Thread by @NGrossman81

With Team Mueller leaking to NYT and WaPo that Barr understated their case, seems people missed the AG's slight-of-hand.
Barr thinks POTUS can't commit criminal obstruction. And Mueller didn't charge him.
But Trump's not accused of criminal obstruction
1/x
arcdigital.media/mueller-averte…

The accusation against Trump is really abuse of power. Technically legal, but not faithful execution of the law, thereby violating the Constitution.
Obstruction was part of the Nixon and Clinton impeachment cases. Neither was charged with a crime.
2/x
arcdigital.media/mueller-averte…

Barr's legal reasoning is solid. DOJ, which is the in executive branch, bringing criminal charges against POTUS, who runs the executive branch, for firing the FBI Director, who works in the executive branch, wouldn't make sense.
But criminal obstruction isn't the issue.
3/x

Mueller didn't charge Trump with criminal obstruction, found evidence of abuse of power obstruction, and correctly left the question of what to do about it to Congress.
Barr letter clears Trump of criminal obstruction. And that's it.
See the slight-of-hand? Media fell for it.
4/x

Trump's accused of Nixon/Clinton-style obstruction. Public reports already show a lot.
Conviction needs 20 GOP Senators, so impeachment for obstruction is probably going nowhere.
Still, important for public to understand what's going on here. Barr didn't really clear Trump.
(END)