Emboldened, Trump defends right to interfere in criminal cases

By Steve Holland and Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump listens to questions while meeting with Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he has "the legal right" to interfere in criminal cases, capping a tumultuous week that raised questions about whether he is eroding the independence of the U.S. legal system.

 

Trump's criticism of the judge, jury and prosecutors in the criminal case of his longtime adviser Roger Stone prompted an unusual rebuke from Attorney General William Barr, his top law enforcement official, and spurred new demands for investigation from the Democrats who unsuccessfully tried to remove the Republican president from office.

 

It was the latest in a string of aggressive actions by Trump since the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of impeachment charges last week.

 

Trump has transferred or fired government officials who testified about his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a potential political rival in November's presidential election.

 

He also dropped his nomination of former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu, who oversaw the Stone case, for another government post in the Treasury Department.

 

Sources close to the president said Trump has a greater sense of freedom following his Senate acquittal.

 

"You have to remember, he's not 'of' government. He gets frustrated when people tell him something can't get done.

He's like: 'Just get it done,'" said one administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 

Barr has privately told Trump for "some time" that his public statements were making it hard for him to run the Justice Department effectively, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

He went public on Thursday, telling ABC News that Trump's attacks made it "impossible" for him to do his job. "It's time to stop the tweeting," he said.

 

Trump "has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case," Barr added.

 

The president responded on Friday morning. "This doesn't mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!" he wrote on Twitter.

 

Administration officials said Barr did not clear his remarks with Trump. They said Trump shrugged them off when told about them by aides.

 

'FARTHER THAN NIXON'

 

Trump's insistence that he has the right to interfere in criminal cases runs counter to the practice of previous U.S. presidents, who have generally kept an arms-length distance from the Justice Department since the Watergate scandal of the 1970s that led then-President Richard Nixon to resign from office.

 

"Trump goes farther than Nixon, though. He's proud to openly corrupt the justice system and use it to target his enemies and protect his friends," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said in a prepared statement.

 

Trump's running commentary on the Stone case calls into question whether Barr can oversee U.S. law enforcement in an independent manner, said Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Fordham School of Law.

 

"Given the sequence of events, it's doubtful that Barr's effort to distance himself from the president's tweets will be enough of a cure," Green told Reuters.

 

Barr has been an outspoken defender of the president and has aggressively sought to implement his agenda, frequently drawing charges from Democrats and former Justice Department officials that he is politicizing the rule of law.

 

The Justice Department on Tuesday asked for a lighter sentence for Stone, scaling back prosecutors' initial request that he serve 7 to 9 years after being found guilty of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. That prompted all four prosecutors to resign from the case in apparent protest.

 

On Friday, Barr appointed an outside prosecutor to review the criminal case against Michael Flynn, another former Trump adviser who awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

 

Barr has also ordered an investigation into the Obama administration's activities in 2016 as it examined possible ties between Moscow and the Trump campaign, and has gone after states and cities that have adopted "sanctuary" policies to protect unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

 

Barr's Justice Department sought to quash the whistleblower complaint about Trump's effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, which led to the president's impeachment.

 

He confirmed earlier this week that the department is taking evidence from Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who has been seeking information in Ukraine about Biden.

 

Democrats who control the House of Representatives called for Barr to testify next month over the matter and asked the department's watchdog to investigate but have little other recourse.

 

Like Barr, Trump's Republican allies in Congress have said they wish he would be less outspoken on Twitter, even as they have consistently defended his actions.

 

The Senate on Thursday sought to impose some restrictions on Trump, voting to limit his ability to wage war with Iran and questioning whether one of his nominees is qualified to serve on the board of the Federal Reserve.

 

Meanwhile, the president has moved to rebuild his staff with those he sees as loyalists, including former communication director Hope Hicks, who worked closely with Trump in his business before serving as his 2016 campaign press secretary.

 

He also rehired his former personal assistant Johnny McEntee to lead his personnel office, who sources say will be tasked with ensuring that new hires are loyal to the president.

 

Trump is about to launch a week of re-election activities, starting with a fundraising dinner on Saturday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

 

On Sunday, he will seek to appeal to blue-collar voters by attending the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, where he will be named the grand marshal, the first president to have that distinction.

 

On Tuesday he goes on a three-day swing through California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-15

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13 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"Trump goes farther than Nixon, though. He's proud to openly corrupt the justice system and use it to target his enemies and protect his friends,"

Nixon resigned...………….........…..........!

POTUS also has the right and power to pardon... so its nothing new, just its Trump so MUST be bad .. lol the circus show continues. 

