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The Trials of Bill Barr. Bureaucrats bristle as the attorney general delivers on his pledge of accountability.
Wall Street Journal ^ | February 13, 2020 | Kimberley A. Strassel

Posted on 02/13/2020 5:38:57 PM PST by karpov

...

Justice sources tell me that interim U.S. Attorney Tim Shea had told the department’s leadership he and other career officials in the office felt the proposed sentence was excessive. As the deadline for the filing neared, the prosecutors on the case nonetheless threatened to withdraw from the case unless they got their demands for these stiffest of penalties. Mr. Shea—new to the job—suffered a moment of cowardice and submitted to this ultimatum. The filing took Justice Department leaders by surprise, and the decision to reverse was made well before Mr. Trump tweeted, and with no communication with the White House. The revised filing, meanwhile, had the signature of the acting supervisor of the office’s criminal division, who is a career civil servant, not a political appointee.

This is Mr. Barr getting rid of politics in justice—as he promised. In his confirmation hearing, the attorney general vowed an “even-handed application of the law” rather than judgments based on politics or favoritism (see Clinton investigation vs. Trump investigation). Before the president’s tweet, even liberal commentators were acknowledging the initial recommendation of up to nine years in prison was harsh, given that Mr. Stone is a first-time offender. The request came from a prosecutorial team—which included two members of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s staff—that wanted to punish Mr. Stone for his ties to a president they loathe.

And don’t forget the mitigating factors. Remember how Mr. Stone ended up in the Justice Department’s crosshairs. It was after Team Clinton, the Democratic National Committee and Fusion GPS weaponized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to go after political opponents. Mr. Mueller could easily have unraveled this ambush. Instead, he rampaged through dozens of lives, and—unable to find collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, his original charge—obtained indictments for process crimes.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: billbarr; crime; government
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1 posted on 02/13/2020 5:38:57 PM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

Mueller will burn in hell, if he doesn’t repent. I wonder if he’s considering doing so?


2 posted on 02/13/2020 5:44:06 PM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: karpov

3 posted on 02/13/2020 5:44:43 PM PST by kiryandil (Chris Wallace: Because someone has to drive the Clown Car)
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To: karpov
Justice sources tell me that interim U.S. Attorney Tim Shea had told the department’s leadership he and other career officials in the office felt the proposed sentence was excessive. As the deadline for the filing neared, the prosecutors on the case nonetheless threatened to withdraw from the case unless they got their demands for these stiffest of penalties. Mr. Shea -- new to the job -- suffered a moment of cowardice and submitted to this ultimatum.

I wonder if this is the REAL reason why AG Barr made his comments in the ABC interview today -- to take the heat off a feckless sh!t in the DOJ who was hired just weeks ago to great fanfare around the Trump administration.

4 posted on 02/13/2020 5:46:15 PM PST by Alberta's Child ("In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey.")
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To: jacknhoo

Now that you mention it, exactly what Is Mueller doing these days?


5 posted on 02/13/2020 5:46:30 PM PST by livius
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To: karpov

https://twitter.com/TheLastRefuge2/status/1228124644953198592


6 posted on 02/13/2020 5:48:52 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: karpov

Why does DOJ pride itself as being independent? That is a horrible proposition. Being independent always degenerates into becoming rogue. They are mostly secret and unaccountable. This is one of the most striking flaws in our federal government system.

At the state level, AGs are elected, so are many if not most judges. I’m glad that Trump intervened, Barr and the other fascists and corruptocrats at “justice” need to be taught a lesson that they are not above the law and independent of accountability.

The gaul of these entitled, sanctimonious and dangerous people. May God judge them severely when they enter infernal destiny.


7 posted on 02/13/2020 6:00:28 PM PST by grumpygresh (Civil disobedience by jury nullification.)
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To: 9YearLurker

I’m beginning to believe ALL OF DC including the great majority of republican representatives criminals , yes, you heard right, including cocaine Mitch and his Chinese wife, Lindsey Graham ties to Ukraine, are ALLLLLL THE FREAKIN SWAMP!! DC needs to be nuked to kingdom come like cockroaches for the sake of our country’s survival!!


8 posted on 02/13/2020 6:02:30 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: 9YearLurker
From a bit further down your thread:


9 posted on 02/13/2020 6:05:33 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
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To: kiryandil

Geraldo makes a good point; why are there FOUR experienced prosecutors assigned to this case? It doesn’t involve violence or threat of violence, theft of government property, fraud upon the government - it is lying to Congress. Then add in the Gestapo raid on the house of a man and his wife having no weapons, no risk of flight, no turning down of a request to turn himself in. Contrast this with Brennan and Clapper, admitted liars on much bigger matters to Congress, yet free as birds and “respected” commentators on CNN.


10 posted on 02/13/2020 6:12:21 PM PST by laconic
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To: livius

According to Wikipedia:

In October 2019 it was announced that Mueller, along with James L. Quarles and Aaron Zebley, would return to WilmerHale to resume private practice.[123]


11 posted on 02/13/2020 6:20:25 PM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: jacknhoo

Who cares if government attorneys bristle. It would be better if they burn.


12 posted on 02/13/2020 6:21:40 PM PST by grumpygresh (Civil disobedience by jury nullification.)
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To: karpov

We saw 4 people quit, we are not seeing the mass firing that is needed.


13 posted on 02/13/2020 6:29:21 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: karpov

Mr. Shea, like Jessie Liu is just another deep state stooge. If he is too weak, he needs to go with Liu.


14 posted on 02/13/2020 6:52:32 PM PST by Tarasaramozart
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To: livius

He made millions off off this investigation. He’s probably lying in the sun, pina colada in hand, somewhere in the South Pacific.


15 posted on 02/13/2020 6:58:40 PM PST by MrChips ("To wisdom belongs the apprehension of eternal things." - St. Augustine)
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To: karpov

Do you have a link without a paywall? I wont pay for a subscription to read this


16 posted on 02/13/2020 7:51:35 PM PST by AtlantaBelle
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To: Tarasaramozart

If the rumors about him caving are true, he does need to be let go or reassigned to a level that matches his competence.


17 posted on 02/13/2020 7:52:39 PM PST by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: AtlantaBelle
Do you have a link without a paywall?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Conservative/comments/f3l3xm/kim_strassel_the_trials_of_bill_barr/

18 posted on 02/13/2020 11:01:52 PM PST by TChad (The MSM, having nuked its own credibility, is now bombing the rubble.)
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To: TChad

come to think of it, why hasn’t Mueller been indicted?


19 posted on 02/14/2020 1:53:46 AM PST by MAGAthon
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To: MAGAthon

Because the deal Barr made to end Mueller was the coup conspirators get to walk. Barr is doing his best to stick to the deal.


20 posted on 02/14/2020 4:15:57 AM PST by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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