Barr attack on Trump ‘is a carefully staged’ ruse, former Republican leader says

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An apparent attack on Donald Trump by attorney general Bill Barr is in fact a cynical ploy, Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele has said.

Mr Barr had appeared to complain that the president’s tweets and public statements obstructed his work, saying: “I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.

“I think it’s time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases.”

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In response, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told Fox News that Mr Trump “wasn’t bothered by the comments at all.”

However, Mr Steele, who led the Republican party between 2009 and 2011, dismissed Mr Barr’s rebuke to Mr Trump and the White House’s uncharacteristically diplomatic response as part of an effort to quiet dissent at the Department of Justice.

Shape Created with Sketch. Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Show all 29 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves 1/29 Trump styles his 'You're fired!' pose in his Trump Tower office in June 2012. At the time he was known as a reality TV star on The Apprentice Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP 2/29 He was also well known as the patron of the Miss Universe competition Getty 3/29 Early signs of Trump's ambition for the presidency can be found everywhere. Not least in his 2011 book 'Time to get tough: Making America #1 again' Getty 4/29 Trump with Piers Morgan in November 2010. Piers Morgan has long held that he and Trump are good friends Getty 5/29 Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, his favourite show, in August 2011 Getty 6/29 Trump considered running in the 2012 election, where he would have faced Barack Obama. He is speaking here at an event for a Republican women's group Getty 7/29 Trump was subject to a Comedy Central roast in 2011. He is pictured here being roasted by rapper Snoop Dogg Getty 8/29 Given that this Trump store is in the lobby of Trump Tower, it can be said that Trump sells merchandise of himself out of his own home Getty 9/29 Trump held meetings with prominent Republicans when considering his 2012 bid. He is pictured here with Alaska governor Sarah Palin Getty 10/29 He didn't end up running in 2012 afterall, instead endorsing Republican candidate Mitt Romney AFP/Getty 11/29 Trump's golf course in Aberdeen proved controversial in 2012 when he began lobbying the Scottish government against wind power in order that they wouldn't install turbines off the shore by his new course Getty 12/29 He even gave evidence to a Scottish parliamentary committee discouraging wind energy AFP/Getty 13/29 He still found time for a round of course AFP/Getty 14/29 On 16 June 2015, Trump announced that he would run for the presidency of the United States in the 2016 election as a Republican Getty 15/29 His campaign was divisive, courting controversy wherever he went. Ultimately he was declared the Republican candidate in June 2016 Getty 16/29 Trump took part in the TV debate against opponent Hillary Clinton on 9 October Getty 17/29 Trump and wife Melania vote in the presidential election on 8 November 2016 AFP/Getty 18/29 Hillary Clinton conceded defeat at 2:50am on 9 November and president-elect Trump swiftly delivered his victory speech to a crowd of supporters Getty 19/29 News coverage around the world focused on the huge political upset that Trump's victory spelled AFP/Getty 20/29 Trump met with president Obama to discusss transition planning on 10 November. Obama had fiercely denounced Trump during the election campaign, at one point even swearing that he would not leave the White House if Trump won AFP/Getty 21/29 Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter 22/29 The inauguration of Donald Trump took place on 20 January 2017. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer boasted that the crowd was the 'largest ever' to witness an inauguration, a claim that was proved not to be true Getty 23/29 In his first 100 days as leader, Trump signed 24 executve orders, the most of any president AFP/Getty 24/29 One of Trump's most memorable election pledges was to build a wall between the US and Mexico. He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty 25/29 Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty 26/29 Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters 27/29 Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA 28/29 One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty 29/29 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? Getty 1/29 Trump styles his 'You're fired!' pose in his Trump Tower office in June 2012. At the time he was known as a reality TV star on The Apprentice Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP 2/29 He was also well known as the patron of the Miss Universe competition Getty 3/29 Early signs of Trump's ambition for the presidency can be found everywhere. Not least in his 2011 book 'Time to get tough: Making America #1 again' Getty 4/29 Trump with Piers Morgan in November 2010. Piers Morgan has long held that he and Trump are good friends Getty 5/29 Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, his favourite show, in August 2011 Getty 6/29 Trump considered running in the 2012 election, where he would have faced Barack Obama. He is speaking here at an event for a Republican women's group Getty 7/29 Trump was subject to a Comedy Central roast in 2011. He is pictured here being roasted by rapper Snoop Dogg Getty 8/29 Given that this Trump store is in the lobby of Trump Tower, it can be said that Trump sells merchandise of himself out of his own home Getty 9/29 Trump held meetings with prominent Republicans when considering his 2012 bid. He is pictured here with Alaska governor Sarah Palin Getty 10/29 He didn't end up running in 2012 afterall, instead endorsing Republican candidate Mitt Romney AFP/Getty 11/29 Trump's golf course in Aberdeen proved controversial in 2012 when he began lobbying the Scottish government against wind power in order that they wouldn't install turbines off the shore by his new course Getty 12/29 He even gave evidence to a Scottish parliamentary committee discouraging wind energy AFP/Getty 13/29 He still found time for a round of course AFP/Getty 14/29 On 16 June 2015, Trump announced that he would run for the presidency of the United States in the 2016 election as a Republican Getty 15/29 His campaign was divisive, courting controversy wherever he went. Ultimately he was declared the Republican candidate in June 2016 Getty 16/29 Trump took part in the TV debate against opponent Hillary Clinton on 9 October Getty 17/29 Trump and wife Melania vote in the presidential election on 8 November 2016 AFP/Getty 18/29 Hillary Clinton conceded defeat at 2:50am on 9 November and president-elect Trump swiftly delivered his victory speech to a crowd of supporters Getty 19/29 News coverage around the world focused on the huge political upset that Trump's victory spelled AFP/Getty 20/29 Trump met with president Obama to discusss transition planning on 10 November. Obama had fiercely denounced Trump during the election campaign, at one point even swearing that he would not leave the White House if Trump won AFP/Getty 21/29 Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter 22/29 The inauguration of Donald Trump took place on 20 January 2017. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer boasted that the crowd was the 'largest ever' to witness an inauguration, a claim that was proved not to be true Getty 23/29 In his first 100 days as leader, Trump signed 24 executve orders, the most of any president AFP/Getty 24/29 One of Trump's most memorable election pledges was to build a wall between the US and Mexico. He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty 25/29 Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty 26/29 Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters 27/29 Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA 28/29 One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty 29/29 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? Getty

