We're FUNDAMENTALLY talking about Barr and Mueller in the wrong way.
According to the Special Counsel rules, in basic terms, the Attorney General MUST notify Congress if he ever disagreed, overruled, or blocked the Special Counsel.
[1/2]
#IMO: Barr violated DOJ rules by failing to disclose he OVERRULED Mueller.
In his first letter, Barr told Congress "there were no such instances" where he disagreed, overruled, or blocked Mueller.
But, his decision to exonerate Trump, when Mueller would not, is just that. [2/2]
#RELATED: While the Special Counsel rules mandate that Barr notifies Congress if he interferes w/ the investigation...
...those rules DON'T apply for the 14 investigations Mueller handed-off.
They could be impeded and Barr wouldn't have to tell anyone.
§600.9(a)(3) covers during AND the end of an investigation.
With the OLC opinion, a Special Counsel's FINAL POSITION w/ criminality found WOULDN'T result in a charging decision for any president, but rather a position consistent w/ Mueller/DOJ rules. [1/4]
#MORE: Mueller's FINAL POSITION (re: OLC) was he couldn't charge or accuse a sitting-POTUS, even w/ ample evidence.
He could only lay it out for Congress, like Jaworski + Starr.
Barr overruled, making a DECLINATION decision that Mueller didn't believe could be justified. [2/4]
#MORE: The SC regs were written particularly w/ Presidents in mind.
Mueller's FINAL POSITION was also while he couldn't consider charging, he was allowed to clear, but he couldn't.
Barr overruled, requiring him to tell Congress under § 600.9(a)(3). [3/4]
DURING the investigation, the AG may review investigative or prosecutorial steps by the SC, and overrule if determined to be inappropriate or unwarranted under DOJ practices.
That ALSO falls under the mandatory notification in § 600.9(a)(3). [1/3]
#EVENMORE: On March 5th, DURING the investigation, 3 weeks before handing in his report...
Mueller met with Barr & Rosenstein to notify them that he "WOULD not reach a determination one way or the other about whether [Trump] committed a crime," consistent w/ DOJ practices. [2/3]
#EVENMORE: Mueller's notification fulfilled his duty under § 600.8(b).
If Barr disagreed, b/c he "determined" it was outside of DOJ norms (as he's described Mueller's position)...
...then he was REQUIRED to notify Congress re: § 600.9(a)(3), as he overruled/cleared Trump. [3/3]
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#REMEMBER: After pressure from Trump, right-wing media, and Republicans...former-AG Sessions appointed John Huber, U.S. Attorney in Utah, to probe the Clinton Foundation and "Uranium One" conspiracy theories.
#FACTCHECK: Republicans SUPPORTED the Biden-led effort to root out corruption in Ukraine, by seeking the removal of a corrupt Prosecutor General, Shokin.
Shokin was NOT prosecuting corruption. He was accepting and extorting the corrupt for bribes.
#FACTCHECK: Zelenksy was PREPPED by Yermak, Volker and Sondland.
He was told he had to reassure Trump on the call that he was willing to work with Giuliani to investigate Burisma/the Bidens, and the 2016 conspiracy theory.
#FACTCHECK: The legality and legitimacy of the Impeachment Inquiry has been affirmed by the Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court, in a ruling one month ago.
Litigating every subpoena thru the courts is a delay tactic.
#PASTBLAST: My FIRST thread on Gov. Matt Bevin, who I've tracked since...
I may have misspelled his name back then, but it quickly became clear that he was ACTIVELY working against the interests of the people of KY in every way imaginable.
#FTR: The article has been updated...but the reporter has NOT corrected her tweet.
Shortly after tweeting out the incorrect article, she retweeted the suggestion that Tulsi's primary challenger for her congress is not a serious opponent.