Tornado Alley (PROG)

[arizona1]

Barr On the Edge of Obstruction: Fallout from the Shot Across His Bow

The fallout from yesterday’s revelations continue to reverberate across the land bringing some elements of the ever-evolving story into clarity.

One detail emerged yesterday that I believe is both trustworthy, and hugely significant.

From the Washington Post story that came out suspiciously fast after the NYTimes story, almost as if coordinated, as summarized by HuffPo:

Some investigators were particularly miffed that Barr had not released the official summaries of the report that their team had prepared, the Post reported. One official told the paper that the special counsel report was written in such a way that would have allowed “the front matter from each section ... [to be] released immediately — or very quickly” to the public.

“It was done in a way that minimum redactions, if any, would have been necessary, and the work would have spoken for itself,” the official said.

Barr has some explaining to do, and it is NOT going to be comfortable.

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Congressman Schiff has some obvious questions, Mr. Attorney General, I recommend you be highly cautious in how you answer: From same HuffPo.

“Why didn’t he release a summary produced by Bob Mueller himself instead of trying to shape it through his own words?”

Mr. Barr will likely respond — initially — with something about “classified information.” To which, the obvious follow-up question is going to be:

“Do you mean to tell me, that in a 400 page report without counting exhibits, one that took 2 years to create, you — in 48 hours — identified classified material overlooked by the team that collected the material, and determined you were in a better position to judge what to release?”

At which point Barr starts to sink into his seat, because there really is no good answer to that question. If he states: “Yes.” Then the follow-up question would be:

“If you had such huge concerns, why did you rush out YOUR summary? Why did you not take more time and work with the Mueller on such HUGE concerns?”

And Barr reaches into his coat pocket, grabs the prescription bottle and pops a “little yellow pill,” he goes running to the shelter of the defendant’s little helper.

Politics is different today ….

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Or he can start squawking about protecting those third parties he imbued himself with the duty to protect.

And there Barr needs to be Sesame Street careful.

Trump can’t even fire someone himself (ironic). He outsources his dirty work. Trump is basically a mob boss. He will order that crimes be committed, often the order is in code.

We know that the MOST nefarious stuff is going to have at least been attempted through third party intermediaries.

A whole lot of dirty laundry can be swept up in protecting these “third parties.” Barr had to know that, and have planned it out.

Except, apparently, attempts to utterly sweep away significant findings will be met with headlines on Barr’s doorstep. And that’s a bit of a problem for Barr because every once in a while, Attorneys General that get too cute protecting their boss find themselves convicted of obstruction.

Barr must be asking himself where he’s going to draw the line, now that the Mueller team has demonstrated they intend to play hardball.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/4/4/1847706/-Barr-On-the-Edge-of-Obstruction-Fallout-from-the-Shot-Across-His-Bow?utm_campaign=trending