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Maybe the most maddening claim in Barr's testimony today: his spin that Mueller's letter blames press coverage—not Barr's misleading March 24th summary—for stoking what Mueller called "public confusion."
This is utter bunk.
Here's what actually happened. 1/6
This is utter bunk.
Here's what actually happened. 1/6
(1) Barr wrote a summary of the Mueller report that did not convey, in Mueller's words, the "context, nature, and substance" of his "work and conclusions."
(2) The press published and reported on Barr's summary. 2/6
(2) The press published and reported on Barr's summary. 2/6
(3) Mueller grew frustrated that his two-year inquiry and 448-page report were being mischaracterized by Barr and misperceived by the public, so
(4) Mueller wrote Barr a sternly worded letter of complaint. 3/6
(4) Mueller wrote Barr a sternly worded letter of complaint. 3/6
In his letter, Mueller did not complain to (or about) the NYT, WaPo, NPR or the like. He complained to Barr about Barr. Mueller demanded that Barr release the executive summaries he prepared so the public's confusion could be allayed. 4/6
Barr refused. Instead, he doubled down with an April 18 press conference repeating the misleading spin.
Again, the press reported on Barr's spin. Later that day, after the redacted Mueller report was released, the press began to report on what was actually in the report. 5/6
Again, the press reported on Barr's spin. Later that day, after the redacted Mueller report was released, the press began to report on what was actually in the report. 5/6
For Barr to impugn the press today with another spurious claim about what Mueller said is maddening. But it fits perfectly with the approach he has taken all along with regard to the Special Counsel's investigation. 6/6
