Attorney General William Barr’s shameful handling of the Mueller report and his misleading testimony in Congress underscores the need for further hearings regarding Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and the role of all the president’s men.
Barr disgraced himself in his written summary of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s report on Russian interference and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump — and in his evasive and inaccurate testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Instead of performing his sworn duties as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, Barr morphed into Trump’s personal defense attorney, raising questions about who is representing the American people.
Barr’s four-page summary of Mueller’s report released in March was quick to exonerate Trump and his associates regarding any conspiracy with Russia leading up to the 2016 election. Barr also said Trump did not obstruct justice even though Mueller’s report documented 10 acts that could constitute obstruction.
During the Senate hearing Wednesday, Barr shockingly admitted he did not read the underlying evidence in Mueller’s 448-page report before rushing to his conclusions in his letter. Sen. Kamala Harris’ questioning of Barr is worth watching to see how far Barr has gone to protect Trump.
Barr also stammered through — and did not deny — questions from Harris, a California Democrat who also is seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, as to whether Trump has ever asked him to investigate his enemies — such as he did with former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. It was an alarming exchange for an attorney general who is supposed to be guided by a government of laws and not of men.
Instead Barr chose to mislead Congress and the public.
During a House hearing last month, Barr testified under oath that he was not aware of any concerns Mueller’s team might have expressed about his four-page letter. But in March, Mueller wrote a letter to Barr complaining that his summary mischaracterized the findings in the special counsel’s report following a two-year investigation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, another California Democrat, accused Barr of lying to Congress and threatened to hold him in contempt for his failure to turn over an unredacted version of Mueller’s report. On Wednesday, he refused to testify before a House panel, further stoking contempt threats. Other leading Democrats have called for Barr to resign.
From the moment Trump was sworn in, he has violated the norms of the Oval Office. His actions sparked mounting investigations and a list of associates who pleaded guilty to crimes.
As the legal pressures have mounted, Trump turned to a series of lawyers to make his problems go away. At one point, he asked, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” — a reference to his former mentor, fixer and Sen. Joseph McCarthy henchman who was later disbarred. Michael Cohen and Rudy Giuliani have taken turns as Trump’s fixer. Three attorney generals later, Trump found a lackey in Barr.
The upshot is a democracy in crisis. Lost in the daily drama, is the three-alarm fact that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and is poised to act again in 2020.
That is why Congress must investigate Russia’s interference and Trump’s alleged obstruction — and put a stop to the madness.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer
