Attorney General Barr refused to answer questions about protecting Trump and got angry when he was asked about spinning the Mueller report for the president.
Barr gets called out for protecting Trump
Barr was asked, ” Mr. Attorney general, Democrats have questioned some of the process, a Republican-appointed judge said you have, quote, created an environment that has caused a significant part of the American public to be concerned about these redactions, you cleared the president on obstruction, the president is fund-raising off your comments about spying, here you have comments quite positive for the president including his feelings and emotions. What do you say to people on both sides of the aisle who are concerned you’re trying to protect the president.”
He answered, “Actually the statements about his sincere beliefs are recognized in the report that there was substantial evidence for that. I’m not sure what your basis is for saying I’m being generous to the president.”
Then things got testy:
Q: You face an unprecedented situation — to go out of your way to acknowledge —
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Barr: Is there another precedent for it?
Q: No.
Barr: So unprecedented is an accurate transcription, isn’t it?
Q: What do you say to people who are concerned you’re trying to protect the president?
Video:
Barr didn’t answer the question about protecting the president, and the press conference ended shortly after that. The press conference was a spin job for Trump. Barr spent more time talking about no collusion, even though collusion isn’t a crime than he did discussing the obstruction of justice instances than Mueller found. The press conference wasn’t an effort to inform the public. William Barr was trying to spin the American people.
After this press conference, it is clear that Congress must see the full Mueller report and call on the Special Counsel to testify under oath before the House and Senate.
The Barr/Trump sham couldn’t hold up to the slightest bit of questioning.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
