mentioned in the article, one that comes to mind is Fred Thomson's questioning of Alexander Butterfield revealing the Nixon tapes. Thompson was then the Republican staff attorney at the Senate Watergate hearings. And recall that Roy Cohen did the examination of witnesses before the McCarthy committee.
The fact that more recently it is only committee members that do the questioning, and often for only 5 minutes at a time, means that serious questioning is rarely done. Just a lot of posturing and bloviation. Members should be forced to give up their TV time exposure and permit the professionals to do the bulk of the questioning.
It's time to restore the quality of congressional hearings. Nadler is moving in the right direction.
84
@LennyM Yes part of the long history of Republicans attacking the government (which is our Republic) is to shrink budgets for congressional staffs. Instead of large staffs of experts and lawyers that can do independent analysis, we now supposed to rely on industry experts and lobbyists.
Exports paid to represent We the People had been replaced by lobbyists paid to represent private businesses. It's called crony capitalism.
2
Trump is challenging understood constitutional norms. Since the time of Nixon, the authority of congressional oversight is understood to flow from the President's oath of office. This position has been examined in the courts and most famously affirmed in a 1982 memorandum which enshrined the "accommodation process." We've seen this interpretation play out to some degree with every President since Reagan.
If Democrats acquiesce in part or in entirety to Trump's claims, our constitutional system is dramatically changed for a very long time. A point Republicans will someday regret when the situation is reversed. Trump is essentially expanding the position Eric Holder used to protect Obama to encompass every information request. You can certainly see how that might cause Republicans discomfort in the not too distant future.
Democrats could go to the courts. Trump is on very shaky legal ground. Case law has already decided the matter fairly definitively. At best, Trump is wasting Democrats' time and there's an outside chance he'll get lucky on a few narrow rulings. The main reason not to go to the courts though is because the courts don't want to be involved. The Constitution is intentionally vague on certain issues. The intersection between congressional and executive authority is one of them.
The main point for Democrats though is they need to find a way to address Trump on every issue. If you're going to fight at all, you can't defend the constitution piecemeal.
16
Bar members are held in contempt, most usually by judges, with some frequency.
Why not AG Barr, by the enforcers of orders issued by Congress or administrative agencies?
Mayhap DOJ has opined that sitting US AGs are not to be so sanctioned while in office? If so it needs to be challenged, if need be to Scotus.
7
Attorney General Barr's unConstitutional position makes him eligiblen for impeachment, defied as follows:
Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government. Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office; it is only a formal statement of charges, akin to an indictment in criminal law, and is thus only the first step towards removal.
The House can make a formal statement of charges against AG Barr if he wishes to put himself in contempt of Congress. How telling that Trump's appointed AG doesn't follow the Constitution or the law. The third in a worsening series of choices for AG by Trump.
28
His consilierii is only one of a long line of Trump's minions who will try to stonewall the house in the coming months. They must immediately assert themselves as a co-equal branch of government, and try to expedite court decisions that will affirm the desires of the framers, who were willing to go to war to eliminate kings in our country.
10
Barr's actions now are an admission that even he can't explain the inexplicable. Robert Mueller didn't just leave a road map, he sent a hand-engraved invitation begging Congress to pick up where he left off. I believe he would've indicted Donald if not for his commitment to follow DOJ policy. The Democrats have no choice but to stand strong now, regardless of public opinion.
50
@Rick Most of America is wondering what this stooge AG is trying to hide.
12
If Congress believes President Trump broke the law and are using the Mueller report as a basis for that conclusion then they have an obligation to proceed with impeachment proceedings. If they fail to move on with impeachment then move on. Let’s call this what it is a dog and pony show and posturing for 2020. Vote out all incumbents and keep doing that until we get the government we want. As citizens we have created a government we deserve
4
I feel like the committee is wasting their time on Barr. It seems as though Mueller should be the first one to sit before the committee to provide details of HIS report. If any discrepancies exist between Mueller's testimony and what Barr has been telling us, then haul Barr in with a subpoena.
13
@RP Smith Putting "Cover Up Barr" on record as a proven liar will be important as the cases unfold
2
The President and his people are using the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion declaring Presidents free from criminal prosecution while in office as a shield to avoid accountability. When coordinated with the pardon power and other powers of the presidency, that obscure legal opinion has opened the door to dictatorship. Trump has already tested this approach by offering prospective pardons to federal officers on the southern border. The OLC opinion is overly broad with little basis in law or constitutional history. It should be challenged in the courts to establish that the President is immediately subject to indictment, at least for crimes of governance committed while in office.
66
“No collusion! Total exoneration!” blather the uninformed masses on the Right. It seems that those who can’t correctly read the Mueller Report are the same people who are utterly incapable of correctly reading the New Testament and the Constitution. I’m sensing a pattern here...
140
Obstruction is occurring every minute that Trump and his cronies ignore and defy those who are attempting to find a common thread, some validity and clarity in a mob - like mentality in the White House.
41
It will be the Democrats’ loss if they choose a supine position rather than to defend the law.
