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Monday, July 8, 2019

Briefly Noted: Bill Barr--The Can Do AG

Bill Barr said today that he's been in regular contact with President Trump about the 2020 Census and the citizenship question. And guess what? Barr says he's come up with a way to do it. That's the kind of can do AG that warms the cockles of a president like Trump.

Whatever led John Roberts to believe that Barr would be impressed with his goofy opinions?

In a visit to South Carolina on Monday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the Trump administration will present a legal work-around that will allow a question on citizenship to be added to the 2020 Census. 
Speaking to reporters after a scheduled stop at a federal prison, Barr said, “I think, over the next day or two, you’ll see what approach we’re taking and I think it does provide a pathway for getting the question on the census.” 
...  
Barr also expressed little concern for the pending testimony of former special counsel Robert Mueller ...
... 
Barr said he doesn’t think the testimony serves a purpose after Mueller said he would stick to the content of his original report. 
“It seems to me the only reason for doing that is to create some kind of public spectacle,” Barr said. “If (Mueller) decides he doesn’t want to be subjected to that, the DOJ will certainly back that.” 
... 
Barr said he has been in regular contact with Trump over the [census] issue. 
“I agree with him that the Supreme Court decision was wrong,” said Barr. He said he believes there is “an opportunity potentially to cure the lack of clarity that was the problem and we might as well take a shot at doing that.” 
... 
As the administration grapples for a way around the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Justice Department has shaken up its legal team handling the matter. 
... 
An administration official said the new legal team may find it easier to argue the administration’s new position. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to speak on the record.


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