Seriously, this man is sick. ALL presidents cannot interfere with DOJ investigations, nothing to do with Trump! Open your eyes.

What a ignoranimus just pathetic he is just clueless but I guess if you have the republicans cowering in fear you might get away with it (for awhile)

The ancient Greeks said hubris is inevitably followed by nemesis. No-one can accuse Trump of lacking hubris.

1 hour ago, englishoak said:

POTUS also has the right and power to pardon... so its nothing new, just its Trump so MUST be bad .. lol the circus show continues. 

But he didnt pardon.

56 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Seriously, this man is sick. ALL presidents cannot interfere with DOJ investigations, nothing to do with Trump! Open your eyes.

 

Couldnt care less tbh, hes not my president and tbh hes probably not yours either so stop with the false outrage.. i know Orange man bad 

I don't see it as "interfering" as such. Trump is just pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of the current justice system. A system that punishes only one side of the political divide while giving the other side a free pass each and every time.

 Just look at McCabe for example who admitted to lying to the FBI and got let off, while Flynn and Stone did similar and got the book thrown at them. A justice system that punishes only one side is not justice, it is tyranny. Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists is also a hallmark of tyranny. If it weren't for Donald's twitter feed so many would not have realized this happened. 

 Trump is right to point out these absurdities, and I hope he continues to do so. It is very much in the public interest.

The man who has turned the Presidency and politics into a reality TV show. Sex, power, hero's and villains and no proper accountability beyond what the TV host allows. Welcome to the new world where tweets have taken the place of serious commentary and the Joker as yet has met no Batman.

Edited February 15, 20206 yr by Lungstib

16 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I don't see it as "interfering" as such. Trump is just pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of the current justice system. A system that punishes only one side of the political divide while giving the other side a free pass each and every time.

 Just look at McCabe for example who admitted to lying to the FBI and got let off, while Flynn and Stone did similar and got the book thrown at them. A justice system that punishes only one side is not justice, it is tyranny. Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists is also a hallmark of tyranny. If it weren't for Donald's twitter feed so many would not have realized this happened. 

 Trump is right to point out these absurdities, and I hope he continues to do so. It is very much in the public interest.

You believe the DoJ run by Trump’s hand picked AG is biased against Trump?

 

The reason ‘Trump’s people’ are being prosecuted, found guilty and tossed into prison is because they are crooks.

Bernie ain't gonna win Trump will win in a landslide so get use to another 4 + years.

The Dick-tator can do anything now...God help America.

regards Worgeordie

7 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Bernie ain't gonna win Trump will win in a landslide so get use to another 4 + years.

Bernie isn’t going to be a candidate 

I’d love to see video of Barr when Trump

made this latest confession of criminal intent.

21 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Bernie ain't gonna win Trump will win in a landslide so get use to another 4 + years.

You posted in the wrong thread.

31 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Bernie ain't gonna win Trump will win in a landslide so get use to another 4 + years.

Ain’t gonna be Bernie lol it’s gonna be mike the real billionaire the real guy that created his wealth not the silver spoon failure lol hey and rember mikes business is gathering information so your Donald gonna have a rough year also what trumps doing with the doj doesent sit well with the vast majority of Americans 

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I don't see it as "interfering" as such. Trump is just pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of the current justice system. A system that punishes only one side of the political divide while giving the other side a free pass each and every time.

 Just look at McCabe for example who admitted to lying to the FBI and got let off, while Flynn and Stone did similar and got the book thrown at them. A justice system that punishes only one side is not justice, it is tyranny. Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists is also a hallmark of tyranny. If it weren't for Donald's twitter feed so many would not have realized this happened. 

 Trump is right to point out these absurdities, and I hope he continues to do so. It is very much in the public interest.

McCabe was treated disgracefully by a vindictive trump administration. As trump's usual M.O., his own worst enemy.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi.html

 

How about providing a credible link to your claim "Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists". On a broader front there is no dispute that trump administration are stacking the Courts with trump sycophants for which he did not receive a mandate as he did not receive the majority of votes in the 2016 election. I sincerely wish for trump's removal as an outcome of the 11/2020 elections, the man is not fit for Office.

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Trump's running commentary on the Stone case calls into question whether Barr can oversee U.S. law enforcement in an independent manner

It doesn’t call it into question Barr’s ability to do his job independently of trump’s malign politically biased interference, rather it confirms he can’t...

 

maga

Edited February 15, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The ancient Greeks said hubris is inevitably followed by nemesis. No-one can accuse Trump of lacking hubris.

Their nemesis was apparently far more potent than the Dems, who keep getting their backsides handed to them.

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You believe the DoJ run by Trump’s hand picked AG is biased against Trump?

