Attorney General William Barr interfered with the smooth submission of the Mueller Report to Congress. He held up the submission of the report while he added his own faulty interpretation of the facts surrounding Donald Trump’s possible obstruction of justice. Barr also said he intended to submit to Congress a version of the report redacted of grand jury information, classified material, material affecting on-going investigations, and information unduly infringing on the privacy and reputation of “peripheral third parties.” Congressional Democrats have signaled their intention to fight for an un-redacted version of the report.
Barr clearly intended to give Trump the opportunity to shape the public narrative before Democrats could comment on the Mueller Report. Barr’s effort to help Trump calls into question how he might assist the President in other on-going investigations. These investigations include the Southern District of New York investigation Trump’s payments of hush money, bank fraud, money laundering, and money donated to his inaugural committee. Although these district offices have some degree of autonomy, they are subject to the authority of the Attorney General.
Currently, the Attorney General of the State of New York is also investigating possible fraud involving the Trump organization and his now-defunct foundation. That may be the best possibility to hold Trump accountable because of Barr’s cloak of protection.
Barr clearly intended to give Trump the opportunity to shape the public narrative before Democrats could comment on the Mueller Report. Barr’s effort to help Trump calls into question how he might assist the President in other on-going investigations. These investigations include the Southern District of New York investigation Trump’s payments of hush money, bank fraud, money laundering, and money donated to his inaugural committee. Although these district offices have some degree of autonomy, they are subject to the authority of the Attorney General.
Currently, the Attorney General of the State of New York is also investigating possible fraud involving the Trump organization and his now-defunct foundation. That may be the best possibility to hold Trump accountable because of Barr’s cloak of protection.
The New York Times: Buchanan and Yourich. The Criminal Investigations That Sprouted From Mueller
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/31/us/politics/trump-investigations-that-grew-out-of-mueller.html
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/31/us/politics/trump-investigations-that-grew-out-of-mueller.html
