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The Absurd Barr Scandal politi.co/2vyG79q via @politicomag
We’ve gone from Donald Trump allegedly betraying the nation to Barr allegedly betraying the nation, from potential Trump impeachment to potential Barr impeachment.
Let’s be clear. If Barr wanted to cover for Trump, he could have crimped the Mueller probe, sat on the report, or redacted it into meaninglessness. He did none of the above.
Barr’s conduct is defensible on its own terms. He wanted to get the basic verdict out because the investigation had so roiled our national life, especially the possibility that there was coordination between the Trump campaign and a foreign power.
When Mueller came back to him with his letter requesting the release of the summaries, Barr declined because he didn’t want to get into piecemeal releases when the entire report was going to be made available to the public soon enough.
That’s what makes the Barr controversy so nonsensical. He went further than he had to under the regulations to release the entirety of the report, letting everyone read it and decide for themselves. What else was he supposed to do?
Of course, Barr’s summary letter inevitably lacked the narrative force and details of the 400-page report, but we know that … because he released the report.
The notion that Barr perjured himself or was deceptive in congressional testimony is similarly absurd. In an exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen last month, he was asked whether Mueller supported his “conclusion,” meaning his judgment that the president didn’t obstruct justice.
Barr accurately said he didn’t know. He wasn’t asked about Mueller’s view of the summary letter.
Ultimately, the firestorm over Barr’s summary letter is a misdirection, and he’s a scapegoat. If Mueller wanted to recommend charging Trump with obstruction of justice, he could have done so.
Instead, he punted and now he — or some people around him — are upset that the Barr letter accurately stated his convoluted not guilty/not exonerated bottom line.
