Satisfied customer. 
This might be obvious but it bears repeating. The Roger Stone case and the Michael Flynn case originated in the Special Counsel’s Office, under regulations designed to make it difficult for political appointees—who might favor the politician who appointed them—to interfere.
Barr’s manifest interference in these cases—which the President who appointed him is celebrating this morning—was facilitated by the sudden shuttering of the special counsel’s office shortly after his confirmation and the transfer of its ongoing matters to US Attorneys’ offices.
Those transfers meant, for the Flynn and Stone cases, the DC US Attorney Jessie Liu stood in the shoes of Robert Mueller.
In recent days, Trump replaced Liu with one of Barr’s lackeys, initially promising her a Treasury job, and then unceremoniously dumping her.
In recent days, Trump replaced Liu with one of Barr’s lackeys, initially promising her a Treasury job, and then unceremoniously dumping her.
Mueller documented all the ways Trump tried to fire him and damage his prosecutions when he was still on the job, and the WH aides that stood up to him.
Mueller’s successor actually was fired here, Mueller’s cases were damaged, and all the line prosecutors could do is resign.
Mueller’s successor actually was fired here, Mueller’s cases were damaged, and all the line prosecutors could do is resign.
Had Trump and his goons forced out Mueller and scuttled his prosecutions, it would’ve been a top level crisis. The same should be true for the people finishing his work.
It’s also a reminder that we never learned why Mueller closed his office so suddenly with so much left to do.
It’s also a reminder that we never learned why Mueller closed his office so suddenly with so much left to do.
I think, in any congressional hearings that result from this, that has to be a key question now. Mueller and his people should come back to the Hill without a bunch of absurd prenegotiated restrictions and be candid about what happened to them under Whitaker and Barr.