33
It's really the height of hypocrisy when you think back to the campaign and Donald Trump "crowing" if Hillary Clinton were elected she would be so tied up in investigations that there would be no government.
Trump is taking it to a new level. Not only is he in mired in investigations, but the added corruption is breathtaking.
84
USA
You are becoming more like a third world country every day. Wait till Trump changes the rules so that he can be President forever.....
54
@David Jaundrell: I have been predicting this, alas. Since his inauguration, this man has amassed power wherever he can. The House of Representatives is the last bastion, and he's going for that now. Our American democracy, long a model for the world, is hanging by a thread,
24
@David Jaundrell we have been watching recent Parliamentary proceedings on Brexit. Be careful when you criticize the United States.
1
@William
Don't pick on the Brits. We may be desperately trying to emigrate there in the coming years.
3
May Democracy win.
29
Christine Blasey Ford was questioned by a laywer in the Cavanaugh SCOTUS hearing. She answered every question without hesitation. Apparently AG Barr does not have a like tescticular fortitude. Sad.
126
@Deborah Anderson
Brilliant! You win the "comment of the day" award. Thanks for the laugh!
6
@Deborah Anderson True, she was the star "witness" at The Kavanaugh show trail that would have made Beria proud. The Democrats, like Letists everywhere, love a good show trail...why should Barr give it to them?
@Hank
Oh my, that's quite a stretch to get to Beria. My comment simply reflected my belief that a woman can often handle stressful situations better than most men. Blasey-Ford was calm and measured; Cavanaugh was an "in your face" angry witness. Right or left political preference was not part of my observation.
BTW, as part of the Executive Branch, Barr is subject to Congressional oversight, whether he likes it or not. That power is granted by the Constitution.
Carl Kline should be dragged over the coals ASAP for his contempt of Congress, fined, and jailed if need be.
Doing anything else sends a clear message to Trump and his stooges that they have nothing to fear.
42
@Jim Demers
Dear Jim,
Dragged over the coals? Are you being metaphorical or are you advocating physical torture?
1
Barr simply does not want to be part of the Democrat circus. Since they have taken the House majority, they are doing what most of them said they wouldn't - talk impeachment 24/7. NONE of this helps the middle class. The economy will tank if you all take over
2
@Eric Young
"Democratic Circus" is the Republican catch phrase o the week? Republicans all day the same things as each other, because there is no independent thought in the Party.
The real circus is in the White House.
2
@Eric Young "you all"--typical Republican divisiveness. As for tanking--our Republic is doing it right now. Republicans are shredding the Constitution.
1
It’s curious @Eric Young will derisively call one party a “circus” while the other parades the “ringleader.” If it helps you to understand events in this way it may be more meaningful to keep your season tickets to the playground of ten-year-olds. When you grow up and lose boyhood toys, you’ll come to understand that your beloved actors are making in the most divisive and destructive kind of political delusion possible.
1
Unless Congress can exercise authority, all this comes across simply as whinging. Unless, Congress can slap punishment (jail time etc.) on Trumpy's band of thugs, Congress will come across as toothless and carps. The House needs to show what it can do, instead of grandstanding on TV. If the House can actually force these crooks in the White House to testify soon they should immediately. It'll be a lesson for the others.
15
We will never convince or be able to educate the 30% of Americans who continue to support this bigot in the whitehouse.
No should we try.
However, I would think the balance of the 70% of Americans would be legitimately concerned knowing that their constitution and OUR American democracy is slowly being taken away by a lawless group of republicans who are beholden to their bigot king.
The dire importance of protecting our democracy, insuring healthcare, jobs, the environment, equal rights for all Americans, voters rights...these should be the platform the democrat candidates take to the voters and the media...24/7.
Run on REAL American concerns!!!
23
Even left leaning 538 finds President Trump’s approval at 41.2 percent (after giving stronger weighting to the negative polls than the positive ones). So then, where do you get your 30 approval number from? Nowhere at all? Got it. Don’t let facts get in the way of your story.
3
@Bill the point is that refusing to testify to Congress is not acceptable - more than 50, 60 or 70% of Americans should be concerned about that. We all should be concerned.
7
@Bill
My numbers may be off, my sentiments are the same.
Either way the bigots supporters are NOT in the majority, unless you believe 41.2 percent is the majority.
However, I would think the remaining balance of Americans who DON’T support the bigot king would be legitimately concerned knowing that their constitution and OUR American democracy is slowly being taken away by a lawless group of republicans who are beholden to their bigot king.
The dire importance of protecting our democracy, insuring healthcare, jobs, the environment, equal rights for all Americans, voters rights...these should be the platform the democrat candidates take to the voters and the media...24/7.
Run on REAL American concerns!!!
4
Dear Attorney General Barr.
On February 21, 1975, John N. Mitchell former Attorney General under Richard Nixon was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury and sentenced to two and a half to eight years in prison for his role. Mitchell was disbarred from the practice of law in New York. Mitchell served only 19 months of his sentence at Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery (in Maxwell Air Force Base) in Montgomery, Alabama, a minimum-security prison, before being released on parole for medical reasons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_N._Mitchell
How will you look in orange?
