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Tuesday, September 3, 2019

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Trump Doesn't Blame Barr

President Trump tweeted this evening that the nation is "disgusted with the FBI. We have a crisis of confidence in the number one law enforcement agency in this country (thanks Comey!)." Well, that sounds about right. But note one thing--Trump doesn't blame AG Barr for this unhappy state of affairs. On the other hand, of course, neither does he blame himself. He seems to blame James Comey and, by implication, the president who appointed Comey--Obama. As for Chris Wray--the FBI Director that Trump himself appointed, well before Barr became AG--well, it seems that Trump's policy at this point amounts to: the less said the better (image courtesy of CTH):




Something's going on here, but don't ask me to explain it--nor the really rather restrained tone of the tweet. All I can say is that Trump appears to be perfectly satisfied with the job Barr is doing.

UPDATE 1: Lou Dobbs last night interviewed former Acting AG Matt Whitaker. Clearly, Whitaker's spate of recent appearances must be part of a strategy to maintain support for what Barr is doing--so it seems to me. And yet sundance at CTH is absolutely right that most of the interview is consumed by Whitaker deflecting Dobbs' demands for transparency and challenges to the lack of transparency.



Dobbs focuses on Rod Rosenstein's three "Scope Memos"--Whitaker confirms that such memos exist but declines to even confirm the number of the memos! Dobbs' focus is well chosen, because the Scope Memos define the scope of the Team Mueller operation, which in turn arises from the FBI's illegal Crossfire Hurricane investigation and the later machinations of James Comey, Sally Yates and Rod Rosenstein (and others). The only defense Whitaker seems to offer for the lack of transparency regarding the scope memos is that it would be unfair to declassify them at this point because that would reveal the names of people who were unfairly accused. The problem with that response is obvious. For starters, the DoJ regulations that govern Special Counsel appointments require a specification of criminal charges--Rosenstein violated that requirement. Further, revelation of persons falsely accused would educate Americans to the scope of the perversion of justice that was the Team Mueller operation--beginning in the FBI and continuing with Rod Rosenstein's DoJ. Does Barr not believe that the American people should have this knowledge? Note this brief exchange:

Whitaker: This is what Bill Barr's biggest challenge is--is restoring the trust in the Department of Justice ... 
Dobbs: You can't do it unless you're fully transparent ... 
Dobbs: It's time to raise hell and raise the roof!

But where, I have to ask, is Trump in all this? And please note--Dobbs' challenge has nothing to do with making unreasonable demands (as far as I can tell) on Bill Barr to reform the entire DoJ with authorities that he doesn't actually possess. My belief is that Barr does in fact have the authority to release these scope memos to the public, along with unredacted versions of the FISA applications--at least as regards the probable cause. And I don't doubt that there's more such documentation. The bottom line seems to me to be that, if the documentation is basically fictitious, what harm could there really be in the public disclosure of fictions?

UPDATE 2: I just read sundance's full comments. Sundance is suspicious that the reason for the lack of transparency regarding the Scope Memos is that Rod Rosenstein's role is being protected. I've never made any secret of my belief that Rosenstein was a co-conspirator in the Russia Hoax during his time at the head of DoJ. If Rosenstein is now a key cooperating witness, Is Barr seeking to protect Rosenstein from scrutiny at this point? That's been my (hopeful) speculation, but the nonsense about not even confirming the number of Scope Memos seems absurd. Time will tell.


7 comments:

  1. -->"Something's going on here, but don't ask me to explain it--nor the really rather restrained tone of the tweet."

    As usual, Trump is trolling the media.

    Watergate was a two-bit burglary. The Russia hoax was political opposition research promulgated for dirtying-up the out-of-power candidate opposed by the sitting administration for the purpose of spying/using government investigatory powers to influence the outcome of the election and, once elected, obstruct the new president. Said obstruction is for the purpose of forcing the elected president from office by resignation or impeachment.

    The NYT, WaPo, and other legacy media have completely missed reporting the true underlying story of the hoax and attempted coup for partisan purposes.

