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Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:27 PM Apr 2019

Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to Barr: "the Mueller report did not exonerate the president -- you did"



“You sent a letter to the United States Congress that included something which was a principal conclusion, which was not a conclusion reached by the Mueller report,” Van Hollen said. “You indicated that they did not exonerate the president — you did. So I’m asking you whether you agree with Mueller that there were difficult issues of law and fact in making that assessment.”

“That is not a question I really can answer until I think –” Barr began, in an effort to stonewall the Senator.

“But you did — you looked at the report, right?” Van Hollen pressed. “You looked at the evidence of the report and you made a decision. And you said the president is not guilty of criminal obstruction of justice. I’m asking you, in your review of the report, did you agree with Mueller that there were difficult issues of law and fact?”

“I’m going to give my reaction and comments about the report after the report –” Barr began again, but Van Hollen cut him off.

“But you put your view of the report out on this issue of obstruction of justice,” he said. “Nobody asked you to do that. You put your assessment — you made a conclusion on the question of obstruction of justice that was not contained in the Mueller report, and I’m simply asking you when you looked at the evidence, did you agree with Mueller and his team that there was difficult issues of law and fact?”

“Mr. Attorney General, the thing is, you put this out there,” said Van Hollen, growing frustrated. “The president went out and tweeted the next day that he was exonerated. That wasn’t based on anything in the Mueller report with respect to obstruction of justice, that was based on your assessment, that was on March 24. And now you won’t elaborate at all as to how you reached that conclusion. I’m not asking about what is in the Mueller report, I’m asking about your conclusion.”

“It was the conclusion of a number of people including me and I am obviously the attorney general,” Barr replied, who continued to stonewall and Van Hollen laughed in his face.

“Mr. Attorney General, you put your conclusion out there,” he said. “And now you refuse to talk about any basis of your conclusion. I’m not asking for what’s in the report, I’m asking you how you reached your conclusion.”

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/04/bill-barr-gets-defensive-as-democrat-grills-him-for-coming-to-his-own-conclusions-about-the-mueller-report/
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Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to Barr: "the Mueller report did not exonerate the president -- you did" (Original Post) Miles Archer Apr 2019 OP
Mr. Attorney General, have you decided yet whether your summary was really a summary or not? gratuitous Apr 2019 #1
ERR.... I don't think Barr is a little man. Barr is a BIG, HUGE MAN. Like 350 pounds huge. trueblue2007 Apr 2019 #15
He's a greased pig of a man William Seger Apr 2019 #19
He's another man of the short, stubby fingered club, though. SergeStorms Apr 2019 #36
.... that means he has a tiny ... "you know what" trueblue2007 Apr 2019 #47
That's a very good indicator. SergeStorms Apr 2019 #53
Barr should have responded ... Drifter Apr 2019 #2
+1 oasis Apr 2019 #8
+2 lagomorph777 Apr 2019 #17
+1 uponit7771 Apr 2019 #28
Thread winner malaise Apr 2019 #34
So what is Van Hollen suggesting? hughee99 Apr 2019 #3
He wants him to explain how he came to the conclusion... Miles Archer Apr 2019 #5
Can you really explain how you reached the conclusion hughee99 Apr 2019 #6
Yes, because Barr reached his conclusion before he read the report. lagomorph777 Apr 2019 #18
Well, everyone knew Trump was guilty from the start, so why hughee99 Apr 2019 #20
The QUESTION from Van Hollen was whether Barr agreed with Mueller on a point of fact mr_lebowski Apr 2019 #22
+1 lagomorph777 Apr 2019 #24
The post I was originally responding to had this... hughee99 Apr 2019 #26
"now he won't discuss the fact that he did it." Can they hold him in contempt? cstanleytech Apr 2019 #23
THIS!!! leftieNanner Apr 2019 #4
So, he is claiming Scarsdale Apr 2019 #54
Heard him True Blue American Apr 2019 #7
How is this real life? Shell_Seas Apr 2019 #9
+1, its not ... its beltway group think. I would've put him in jail for contempt of congress for uponit7771 Apr 2019 #30
Nobody gives a hoot about being before a Congressional hearing, because THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES. Firestorm49 Apr 2019 #10
And that about covers it Bettie Apr 2019 #16
+1, Bill Barr: "...(clears throat), .. fuck all yaw...". Committee dems: "... Ok, thx !! ... thx " uponit7771 Apr 2019 #31
Mnuchin bdamomma Apr 2019 #48
Proving to be Trump's attorney and not America's. Congress represents the people. onit2day Apr 2019 #37
Barr didn't have the authority, duforsure Apr 2019 #11
Exactly. Well said onit2day Apr 2019 #38
The Attorney General Should be Working For Us Not Trump LoudMan1 Apr 2019 #12
Welcome to DU LoudMan1. liked your comment onit2day Apr 2019 #39
Barr bdamomma Apr 2019 #49
barr himself, in his own words, "this does NOT exonerate him" niyad Apr 2019 #13
barr needs to be put behind bars. nt DirtEdonE Apr 2019 #14
Or atleast disbarred. cstanleytech Apr 2019 #25
Dems need to hire crud Apr 2019 #21
Speaking the truth! ffr Apr 2019 #27
Barr is everything we feared he was and much worse. spanone Apr 2019 #29
+1, he doesn't sound that mentally with it. Apathetic but when even provoked he's a lil slow uponit7771 Apr 2019 #32
I considered that when I watched. But... Grasswire2 Apr 2019 #44
WOW !! He doesn't give a damn ... not one bit uponit7771 Apr 2019 #46
No, I didn't see that....good lord. spanone Apr 2019 #51
here it is Grasswire2 Apr 2019 #52
just another bdamomma Apr 2019 #50
Barr is a key part of the criminal cabal LibDemAlways Apr 2019 #33
Stop asking for a fucking explanation.... Ferrets are Cool Apr 2019 #35
But it seems like all the Democrats are able to do is to be right and outraged. WHEN pdsimdars Apr 2019 #40
Thanks, Senator Van Hollen. elleng Apr 2019 #41
Arrogant just like his boss. "and I am obviously the attorney general". SammyWinstonJack Apr 2019 #42
*Van Hollen on Rachel show, elleng Apr 2019 #43
Kick dalton99a Apr 2019 #45
As far as I'm concerned there is no longer any reason for these hearings and investigations. The Liberal Lion Apr 2019 #55