74
It would be nothing but lies, anyhow!
1
“The powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee threatened...”
Moe Nadler is so threatening. And so powerful.
What’s he going to do? Call in Larry Schiff and Curly Waters so the trifecta of Democrat super hero’s can waste more of the country’s time?
Tell Moe to pound sand.
10
@Ken I guess the same can be said of trump who keeps whining that there was a coup. I would be willing to bet he doesn't even know what a coup, because we all know he doesn't read. the other side of that is the investigations that included the special counsel were started under him by his own appointees. trump even let his own lawyer testify under oat to Mueller, and now claims he lied. what a joke this man is.
@Ricky
Whether you believe it or not the coup investigation is just getting started and has already uncovered far too much to stop.
Hillary, Obama and the Democrats ensures all investigation of Hillary was thrown to ensure she could remain the corrupt Democrat candidate.
Hillary, Obama and the Democrats spied on Trump’s campaign.
Hillary, Obama and the Democrats fed false information to law enforcement to begin investigations and planted false information in the media to rig the election.
When Trump won, the fake Russian sourced information was used to begin the Mueller witch hunt on entirely fabricated grounds.
The documentary evidence shows this is true.
Watch how fast Democrats want to drop the whole subject “and just move on”.
@Ken I take it you don't like the Constitution much.
This White House is as lawless as the Wild West. Can I volunteer for the arrest posse?
16
Let Jerry Nadler’s head explode. He’s an inarticulate boob. He should be selling used cars, not fake news. I doubt he’d be much good at either.
5
Good morning boys and girls. It is simple to read this one: Barr seems aware now the full consequence for disloyalty to the American Public and loyalty to a con-artist. The result, what was promised privately will be awarded after Barr’s departure.
33
“No one is above the law”. Mr. Barr must comply with Congress, or resign his office. (He was hand-picked to continue the president’s flagrant disregard of the rule of law). Mr. Nadler and Mr. Cummings are Elected officials who are within their Constitutional rights and represent the American people. Refusals to comply with subpoenas apply to ALL Americans, including (Appointed) ones. Let’s get on with preserving and defending our democracy!
98
@M. Sheehan
We will never convince or be able to educate the 30% of Americans who continue to support this bigot in the whitehouse.
Nor should we try.
However, I would think the balance of the 70% of Americans would be legitimately concerned knowing that their constitution and OUR American democracy is slowly being taken away by a lawless group of republicans who are beholden to their bigot king.
The dire importance of protecting our democracy, insuring healthcare, jobs, the environment, equal rights for all Americans, voters rights...these should be the platform the democrat candidates take to the voters and the media...24/7.
Run on REAL American concerns!!!
11
Trump henchman Barr evidently believes he’s attorney general for his leader and the Republican Party and not the nation. His blatant covering up of Trump’s lies, his obstructing of the release of the findings of the Mueller report, his clear and repeated misstatements of the report’s actual conclusions, and his open sycophancy towards Trump, reveal his unfitness and personal lack of integrity and honesty.
Barr needs to be subpoenaed to testify before the House. If he refuses to comply, Barr should be dragged to court, held in contempt, arrested, and imprisoned until he testifies.
No one should be above the law, including and in particular the attorney general.
73
@Demosthenes
This!!! 100% correct! Insert applause!
1
Who does Barr think he is? He is suppose to be the AG for the people, but it seems he is so arrogant that he thinks he can do what he wants to!
Just another one who has sold his soul for what?
45
@graceD.
One word
Money
4
So now it's not just the President who thinks he is above the law; it's the AG, as well.
#OBSTRUCTION
79
such obstinacy is intended, by the executive branch, to teach the legislative branch a stinging lesson and it is not unlike the South's rising up to slap the hand as the Federal Government extended its reach into the private affairs of the southern states. American families are already divided and at each other's throats. Civil war is not an option without precedent. Criminals, such as the slave owners were, and Trump, as he is, will not escape from the people's claims on equality under the law.
13
We can't forget....Trump and his administration are above the law. They bring new meaning to "Just say no!"
13
OK, but if Barr thinks he'll take the hit for Trump and Trump will protect him, that could be a mistake.
10
Barr appears so dignified compared to his partisan foes who will not allow our nation to move on from this Russian collusion nonsense. Our nation believes the Mueller Report conclusion that there was no collusion This is harrassment..not oversight. Putin must enjoy the Democrats behavior because they are hurting our country more than he ever could.
15
@Hank They weren't looking for collusion, they were looking for conspiracy. The report shows Trump and his team were just too incompetent to conspire properly. They were also looking for obstruction of justice. If you read the report, you will see ample evidence of that. Trump, Barr and the Republican Party are undermining the Constitution and the principles that made this country the greatest in the world . Come 2020 the nation will show you what they really feel and it won't be pretty for them.
17
@Hank
The Muller report shows no such thing...
The report states that there wasn't enough evidence to charge criminal conspiracy (and specifying that destruction of evidence, encryption of emails and electronic communications, and lying on the part of several witnesses is the reason that there wasn't this needed evidence), and then spent the next 128 pages detailing over 140+ instances of direct collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian agents.
The Russians worked intentionally in systematic fashion to help get Trump elected, Trump and his campaign knew the Russians were helping them, and rather than alert the FBI or any other authorities of this they went all-in in helping the Russians any way they could and even planned their campaign strategy around Russian assistance.
But of course, Barr sent out a 4-page letter saying, "Nope, nothing to see here."
So, who you gonna trust, Barr or your own lying eyes?
2
@Hank
Did you read the Mueller report? There’s plenty of evidence of tacit collusion. Mueller knew it wouldn’t result in criminal charges, so he acted accordingly. At a minimum, Trump stood by with arms folded knowing the Russians were meddling. Or are you, like Trump, also doubting that the Russians interfered at all?
Oh, and then there’s the little matter of obstruction. Mueller laid out a roadmap for Congress to do what it is trying to do.
4
An attorney general of the U.S. threatening to not answer a subpoena issued by Congress? How many signs do we need that we are barely holding on to the last remnants of our democracy. Will we survive the Trump presidency? I fear not.
98
@Kathryn Meyer
Eric Holder?
9
@koln99
"I know you are but what am I" the diss of the schoolyard defines this presidency. Along with, "s/he did it first"
This is a side show that only benefits Trump. Democrats need to get focused, look the American people in their eyes, tell them how they will enact laws that will better the nation, and get on with winning an election under the rules. Barack Obama did this soundly, twice.
Stop whining and compete to win!
16
@Bill Bluefish Its not "whining," its a search for the truth.
@Bill Bluefish: What I think the Democrats should do is ignore Trump and hold hearings on securing the 2020 elections. And not just one or two, but focus on it and make sure our systems can withstand foreign attacks.
There is so much to do and the White House will not do it, will not focus on it. So the Democrats should do it and do it strongly and constantly.
Ignore Trump. Completely ignore him. Protect America with a secure election.
4
@Bill Bluefish
Ignoring Trump is like ignoring any sociopath.....they'll just keep on upping the ante until they're stopped.
1
William Barr obviously does not equate with any definition of justice. Just another government department, that DOJ, which is paying his salary, and we’re footing the bill.
9
Trump's desperate efforts to hide his crimes are becoming more obvious by the day, and Barr's shameless complicity may put him in legal jeapordy as well.
The GOP can look forward to an epic rout in 2020 if they permit Trump to stretch this farce into the election year. They'll have to make to with the votes of only the most deplorable 30% of the electorate ... and perhaps less than that if Fox "News" ever jumps from the sinking Trump ship.
25
Jim. If the Dems pick a candidate like Hillary it’s four more years. Just look at their slate. Maybe Biden, maybe Bernie but after that the circus stays in power
1
@Patrick HIllary won the popular vote in 2016. She's an unlikely choice, but it's even more unlikely that Trump has gained any new fans.
1
Is it just me or wasn’t Barr before Congress just this month? This is pure grandstanding by the Dems and they should move on. Who believes they can do what an independent special investigator could not do with an unlimited budget and subpoena power?? It’s time to do the work of the people and write a few bills.
18
@Pablo
It's just you
18
“The work if the people?”
What a quaint expression. Job number one of any public serving in Washington is to protect the country, democracy and the constitution.
Aside from an act of war (which, by the way, Russia has perpetuated) it is the top priority. It’s actually right in the oath of office.
But don’t take my word. Google it and read it yourself
5
Pablo, “the work of the people” is protecting the constitution. AG Barr ‘s earlier appearance before Congress was part of a coverup. Refusing to answer basic questions because, “I am landing the plane,” only satisfied Trump’s authoritarian mob. Congress has an obligation to defend the Constitution, and Trump’s servile attorney general must account for actions in aid of Trump’s criminal conspiracy. Republicans corrupted beyond redemption by political contributions will obstruct at every turn.
3
And Republicans in Congress and the GOP is all for this behavior from this president. If Obama had done this, impeachment would have started months ago.
50
How convenient. Refusal to testify. Trying to set the parameters under which you will testify. “To the best of my knowledge, I can’t recall.” What is this administration so afraid of? The truth? It is clear many lies have been told about meetings happening, who was there, what was discussed. Why?
31
Republicans want to set strict restrictions on the Barr hearings.
Sound familiar? (See limits on FBI investigation of SCJ Kavanaugh.)
Deny. Deny. Deny. Tax returns, security clearance, Mueller Report, etc., etc., same old playbook.
When the A.G. does not respect the rule of law, and wants to dictate terms in which he will testify the Trump coup will be complete.
Nadler, Cummings, et al. hold your ground.
252
@ Howard Levine Do more than that! Move forward and enforce the laws behind the subpoenas. Let's stop this dog and pony show!
