Trump wanted Barr to hold news conference saying the president broke no laws in call with Ukrainian
Source: Washington Post
President Trump wanted Attorney General William P. Barr to hold a news conference declaring the commander in chief had broken no laws during a phone call in which he pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate a political rival, though Barr ultimately declined to do so, people familiar with the matter said. The request from Trump traveled from the president, to other White House officials, and eventually to the Justice Department. The president has mentioned Barrs declination to associates in recent weeks, saying he wished Barr would have held the news conference, Trump advisers say.
In recent weeks, the Justice Department has sought some distance from the White House, particularly on matters relating to the burgeoning controversy over Trumps dealings on Ukraine and the impeachment inquiry they sparked.People close to the administration say Barr and Trump remain on good terms. A senior administration official said Trump praised the attorney general publicly and privately Wednesday, and White House spokesman Hogan Gidely said, The President has nothing but respect for AG Barr and greatly appreciates the work hes done on behalf of the country and no amount of shady sources with clear intent to divide, smear, and slander will change that.
But those close to the administration also concede the department has made several recent maneuvers putting it at odds with the White House during a particularly precarious time for the president. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the politically fraught situation.
The request for the news conference came sometime around Sept. 25, when the administration released a rough transcript of the presidents July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The document showed how Trump urged Zelensky to investigate former vice president Joe Biden while dangling a possible White House visit for the foreign leader.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-wanted-barr-to-hold-news-conference-saying-the-president-broke-no-laws-in-call-with-ukrainian-leader/2019/11/06/16d541ec-ff55-11e9-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html
Full headline: Trump wanted Barr to hold news conference saying the president broke no laws in call with Ukrainian leader
Stuart G
(38,439 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,370 posts)Stuart G
(38,439 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,370 posts)We had the Watergate hearings on in my household but for some reason, I don't have the same optimism about a resignation before the election as you. As crude and conniving as Nixon was, he was still a government officiando with decades of government exposure and experience. In contrast, the current WH occupant had had zero government experience at any level or any function, and shows complete disdain for government and its principles.
Stuart G
(38,439 posts)....Nixon wasn't a crook. Nixon was a crook
....Nixon will always be thought of as a crook, and so will Trump. (after impeachment, next week and possible
resignation..???) Trump is a crook too.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Barr has zero credibility. The public and the media will not buy whatever crap he is selling. Just like whatever scheme he is cooking up right now to discredit the Russia investigation.
Stuart G
(38,439 posts)Julian Englis
(2,309 posts)And probably complicit in Epsteins death.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)of college speech he gave long story short, I seriously believe he may have personally done it himself.
This guy is also a sociopath, one with a brain. It is chilling.
erronis
(15,328 posts)Many of the public will buy into whatever they're force-fed by their clans/friend/media.
The media is rather selective in what they present. Very few US outlets are without bias and filtering. Even the old Gray Lady, the WaPo, the WSJ, etc. One of the reasons I really trust more internationally-based outlets (Reuters, Guardian, Spiegel) but want confirmation from various sources.
djacq
(1,634 posts)Just when you think there must be a bottom.
Stuart G
(38,439 posts)RainCaster
(10,911 posts)Can we get Billy Barr impeached and disbarred?
Botany
(70,567 posts)BTW This might have been "a bridge too far" for Barr and he doesn't want to go down on the
Trump-tanic.
No-Bozos
(51 posts)Billy would be wise to remember that one of his predecessors, John Mitchell, spent 19 months in jail for his role in Watergate.
As to everyone else ignoring House subpoenas, they may want to review their financial situation if they should be charged with Contempt of Congress. Lawyers are not cheap. Many also may have potential Obstruction of Justice charges awaiting them. Talk about a toxic work environment.
A motto to live by if you work for Frump, "He demands absolute loyalty, but he very, very, rarely returns it." Just say'in -
paleotn
(17,946 posts)They REALLY are grasping at straws.
EveHammond13
(2,855 posts)EveHammond13
(2,855 posts)oldsoftie
(12,586 posts)wiggs
(7,817 posts)We KNOW he extorted Ukraine. We know he asked/demanded personal service from Comey, Sessions, now Barr. He's in bed with Russia of course.
Turkey? Israel? Saudis? Almost certainly. Graham, McConnell probably.
This is what's really serious about Ukraine. I'm glad and all that dems are doing a good job illuminating and pursuing the Ukraine misconduct. But the scandal means more than just Ukraine and one case of quid pro quo corruption. It means
...every foreign interaction is suspect
...every domestic action is suspect
...because of nefarious, corrupt behavior he is compromised by everyone who knows about it. Blackmail.
...all his proposals are tainted by his tendency for self-dealing.
...he lies about everything. Prove a lie (Ukraine) and it can be taken that he will lie about anything else
How can someone remain in office under these conditions? I wish more dem leaders and pundits would discuss what Ukraine really means in a big picture sense. Forest, instead of trees.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)Nixon's Attorney General during Watergate. (He spent 19 months in prison.)
dlk
(11,575 posts)He has sold out our country in so many other ways.
Hassler
(3,389 posts)Between the Criminal-in-Chief and staying out of jail.
Harker
(14,033 posts)has lived so long.
choie
(4,111 posts)the trope that they released a "rough transcript" It wasn't a transcript, rough or otherwise. It was a summary. Jesus Christ can't the media get this right?
tanyev
(42,600 posts)The story was everywhere, but we never found out the name of the 'reporter' who asked that. I'm convinced someone was instructed to ask that question.
By Matt Shuham|
March 22, 2017 3:47 p.m.
President Donald Trump said that he felt somewhat vindicated in his unsubstantiated wiretapping claims after hearing from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA), who claimed Wednesday that Trump and members of his transition team had been incidentally surveilled.
Do you feel vindicated by Chairman Nunes? a reporter asked the President.
I somewhat do. I must tell you, I somewhat do. I very much appreciated the fact that they found what they found, but I somewhat do, Trump responded.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-somewhat-vindicated-wiretapping
bucolic_frolic
(43,257 posts)Epstein was just another excerpted transcript. Nothing to see here, don't rubber-neck too much, and move along to the next redacted reality.
Lock Barr Up!
The Wizard
(12,547 posts)or the President of Ukraine is still propaganda. Manipulating the media is just so Russian. He is indeed "The Siberian Candidate."
bucolic_frolic
(43,257 posts)Link to tweet
Lets stop using the Latin, quid pro quo and start calling it what it really is: BRIBERY AND EXTORTION.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)Firing squad?
I'll bring the tasty orange chips and guac?
Tickets should be free!
Behind the Lincoln Memorial?
I'm 3000 miles away, I'll just watch the highlights.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Nitram
(22,853 posts)until Barr has had enough and jumps ship.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,586 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,586 posts)Re: today's tweets from @realDonaldTrump
Link to tweet
--- and ---
Daniel Dale Retweeted
Here's our story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-wanted-barr-to-hold-news-conference-saying-the-president-broke-no-laws-in-call-with-ukrainian-leader/2019/11/06/16d541ec-ff55-11e9-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html
NYT version: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/us/politics/trump-william-barr-ukraine-call.html
WSJ version: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-wanted-attorney-general-barr-to-publicly-clear-him-over-ukraine-call-11573104736
ABC version: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-denies-barr-hold-news-conference-clearing-ukraine/story?id=66817134
Link to tweet