Barr says he won't be "bullied" by Trump's tweets
In an extraordinary break with U.S. President Donald Trump, Attorney General William Barr on Thursday said Trump should stop tweeting about Justice Department cases and that he would not be “bullied” by anyone.
Barr was referring specifically to Trump's tweet about his convicted friend and adviser Roger Stone, in which the president chastised Justice Department prosecutors for recommending Stone be sentenced to up to nine years in prison.
In an interview with ABC News Thursday, Barr, the top U.S. law enforcement officer, said that Trump’s tweets, “make it impossible for me to do my job....” adding, “I’m not going to be bullied or influenced by anybody... whether it’s Congress, a newspaper editorial board or the president. I’m gonna do what I think is right.... I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me."
After Trump's tweets, the DOJ overruled its own lawyers and withdrew the sentencing recommendation, leading prosecutors to resign from the case in protest.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) EXCHANGE BETWEEN REPORTER AND U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP (February 12):
Reporter: "Isn't your tweet political interference?"
Trump: "No, not at all. He was treated very badly. Nine years, recommended.
[FLASH]
(SOUNDBITE) (English) WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON HOGAN GIDLEY, SAYING:
"Had no involvement in that. He did not have a conversation with the attorney general."
The White House denies Trump discussed the matter with Barr.
In his ABC interview, Barr said he thought the sentencing was excessive, and that he told his staff hours before Trump's tweet that they should amend their recommendation.
But it's unclear whether his explanation will quell the firestorm of criticism this week that Trump had abused his power by meddling in the case to cut his friend a break - and that it was another example of the president and his appointee putting Trump's interests above the law.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL, SAYING:
"Attorney General William Barr ought to be ashamed, and embarrassed, and resign."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF, SAYING:
"And this is now what the Justice Department has become. Essentially, Bill Barr acting as the personal lawyer for the president's interests and not in the interests of the American people."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, SAYING:
"The president is what he is. He thinks he's above the law. He has no respect for the rule. But where are the Republicans to speak out on this blatant violation?"
Some Republicans did express muted concern:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY, SAYING:
"I think this was a situation where the tweet was problematic."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. REPUBLICAN SENATOR LINSDEY GRAHAM, SAYING:
"I don't think the President should have tweeted about the ongoing case."
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said later on Thursday that Trump "wasn't bothered" by Barr's comments, adding that Barr "has the right, just like any American citizen, to publicly offer his opinions" and that the president has "full faith and confidence" in Barr to do his job.
A jury found Stone guilty in November on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.
Prosecutors charged Stone had lied about his ties to Wikileaks, the group that disseminated hacked e-mails damaging to Democrats in the 2016 election.
The DOJ lawyers said Stone lied to protect Trump from looking bad.
Barr will testify before a panel of lawmakers about the sentencing next month.
Stone is set to be sentenced next week.