24
Howard. Interesting Congress has Roger Clemens charged. A charge he was ultimately cleared of and this goes on without consequences. I can’t wait to get on jury duty to engage in jury nullification. Give the little guy some DC style justice
2
Impeach Trump, and let the chips fall. Trump is going to use the last two years to his advantage, he is going to lie he is going to whine and any failings on the Republican side Trump will blame the angry Democrats. Democrats and Independents are in their own collective parties due to the vision that they both have in common a just and fruitful government that looks out for its people first and big businesses second. Biden and Bernie cannot match or defeat Trump but you put a women up against him and the house will come a rocking
2
The Democrats should have to choose between doing their regular thing of asking self-serving rhetorical questions and grandstanding the whole time for the cameras- or using their hired gun staff attorneys to ask boring legal questions about obstruction of justice.
6
@Greg The hearings are vitally important because people like you won't read the Mueller report . The American people deserve an unredacted truth about this whole investigation.
9
@carolyn sumners
I read it. It says the President didn’t steal the election.
1
@Greg
Can you point out exactly where it says that?
On what page?
What are they hiding? I think we're in an all out constitutional crisis at this point. Trump an Barr are determined to rule with impunity.
And, thanks to McConnell, the best friend "President" Trump ever had, the courts have no interest in protecting the notion of checks and balances in government.
27
My hope is that any or all who refuse to obey a subpoena get a visit from a U.S. marshal. That's what happens to ordinary people.
Now we know that Trump thinks he is above the law. It appears Barr thinks he is too. As does Muchkin, Kline and everyone else.
Would withholding their paychecks be an incentive for the rank and file?
31
@jhbev
Not w/o probable cause. That’s one big difference maker here.
The DNC/Dem POTUS candidate paid to create an unverified set of oppo-research against the Trump campaign and, with assistance from our intelligence services and Federal law enforcement, managed to inflate this drivel into both a FISA warrant (renewed thrice) and by circular references to the media.
The playing field was further skewed by Obama-era national security officials unmasking the FISA-warrant identities at an unprecedented level, thus guaranteeing a leak to the jackals in the media.
The Democrats cannot back down on this house-of-cards lest the three-year plot become too clear and traceable to deny.
3
Well, Mr. Ornstein put it best "resistance."
I guess the Democrats now understand what goes around comes around.
Having resisted POTUS for first 2 years of his term - not to mention wallow in Mueller with their "resistance" to relitigate 2016 - Democrats are in fear of losing meaning of "powerful"
If power is used unjudiciously as Robert Caro observed in the "The Powerbroker" and his LBJ books - it loses its potency.
Ditto here.
As a Republican, I applaud this coming Administration and Congress fight.
And let's remember that AG Holder left office - having been held in contempt of Congress - then in Republican hands.
And he is not in jail.
What does AG Barr have to fear but fear itself??
8
Clearly, Trump and the Republicans believe that impeachment will work in their favor. Their strategy is to DARE the Democrats to impeach, by flipping off House Democrats.
I say, GOP obstruction as governance will only give Republicans the voters already sworn to fealty to Trump and no more. But it will also motivate more non-zombies to vote against Trump, and the rest of Republicans, taking away the Senate and the White House as well as the House of Representatives away from the GOP.
Bring it on, Republicans. The bill for your treason and your assault on the Constitution is coming due.
15
I wish the democrats would make even a slight attempt at trying to improve the contrary through legislation rather than continue to be obsessed with president trump and try to prosecute him. It's as if they have absolutely no ideas on the economy or anything else. No wonder trample very likely cruise to re election.
8
This is obstruction and corruption at the highest level.
30
There are many reasons to debate policy and implementations. Pros and Cons abound in real World.
A Conservative may see Cons a Progressive misses.
A Progressive may see Pros a Conservative misses.
In intellectually honest World that recognizes that our survival is a Team Sport common objectives are formed, reasonable opinions are UNSELFISHLY considered, ways and means mixed, best eclectic approaches win.
We elect People to do this do we not?
No one "side" is always wrong or always right. Things almost never clear cut.
But TODAY existentially speaking we are presented with rare clarity. Few times we've had such situations. Now we do!
This is NOT about who can build the autobahns better. or drive a common language and education system, or get a fairer deal on an old treaty/agreement, or put a an extra percent to work.
It is NOT about those things. It wasn't in Europe circa 1930 -- like it would not be about debating your diet when your appendix is about to burst.
This is existential - this goes to what life is all about - this goes to the heart of our democracy and our egalitarian "We the People" principles.
42% of us don't get this!
It is up to the 58% - Conservative and Progressive and in between to save the Nation,
Trump and the Trumpified GOP are a clear and present existential danger.
If you value the experiment we started circa 1776 you must vote D. For all their flaws they are the ONLY existentially proper choice now!
VOTE - VOTE big picture!
26
What is Barr afraid of? Is he not confident in his "no obstruction" decision? As AG, is he not the top lawyer in the USA for the USA? He can't handle questions about this from other lawyers? If he is trying to hide from a full public vetting of his suspect decision, his performance, his integrity is in question.
23
@PE He certainly isn’t afraid of the Dems. However, Nadler wanted staffers to question him instead of Congressmen. That is totally insulting, We certainly know that those in Congress aren’t busy governing.
7
What happens if a Subpoena is issued to appear in court and the witnesses refuses?
What ever the consequence is for you or me, it should hold for all Americans.
