The current scandal unfolding in front of our eyes doesn’t JUST involve Donald Trump. It involves Attorney General William Barr as well. If you want to understand HOW an Attorney General and a Justice Department is supposed to act, let’s talk history.
During the Watergate Scandal, Nixon’s VP Spiro Agnew was wrapped up in his own scandal. At this time, there was a concurrent federal investigation surrounding corruption in Maryland politics (where Agnew had been Governor). And just who was investigating the VP?
Attorney General Elliot Richardson. Richardson was a LIFELONG Republican, appointed by Republican Richard Nixon. Richardson's lead prosecutor was a lifelong Republican named George Beall. Beall’s brother was a sitting Republican Senator who VP Agnew previously helped elect!
Even with so many Republican ties, AG Richardson understood the vital INDEPENDENT nature of the Justice Department and wasn’t willing to let the Vice President off the hook. He had conducted criminal activities and wasn’t above the law.
Fearing criminal prosecution, Agnew requested his own impeachment from the Democratic House thinking this would keep the Justice Department off his back. It was rejected by the House. The investigation continued and Agnew eventually resigned, pleading guilty to a # of charges.
Now contrast this with William Barr. At every point in this presidency, Barr has acted as a vassal for Trump. Barr knew of Trump’s effort to get Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election and did nothing. Barr’s summary of the Mueller investigation was highly misleading.
Barr is denigrating the independent nature of his office. An Attorney General is not supposed to act as an AGENT of a president. S/he is supposed to enforce the rule of law with honesty and objectivity.
When will the Republican Party be honest again? When will the Justice Department prosecute the criminal activities of the President?