 

The reason ‘Trump’s people’ are being prosecuted, found guilty and tossed into prison is because they are crooks.

 

Worked much better for the crooks in politics when Big Bill could have a quite word with the AG on an airport runway and square things for his lovely wife Hilary!

 

Trump is far too open and let's the public see and know far too much. Dangerous to the political class.

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

McCabe was treated disgracefully by a vindictive trump administration. As trump's usual M.O., his own worst enemy.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi.html

 

How about providing a credible link to your claim "Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists". On a broader front there is no dispute that trump administration are stacking the Courts with trump sycophants for which he did not receive a mandate as he did not receive the majority of votes in the 2016 election. I sincerely wish for trump's removal as an outcome of the 11/2020 elections, the man is not fit for Office.

 

 

So did McCabe lie or not?

And here we go again.

5 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Seriously, this man is sick. ALL presidents cannot interfere with DOJ investigations, nothing to do with Trump! Open your eyes.

Obama’s Comments About Clinton’s Emails Rankle Some in the F.B.I.

 

“I don’t think it posed a national security problem,” Mr. Obama said Sunday on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” He said it had been a mistake for Mrs. Clinton to use a private email account when she was secretary of state, but his conclusion was unmistakable: “This is not a situation in which America’s national security was endangered.”

 

What selective memories libs/Dems have.  Simply amazing, too, that when "interference" is done by a Democratic president the libs/Dems don't say boo but if it's a Republican, well, that's grounds for impeachment.  Twisted logic and perverse reasoning.  LOL

4 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I don't see it as "interfering" as such. Trump is just pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of the current justice system. A system that punishes only one side of the political divide while giving the other side a free pass each and every time.

 Just look at McCabe for example who admitted to lying to the FBI and got let off, while Flynn and Stone did similar and got the book thrown at them. A justice system that punishes only one side is not justice, it is tyranny. Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists is also a hallmark of tyranny. If it weren't for Donald's twitter feed so many would not have realized this happened. 

 Trump is right to point out these absurdities, and I hope he continues to do so. It is very much in the public interest.

Give proof, not your conspiracy theories.  So the whole system changed when dumbo became president ????

Edited February 15, 20206 yr by Redline

5 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Seriously, this man is sick. ALL presidents cannot interfere with DOJ investigations, nothing to do with Trump! Open your eyes.

Watch him get a second term....speaks volumes about the state of the States!

3 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Obama’s Comments About Clinton’s Emails Rankle Some in the F.B.I.

 

“I don’t think it posed a national security problem,” Mr. Obama said Sunday on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” He said it had been a mistake for Mrs. Clinton to use a private email account when she was secretary of state, but his conclusion was unmistakable: “This is not a situation in which America’s national security was endangered.”

 

What selective memories libs/Dems have.  Simply amazing, too, that when "interference" is done by a Democratic president the libs/Dems don't say boo but if it's a Republican, well, that's grounds for impeachment.  Twisted logic and perverse reasoning.  LOL

He was right, and the trump family was also using private email 

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

McCabe was treated disgracefully by a vindictive trump administration. As trump's usual M.O., his own worst enemy.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi.html

 

How about providing a credible link to your claim "Stacking juries with extreme anti Trump activists". On a broader front there is no dispute that trump administration are stacking the Courts with trump sycophants for which he did not receive a mandate as he did not receive the majority of votes in the 2016 election. I sincerely wish for trump's removal as an outcome of the 11/2020 elections, the man is not fit for Office.

 

Along with Russian interference 

Just now, Redline said:

6 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Obama’s Comments About Clinton’s Emails Rankle Some in the F.B.I.

 

“I don’t think it posed a national security problem,” Mr. Obama said Sunday on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” He said it had been a mistake for Mrs. Clinton to use a private email account when she was secretary of state, but his conclusion was unmistakable: “This is not a situation in which America’s national security was endangered.”

 

What selective memories libs/Dems have.  Simply amazing, too, that when "interference" is done by a Democratic president the libs/Dems don't say boo but if it's a Republican, well, that's grounds for impeachment.  Twisted logic and perverse reasoning.  LOL

He was right, and the trump family was also using private email 

An unbelievable (but expected) answer from the libs/Dems.  Dems can do no evil.  LOL

 

Twisted logic and perverse reasoning.  LOL

Trump has republican voters and independents on his side.

Most of them see through the vile machinations of the establishment 

cogs that have been turning for decades...and appreciate that the 

president is trying to expose and correct this.

 

Comey , McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, Page, Strzok and all the other 

shady actors belong in jail for staging a coup attempt.

Edited February 15, 20206 yr by JHolmesJr