35
@Manderine
Apples (Judiciary)
and Oranges (Legistature).
Couldn’t resist, Mandarine
Anyone connected to Trump is an obstructionist, cynical and suspicious, and has sworn allegiance not to the United States, only to Trump. Their only reason for joining the executive branch of the federal government is to destroy it. Enough.
177
It is patently obvious that Barr is Trump's stooge, behaving more like the President's own personal defense attorney than Attorney General. Not only should he be held in contempt of Congress, but he is probably guilty of "obstruction of justice" himself, given his actions regarding the Mueller report.
That the person in the highest position of law enforcement would himself so cavalierly flout the law is a testament to the corrupting influence of Trump and all his nefarious ways. The rot is in.
449
@Dean
Barr's 4 page summary, that he later tried claiming was not a summary, clearly ignored the long list of crimes and indictable offenses committed by Trump. Mueller merely followed the DOJ's position that a sitting president can't be indicted, but his report listed too many heinous issues to be ignored.
Barr then gave an opinion at the press conference, unheard of by an AG, the day the redacted report was released where he somewhat falsely claimed "it is important to bear in mind the context. President Trump faced an unprecedented situation. As he entered into office, and sought to perform his responsibilities as President, federal agents and prosecutors were scrutinizing his conduct before and after taking office, and the conduct of some of his associates. At the same time, there was relentless speculation in the news media about the President’s personal culpability."
Yeah, he's a today all right. Impeachment is too kind for AG Barr.
21
@Dean
The most scandalous thing about the Barr summary was how quick corporate media, including the NY Times just took Barr's statements at face value, with no skepticism. Anyone that would take a job working for Trump knows they are going to have to lie over and over. Bar is already known for protecting those involved with Iran Contra.
Even with a normal administration the press is supposed to be skeptical. That is the job of a journalist. But too many journalists seem to think they are just supposed to uncritically repeat White House talking points, like they did in the run up to the Iraq War, which killed or wounded 45,000 U.S. troops in a war based on lies.
18
Why is our Attorney General afraid to testify to other attorneys?
384
@AAA
Other attorneys make notes and go by a script. Barr being the President's lawyer obviously does not.
9
@AAA
Barr is unwilling to be questioned by other lawyers because he knows that he is going to be skewered for his boot licking behavior, and he went on the record publicly so he has no defense.
He also wrote the 19 page "audition memo" which ripped the Mueller investigation, and which basically says, in his opinion, that a POTUS cannot be charged with obstruction of justice for acts carried out using his official duties.
https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2018/12/20/read-bill-barrs-19-page-memo-ripping-mueller-probe/?slreturn=20190329101239
Barr ought to be asked whether in his opinion a POTUS could be called to answer (or indicted) while serving if there was a tape showing him or her shooting and killing someone on Fifth Avenue in New York.
7
@Joe From Boston, AG Barr can have his own opinion on presidential immunity from prosecution or impeachment for obstructing justice, but the Report of the Special Counsel rejected that legal position. The executive power to run the government, to faithfully execute the law, is not diminished by holding the executive to account when the executive violates the law, including for acts that are facially within the executives powers but done with corrupt intent, such as to stop an investigation for personal or political reasons.
2
Congress has no “oversight” powers over the Executive Branch. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, the enumeration of powers clause says not one word about subpoenas or hearings. Congress has the power to impeach, and that’s it. So either do it, or stop wasting everyone’s time.
49
@Greg
We The People gave the Republican-led House Committees, and they used without complaint, the (implied) necessary and proper clause of the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8) that includes investigatory power, acting as an equal arm of government with the Executive branch. This is the "check and balance" intended by every House of Representatives before this, the 116th Congress.
We The People elected a Democratic led House in November 2018 in response to Trump assuming unConstitutional executive powers. It seems sadly telling that you seek to deny the House the same function you willing gave to the 115th Congress.
160
@Greg
The implicit threat is impeachment. Refusing to cooperate with congressional oversight requests is an impeachable offense.
Article 3 of Nixon's Articles of Impeachment:
"In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives … and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas."
If Trump keeps this up, he might be the first President to get impeached twice. Once for failing to respect congressional oversight and then again for Mueller's obstruction charges.
111
@Greg Neither is “executive privilege” mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, but congressional subpeona power is at least supported by numerous court decisions, whereas there are only a few cases involving “executive privilege.”
90
Now that Trump is exonerated by the Mueller report, the dems have nothing left to prosecute him for, other than general objections to his personality, so they are continuing --as encouraged by Pelosi -- to subpeona and resist on every front. But wait, the time to judge him on his personality and platform was during a thing called the "election" and Americans did that and decided that Trump was their president. Apparently, dems don't understand that.
15
@Dr. Reality
1. The Mueller report did not exonerate Trump. It found multiple instances of collusion and passed them on to Congress for Congress to pursue. That is what it is doing.
2. In the 2016 election, Americans did not give Trump the majority of votes. HRC beat Trump by more than 3 million votes. The Electoral College gave the presidency to Trump - not voting Americans.
Let me guess - you get all your "information" from Fox.
