Bill Barr Quit. What Finally Spooked Him?

[Zorro]

The attorney general’s sudden departure raises alarms about what Trump might do next.

Attorney General William Barr has resigned with a little more than a month left in President Donald Trump’s administration. This seems to suggest that Barr thinks what happens in the next five weeks could irretrievably tarnish his legacy. If so, that’s pretty stunning, considering how much Barr has already diminished his reputation and that of the Justice Department with his pro-Trump shenanigans.

What’s the January surprise Barr wants no part of? One possibility is that Barr wants to create bureaucratic distance between himself and the president so that he can say he resigned rather than serving out his term. But this seems implausible, even for a canny bureaucratic operator like Barr, given how close he has been to the presidency. And it certainly seems at odds with the fawning tone of his resignation letter.

Another option is that Barr realizes that Trump plans to continue challenging the election outcome. Barr has been willing to tolerate Trump’s arguments thus far, even if he himself has refused to say that Justice has evidence of meaningful fraud. Yet the prospect of increasingly wild claims of conspiracy and an inauguration without Trump in attendance might perhaps be enough for Barr to prefer to be out of town — and out of the administration — for the next few weeks.

The most likely possibility, however, involves presidential pardons, and perhaps legally questionable executive orders designed to make more permanent some of Trump’s policies.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-12-15/william-barr-has-resigned-what-finally-spooked-him

IMO Trump is planning some fuckery so indefensible that even Barr can't support.

[Hoyt]

1. trump is done and there's not much he can do that can't be overturned.

[unblock]

2. And sometimes a lame duck resignation is just a lame duck resignation

Political appointees of lame duck administrations don't always stay on until fired by the next president. Perfectly normal to quit a few weeks early. Get a jump on a high paying gig or take some time off or get started on a book or whatever.

Yeah, it's possible that he may have had other reasons, but I don't see this as any basis to assume he suddenly acquired any principles or even started caring about his ethical image.

[luv2fly]

3. His understudy can take care of business

And make a name for himself amongst evil Republicans while he does.

[COLGATE4]

4. According to Brian Williams tonight

it may be that Rosen is going to appoint a Special Counsel to investigate Biden and Hunter, an appointment which Pres. Biden would be powerless to stop.

[napi21]

5. A guest on cable tonight said he thought it had to do with the pardons DT plans to

dole out. Since the legal work for pardons is done by the justice Dept. the questionable ones woukd refkect directly on Barr. It will be interesting to see just who is on the list.

[mpcamb]

6. That seems the most reasonable explanation. Lots of work, explaining and after-stench. Sidestep it.

[beastie boy]

7. Some speculate that he either

Got his pardon from trump and sees no reason to stick around, or he realizes he will never get a pardon and there is no reason to stick around

[SWBTATTReg]

8. I wouldn't put it pass djt to pardon all murderers in every state that voted against him...anyone

that he can think of, for revenge.