    Trump is laying the groundwork for the further embarrassment and reputational destruction of the legacy media.

    When the media says, "Orange man bad," Trump is reminding the public that media plays the role of the boy in fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."

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  2. I was going to post a despairing comment this morning until the 3rd cup of coffee kicked in and I realized that Trump hasn't recently tweeted any frustrations regarding the DoJ.

    Trump gave Sessions the first 5 months of 2017 to do something (5 pro-Sessions tweets), at which point he started firing his anti-Sessions tweets. So far Trump has tweeted only positive things about Barr and Barr has been AG for 7 months. So I guess that's a good sign.

    Here are all of Trump's pro-Sessions tweets, and my favorite anti-Sessions tweets (there are too many to post here)


    ·
    Mar 8 2019
    Sessions didn't have a clue!
    ·
    Dec 16, 2018
    ....Jeff Sessions should be ashamed of himself for allowing this total HOAX to get started in the first place!
    ·
    Oct 16, 2018
    ...Where is Jeff Sessions?
    ·
    Sep 4, 2018
    The already discredited Woodward book, so many lies and phony sources, has me calling Jeff Sessions 'mentally retarded' and 'a dumb southerner.' I said NEITHER, never used those terms on anyone, including Jeff, and being a southerner is a GREAT thing. He made this up to divide!
    ·
    Sep 3, 2018
    ....The Democrats, none of whom voted for Jeff Sessions, must love him now. ...
    ·
    Sep 3, 2018
    Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......
    ·
    Aug 25, 2018
    Jeff Sessions said he wouldn't allow politics to influence him only because he doesn't understand what is happening underneath his command position. ...
    ·
    Aug 20, 2018
    Will Bruce Ohr, whose family received big money for helping to create the phony, dirty and discredited Dossier, ever be fired from the Jeff Sessions 'Justice' Department? A total joke! ...

    Jun 5, 2018
    The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax continues, all because Jeff Sessions didn't tell me he was going to recuse himself...
    ·
    Apr 21, 2018
    The Washington Post said I refer to Jeff Sessions as 'Mr. Magoo' and Rod Rosenstein as 'Mr. Peepers.'
    ·
    Feb 28, 2018
    Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, ...
    .
    Jul 26, 2017
    Why didn't A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend ...
    ·
    Jul 25, 2017
    Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!
    ·
    Mar 28, 2017
    It was an honor to welcome @GLFOP to the @WhiteHouse today with @VP Pence & Attorney General Sessions. THANK YOU for all you do 24/7/365!
    ·
    Mar 4, 2017
    Just out: The same Russian Ambassador that met Jeff Sessions visited the Obama White House 22 times, and 4 times last year alone.
    @realDonaldTrump
    ·
    Mar 4, 2017
    The first meeting Jeff Sessions had with the Russian Amb was set up by the Obama Administration under education program for 100 Ambs......
    @realDonaldTrump
    ·
    Mar 2, 2017
    Jeff Sessions is an honest man. He did not say anything wrong. He could have stated his response more accurately, but it was clearly not....
    ·
    Nov 22, 2016
    'Jeff Sessions, a Fitting Selection for Attorney General'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank God for coffee!

      I just can't accept that Barr would accept that job without a plan, risking the fate that he saw befall Sessions. Further, the WH was trying to recruit Barr for most of the administration, beginning early in 2017.

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  3. I'm not sure what to think at this point. I'm not ready to give up hope on Barr. Maybe they're doing a thorough investigation and keeping their powder dry for now?

    I was deflated when Joe DiGenova stated that he didn't think that there would be any prosecutions. I'm trying to keep my expectations at a minimum right now.

    I'm following up from one of your more recent posts about Sydney Powell. Who is the key witness that she mentions in her filling? Is it Joe Pientka or Peter Strzok? I'm scratching my head on that one.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, I've certainly not given up hope.

      Re the "key witness," my best guess is that it's Strzok. The evidence withheld would be the texts. My guess.

      Delete
  4. Good. I wasn't sure where you stood. Maybe you're just like me and very frustrated?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a long time. Lots of people are frustrated.

      Delete