42
@Dr. Reality
....and the time to call trump & his corrupt administration to task is now, after a thing called the "midterms", and Americans did that and decided trump was off the rails & violating his sworn oath to uphold & protect the Constitution. Apparently, repubs don't understand that.
21
@Dr. unReality: Actually, a majority of the electorate were bright enough to recognize Donnie for the conman that he is. That majority has surely grown substantially, and will continue to do so as the truth is dragged into the light.
You might want to read Mueller's report, by the way: what it *actually* says is "no exoneration".
32
Barr is a coward.
Did he go whining to Trump or Stephen Miller for a Kavanaugh style man-up/ tune-up?
Barr is setting the stage for a no show to the hearing or a self righteous, indignant, cry-baby departure from both the hearing and his required duty as a public servant.
Yet another republican disgrace to his to his country and an indelible stain on the office of Attorney General.
William Barr is an indication of the corruption and the mounting panic of the republican party. They are like lab mice scurrying through a maze of noxious alternatives, and their options are rapidly dwindling.
Barr will soon find himself in a position where he cannot turn back and the only exit open to him will lead to dishonor, vilification, and contempt.
222
@Interested Party
Once he was respected but after his 19 page job application and his four page summary of the Mueller report, he has already destroyed his legacy.
127
@Interested Party
Barr has already dishonored himself, vilified the office of Attorney General and has shown contempt for Congress and the people they represent. This cancer must not be allowed to grow.
16
@Interested Party
Barr has the unique standing of having disgraced himself two different times as AG. The first when he defended the Reagan/Bush administration over Iran/Contra and now as he defends the indefensible Trump. Barr clearly works and worked not for the Nation or the People but for the Republican party and for whoever the Republican president is. Trump is about as innocent as John Gotti.
3
“Why did Barr find that they did not meet his standards of obstruction?”
Besides showing fealty or being toady...I just couldn't imagine.
44
Nadler needs to show some backbone. Subpoena him. The threat not to appear is sufficient cause.
68
@ GCB
No dear, contrary to the spineless and sycophantic Repuglikons, Mr. Nadler has plenty of backbone.
“The witness [Barr] is not going to tell the committee how to conduct its hearing, period,” he told CNN on Sunday morning. If Mr. Barr does not show up, Mr. Nadler added, “then we will have to subpoena him, and we will have to use whatever means we can to enforce the subpoena.”
13
But ... but ... but ... “ ... this is most ‘most’ transparent administration in the history of this country ...”.
36
@james locke
donnies supporters are murderous “very fine people” , “on both sides”.
5
@james locke Given the strategies that they've adopted (lie, deny, deflect, delay), what they're up to is, indeed, pretty transparent.
8
Democrats are trying to make something out of nothing. The Mueller report said no collusion. End of story.
13
@cleo I take it that you believe that Trump is honest and kind. Perhaps take another look at his financial deals and the video where he is making fun of a disabled person- that's what did it for me. Is this the kind of society we want to live in?
79
@cleo
The report did not clear trump, and it DID say there was obstruction of justice....
So that is not "nothing".
27
@ALB
Plus there is much evidence of collusion, despite what DJT and Barr say. The report says that there was no convictable evidence of a conspiracy. Besides the whole report is prefaced by the justice department’s “rule” that a President can not be indicted.
In any case, even DJT supporters, have set the lowest bar for a president. It seems it is ok to skate just above the law.
8
Trump now knows the Democrats are afraid to impeach him for political reasons, which to my mind are not good reasons at all, considering how he's obviously lied, abused his power, and obstructed justice. And here we see the results. Emboldened law-breaking and outright refusal to comply with the law... even from the Attorney General, who of course has already embraced law-breaking by the Executive branch. But this goes beyond obstruction of justice in my mind because how can this be anything but out-right law breaking? It seems the Democrats now have even more solid grounds for impeaching Trump. He is blatantly imperiling everything that holds this country together as a nation of laws.
145
So the Democrats are too inept to ask their own questions and need professional attorneys to interrogate the Attorney General of the United States for thirty minutes about the nothingburger that is the Mueller Report?
No Thanks. Next...
14
Subpoena him. Please.
323
@William
And if he doesn't show up? Are the pussycat Dems tough enough to jail him?
3
@William
Should not even be a question about a subpoena. If Democrats want to prove they are strong, effective leaders who care about this country, then let them prove it, without hesitation.
6
@DaveD
They will get a judge to order him to be jailed or pay a fine. He will appeal. They want to take it all the way up to the Supreme Court, and/or run out the clock to the election.
Do your homework make sure or your positions enforce your legal rights. Do not go public with your plans unless you are ready to use the full force of your office. Anything else is a joke.
1
I'm embarrassed to say that I am not as educated about the roles and responsibilities of all who run our country (as I should be) but I thought that the US Attorney General worked for the US and not as a personal lawyer for the President. Did I misunderstand something? Barr's attack dog loyalty (no offense to dog lovers) to Trump and not the citizens of the US is almost comically obvious. How is this happening? Someone please wake me up from the idiocracy!
349
If Barr is not afraid of telling all truth and nothing but the truth, then why worry about how he is questioned by the co-equal branch of the government.