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
1. Mr. Attorney General, have you decided yet whether your summary was really a summary or not?
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:30 PM
Apr 2019

What a ridiculous little man William Barr is.

SergeStorms

(19,192 posts)
36. He's another man of the short, stubby fingered club, though.
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 04:52 PM
Apr 2019

Look at a picture of his hands sometime. He's yet another member of the S.S.F.M.C.A. (The Short Stubby Fingered Men's Club of America) All the members of S.S.F.M.C.A. are protecting their Grand Lizard, Donald Trump. They're circling the S.S.F.M.C.A.s war wagons around Trump and are not allowing any pertinent information to escape their inner sanctum. They live - and die - at the whim of the Grand Lizard. It's an organization as old as Napoleon Bonaparte himself, and has served to protect and defend short fingered vulgarians the world over. Our American chapter has most recently been "blessed" with an overflow of cheap, short fingered vulgarians that have been up to no good since their Grand Lizard decided to run for president, which the overt and covert aid of Russia's Grand Lizard, Vladimir Putin, and many other maniacal chapters the world over. The S.S.F.M.C. of Russia has played a Y-U-G-E part in placing - and keeping - America's short fingered vulgarian Grand Lizard, Donnie Dim-Wit, in power. They are a formidable enemy, and must be defeated for the good of all humankind.

It's time to gird our loins, for the survival of our planet may depend upon it.

SergeStorms

(19,192 posts)
53. That's a very good indicator.
Thu Apr 11, 2019, 02:32 AM
Apr 2019

Some women say it's the size of their feet, some say their nose, but the length and width of a man's fingers is the best indicator I've seen. Full disclosure, I'm a straight man whose played sports his entire life and have taken many showers with many different men. There are life's little vagaries for every "indicator" of organ size, but the closest, most reliable indicator I've discovered in my almost 70 years are the fingers. The palm size (that's what Trump brags about) means nothing. It's those digits, ladies! A man with long, strong fingers will seldom let you down in the size department. If that's what you're looking for in a man. Each to her own.

Drifter

(4,751 posts)
2. Barr should have responded ...
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:35 PM
Apr 2019

The conclusion was reached long before I became AG.
That's why I became AG.

Cheers
Drifter

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
3. So what is Van Hollen suggesting?
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:36 PM
Apr 2019

Would he like the investigator to make a statement, explain exactly what they found, what they recommend, and why?

Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
5. He wants him to explain how he came to the conclusion...
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:39 PM
Apr 2019

...although he knows he's not going to reveal content from the report.

I think a simple statement about reading the report and drawing his conclusions would suffice.

Problem is that Barr did it...it's in his letter...and now he won't discuss the fact that he did it.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
18. Yes, because Barr reached his conclusion before he read the report.
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:27 PM
Apr 2019

He put his conclusion in writing last summer. Everybody knows it.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
20. Well, everyone knew Trump was guilty from the start, so why
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:30 PM
Apr 2019

Have an investigation at all? Why not just start the impeachment process instead of appointing Mueller?

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
22. The QUESTION from Van Hollen was whether Barr agreed with Mueller on a point of fact
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:50 PM
Apr 2019

"So I’m asking you whether you agree with Mueller that there were difficult issues of law and fact in making that assessment?"

Answering this question does not inherently involve divulging any additional contents from the Report (not that our Dems should somehow be 'barred' from insisting such contents, in fact, be divulged).

It's basically a 'yes' or 'no' question, and Barr is refusing to answer.

I don't know why you're complicating this, nor giving Barr cover for not doing so.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
24. +1
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 03:06 PM
Apr 2019

"not that our Dems should somehow be 'barred' from insisting such contents, in fact, be divulged"

Exactly! We can't let Barr set the rules for what we are allowed to know!