Citing the White House’s unusually pragmatic reaction to Mr Barr’s remarks, Mr Steele tweeted: “Slow your roll if you think Barr is breaking from Trump.

“This was a carefully staged message to cool down pissed off DOJ attys whom Barr undercut & to avoid any further internal strife.

“This message does not get sideways with Trump because he’s already done what Trump wanted.”

Mr Barr’s unusually critical remarks came after his department advised prosecutors to reduce their recommended sentence for Trump ally Roger Stone, who has been convicted of crimes including obstruction of justice and lying to Congress.

The department did so after Mr Trump tweeted that the sentence was excessive. The move raised an outcry from Democrats and others concerned the president is trying to exert direct influence over the judiciary.

In the ABC interview, Mr Barr both acknowledged this concern and sought to dismiss it, saying that Mr Trump “has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.”

He also maintained he would resist outside pressure: “I’m not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody … whether it’s Congress, newspaper editorial boards, or the president.”

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Mr Barr is scheduled to testify before the Democrat-led House judiciary committee on 31 March, having finally accepted an invitation that he has resisted for a year.

He is expected to be asked about subjects including Mr Stone’s case and his handling of the fallout from Robert Mueller’s investigation into Mr Trump’s presidential campaign.

Mr Steele chaired the Republican National Committee during the first two years of Barack Obama’s presidency, at a time when the party was being increasingly influenced by the grassroots Tea Party movement.

While chairman, he was praised for his amiable persona but criticised for his lacklustre fundraising ability and repeated public missteps, including an incident where he accused his own party of racism.

Wablekablesh on February 14th, 2020 at 12:33 UTC »

Until I see Trump call him a stupid nickname on Twitter, I won't buy this for a minute

aliencircusboy on February 14th, 2020 at 11:30 UTC »

Trump is rebuked by former chief of staff, Trump jumps all over him on Twitter within the hour.

Trump is "rebuked" by current AG, Trump is still silent on Twitter come next morning.

You do the math. Unfortunately, his base doesn't even have that basic competency.

gandalfsbastard on February 14th, 2020 at 11:25 UTC »

It definitely was, his responses were very calculated.

Did you coordinate with the White House? I never discussed this at the White House.

Okay but how about the golf course or elsewhere in DC? The interviewer just let it go by with no follow up clarifying questions.