122
Let’s be clear; the White House does not have the legal authority to block ANY former employees from doing anything. They are former employees and private citizens. Sorry, King Donald. The mere act of attempting this is itself obstruction of justice. Oh, and any of these private citizens who do not comply should be legally pursued and punished as private citizens without the protective umbrella of the Executive Branch. Impeach now.
210
Barr can hardly cry foul at the prospect of being interrogated
by a lawyer who is not a sitting member of Congress. Has
he forgotten the Republican's use of an outside prosecutor
to interrogate Ford during the Kavanaugh hearings in the Senate?
561
@Guillemot: Great point! Thanks for the reminder.
34
@Guillemot
The Republicans hired a WOMAN to question her because none of them, all men, had the guts to conduct their own questioning of a woman.
But Lindsey Graham did rant.
23
@Joe From Boston
Lindsey Graham seems to always have much to say:
“You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic, if [the Senate] determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role … Impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”
– Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
2
I recall that in the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, the witness’s lawyers negotiated the terms and format of questioning, with no objections from the other Senators
Why the double standard?
33
@WorkingMan
Because the Senate is run by Republicans who were going to confirm Kavanaugh no matter what he said or how abusive he was to those Democrats asking relevant questions.
7
Clearly Mr. Barr is not the attorney general of the American people; he's Donald Trump's defense attorney. It's shameful that so many American institutions have been corrupted by this administration from the Supreme Court to the Department of Education, not to mention the dysfunctional Republican Senate. I think it's time for impeachment of the president, and impeachment of the head of Treasury as well. None of us voted for an imperial presidency.
284
@Dr. Conde. The Supreme Court has been infected by the Republican Party and not by Trump alone, who simply names candidates suggested by the extreme right and no one else.
8
@Dr. Conde
I agree with you, with just one caveat...you say that none of us voted for an imperial presidency. But you are wrong. 63,000,000 did because in their bloodthirst to reject Hillary, they didn't give any thought to putting a mark next to the name of a person who clearly stated who he thought he was before he was elected. Remember the "I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, and not get arrested" comment? The obstruction of justice against the investigation into Russian interference was done in plain sight and run over and over again on TV. But Trump supporters and the GOP are still behind him and silent about his crimes against our democracy. And remember that the "Blue Dog" Democrats voted to confirm Barr as well as ALL the GOP Senators.
It is a sad time in America. We don't need a second amendment to defend our constitution. We need education and people to get off their butts and vote!
7
@Dr. Conde, the President did not want another Attorney General of the United states, he did not even want another Jeff Sessions type. What he wanted and got was his own consigliere to represent his own personal interests.
1
No American declined House Judiciary Committee subpoenas when Republicans ran the House.
Trump and his "loyalist" minions deny subpoena power involving the same Russia investigations now led by Democrats knowing this is a Constitutional function of the House of Representatives. Who cares if it is open or closed door, Americans cooperated for Republican led House Committees and must also comply with Democrat led Committees.
If someone like AG Barr doesn't understand this aspect of the Constitution, then they should receives daily fines and possible jail time until they learn that lesson.
170
"No American declined House Judiciary Committee subpoenas when Republicans ran the House."
The count is still "No American". Just that there's lots of Republicans declining too.
3
We continue to see our democracy eroding and the lawless regime in the White House pulling us into what could be a dictatorship. If you think not, then brush up on your world history so you can see the parallels.
579
@eric
Watch the “Dictator’s Playbook” on PBS website. Search for it in Google. It is multiple episodes showing how dictator’s of the 20th century came to power. You will see many parallels.
66
@eric Read Sinclair Lewis' "It Can't Happen Here." The parallels are chilling.
20
@Scientist
Barr has refused to uphold the oath he took to protect and defend our constitution.... can his license be revoked? it should be
20
Congress: please, please subpoena him. He is not above the law and he is clearly acting the lackey for Trump.
513
Dems had better have the guts to subpoena this Trump stooge. They have already proven to be toothless and operating from a fear-based crouch. Timing is not on their side.
279
@Michael FREMER: They better be prepared to arrest Barr for refusing a subpoena.
The Dems need to stop acting like timid cats and start acting like lions. Flex your claws. Our democracy demands it.
52
"Although allowing staff members to question witnesses is unusual, the committee has permitted it on several occasions in the past, under both Democratic and Republican majorities".
There is precedent for this by both Republicans and Democrats. No witness should be allow to state the terms that they will appear. They are, for the most part, public servants. They answer to the Congress who are the representatives of the people.
Barr is an ideological toady that pledges allegiance to trump, not the US and certainly not the law.
629
@rslay
There "precedent". Maybe Barr is spelling the word "president" as the man with most beautiful words once spelled "unpresidented" in his tweet.
What a cofeve.
20
@rslay
I think it is time to take off the gloves. Issue the subpoena now, no reason to waste time, he will not appear and the reasons are obvious.
39
@rslay
Barr is making the House's case for impeachment.
Contempt of Congress and failing to uphold his oath of office (to support the Constitution).
44