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
26. The post I was originally responding to had this...
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 03:10 PM
Apr 2019

“He wants him to explain how he came to the conclusion...
...although he knows he's not going to reveal content from the report. ”

I accepted the posters premise that this was what Van Hollen wanted.

cstanleytech

(26,280 posts)
23. "now he won't discuss the fact that he did it." Can they hold him in contempt?
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 03:05 PM
Apr 2019

I mean criminal contempt of course.

leftieNanner

(15,080 posts)
4. THIS!!!
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:38 PM
Apr 2019

Is exactly what Rachel asked for last night!! Barr squirmed and wiggled, but Van Hollen was having none of it!

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
54. So, he is claiming
Thu Apr 11, 2019, 05:43 AM
Apr 2019

the tRump excuse "I am the A.G" tRump says "I am president, and you are not" when HE gets caught in questionable circumstances. Maybe both of them need a mental examination. Barr seems a little "off" to me, sort of bewildered. When tRump, Rudy, Barr and some of the others get together, it must seem like the dementia ward of a nursing home. Either that, or a scene from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

True Blue American

(17,982 posts)
7. Heard him
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 12:43 PM
Apr 2019

He did not allow Barr to use that flimsy excuse about waithing. He did what Chris said!

What was old mush mouth Kennedy talking about? My plane is gonna land on time. My plane has landed? Even the Republican Senator from West Virginia was looking at him. Like Wha?

uponit7771

(90,335 posts)
30. +1, its not ... its beltway group think. I would've put him in jail for contempt of congress for
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 03:21 PM
Apr 2019

... screwing around with the answer knowing the republicans (R-Russia) wouldn't hesitate to do the same.

Bettie

(16,086 posts)
16. And that about covers it
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:18 PM
Apr 2019

there are no consequences. For anything they do.

But, boy howdy, Joe Biden needs to pay for hugging women.

Ilhan Omar needs to pay for being female and Muslim.

Most of us need to pay for being not-.01 percenters.

And we'll all end up paying. Because they can make us pay. Because they know we'll make our side pay long before their side gets anything more than a harsh word or two.

duforsure

(11,885 posts)
11. Barr didn't have the authority,
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 01:49 PM
Apr 2019

To proclaim his innocence or guilt, because that's the sole job of Congress after seeing the full report what would happen , not him. By refusing to allow the full report to Congress for THEM to determine what should be done , he's obstructing justice, and by showing trump the report and not Congress, and protecting him by putting out false and misleading statements for him, that's conspiracy against the USA. Barr is in deep trouble now for what he's done for trump illegally, and digging his hole deeper and deeper.

LoudMan1

(5 posts)
12. The Attorney General Should be Working For Us Not Trump
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:00 PM
Apr 2019

William Barr has proven his worth to Donald Trump. He has been a great investment for Trump, but not for us.

niyad

(113,239 posts)
13. barr himself, in his own words, "this does NOT exonerate him"
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 02:04 PM
Apr 2019

whatever is in that report has to be really bad if even the asshole assigned to cover the tangerine traitor's offensive behind has to say that.

Grasswire2

(13,565 posts)
44. I considered that when I watched. But...
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 09:50 PM
Apr 2019

...I came to think he thought himself coy and clever. Playing slow and slightly dumb.

Did you see the clip where he talks about speaking with Trump in the presence of Supreme Court Justices, and he laughs snarkily at the memory?

spanone

(135,816 posts)
51. No, I didn't see that....good lord.
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 11:22 PM
Apr 2019

I'm amazed that people are willing to throw their careers down the toilet for this criminal...

bdamomma

(63,836 posts)
50. just another
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 10:52 PM
Apr 2019

suck up like Kavanaugh. tRump is doing Putin's bidding, and has neutered and gutted every important branch of government. I will be calling my Senators tomorrow, this shit has to end.

LibDemAlways

(15,139 posts)
33. Barr is a key part of the criminal cabal
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 03:35 PM
Apr 2019

that is the Trump Administration. His sole responsibility is to protect Trump's ass and thus far he's very much with the program.

 

pdsimdars

(6,007 posts)
40. But it seems like all the Democrats are able to do is to be right and outraged. WHEN
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 08:09 PM
Apr 2019

are they going to do something about it besides posturing? They keep threatening to do things, but don't.

SammyWinstonJack

(44,130 posts)
42. Arrogant just like his boss. "and I am obviously the attorney general".
Wed Apr 10, 2019, 08:35 PM
Apr 2019

tRUMP..."I'm the pResident and they're not".

The Liberal Lion

(1,414 posts)
55. As far as I'm concerned there is no longer any reason for these hearings and investigations.
Thu Apr 11, 2019, 12:28 PM
Apr 2019

The Justice System is corrupt to the core and broken completely. If we can't have the evidence in fact we have to accept the evidence by way of behavior. By way of behavior guilt of the grand con that has been perpetrated on our country has been established. We the people must now pass sentence and execute the judgement faithfully. Our institutions are no longer capable of bringing justice, we must.

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