As Trump ups attacks on Justice Dept, Barr remains in post

Even as President Donald Trump renewed his public attacks on Justice Department on Wednesday, re was little outward worry from eir end of Pennsylvania Avenue that Attorney General William Barr would follow through on his private threat to resign over presidential meddling.

Barr’s suggestion that he may quit over president’s tweets left many close to Trump questioning wher attorney general really was considering stepping aside, instead believing he was trying to quell an internal uproar at Department of Justice and bolster his own reputation and his ability to act on Trump’s behalf.

Barr told people close to him he has considered leaving his post after Trump wouldn’t heed his request to stop tweeting about ncy’s cases. attorney general last week had taken a public swipe at president, saying in a television interview that Trump’s tweets about Justice Department cases and staffers make it “impossible” for him to do his job.

But Trump has repeatedly igred that advice, insisting that he has “legal right” to intervene in criminal cases. In a series of retweets Wednesday, he appeared to embrace suggestion that Barr “clean shop” at department and appoint a special counsel to probe both ncy and FBI.

Barr had lunch on Tuesday with White House counsel Pat Cipollone, though officials said it was pre-scheduled and unrelated to firestorm at ncy. Multiple White House officials insisted Wednesday that spat with Barr was being overblown and that attorney general would t be going anywhere. But y also ackwledged re was zero chance Trump would refrain from tweeting about department as requested by Barr.

Republicans on Capital Hill also played down odds of a Barr departure. But in last few days, some of president’s closest GOP allies have been letting Trump kw y think Barr is right person to lead his Justice Department. Trump, usually unwilling to let a public slight from an aide go unpunished, has t expressed much anger at Barr’s candor, according to three White House officials and Republicans close to West Wing.

Barr’s spokeswoman said Tuesday night that attorney general had “ plans to resign.” Still, former officials called on Barr to step down from his post after what y see as an erosion of Justice Department’s historical independence.

“ Justice Department has never been perfect, but it has worked very hard to be above suspicion for outright dishonesty and bias and invasion of politics into it,” said Donald Ayer, who was a deputy attorney general under Republican President George H.W. Bush and succeeded by Barr. “What’s going on w is that’s being torn down.”

“I don’t remember anything like this that has ever happened,” Ayer said.

Barr has been one of president’s closest allies in administration and a staunch defender of Trump’s policy decisions. president dismissed his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, after former senator recused himself from Russia probe. Barr, meanwhile, endeared himself to Oval Office by preemptively framing results of that investigation in a positive light for Trump and casting doubt on origins of probe.

Barr, serving in his second stint as attorney general, has sought to paint himself as an independent leader who would t bow to political pressure. But Democrats have repeatedly accused him of acting more like president’s personal attorney than attorney general.

Barr’s frustration with Trump, which he has communicated to senior White House aides, has grown in recent weeks. He told those close to him he felt compelled to speak publicly after Trump criticized sentencing of longtime political ally Roger Stone. Barr spoke out to ABC News just days after his Justice Department overruled its own prosecutors — who had recommended that Stone be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison — and took extraordinary step of lowering amount of prison time it would seek. All four prosecutors from Stone’s trial quit case and one left government altoger.

After Stone reversal, many at Department of Justice and in tight-knit Washington legal community expressed dismay at what y saw as presidential interference. More than 1,100 former Justice Department prosecutors called on Barr to resign in a letter released Sunday, insisting that Barr’s decision to intervene in Stone’s case tarnished department’s reputation.

Some Democrats called for Barr to resign, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called on Justice Department’s inspector general to open an investigation into Barr’s role in sentencing reversal.

Trump has told those around him that he understands why Barr would voice his opinion but made clear he would t change his methods. Emboldened by his impeachment acquittal, Trump appears er to seek vengeance on those at Justice Department he believes stirred up Russia investigation.

While Trump has yet to retaliate against Barr, he has been kwn to lash out at aides who have previously broken with him, including Sessions and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. public kerfuffle was eugh to prompt a stream of Trump allies, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Lindsey Graham, to issue a statement expressing ir full confidence in attorney general.

Congressional Republicans wanted to show a united front in support of attorney general. Graham spoke to Barr on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with conversation.

Barr is well-liked on Capitol Hill and Republicans want to ensure he stays in his job despite criticism from Democrats and needling from president, according to people familiar with GOP lawmakers’ thinking. y are more concerned that Barr would resign than be fired and also fear a bruising fight to confirm any possible replacement.

“ president made a great choice when he picked Bill Barr to be attorney general,” McConnell said last week on Fox News. “I think president should listen to his advice.”

White House made clear that Trump remained unrepentant.

“He absolutely respects attorney general. And he appreciates his service. And y have a good relationship,” deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters Wednesday. “As president said, he also understands that sometimes what he says could impact attorney general’s ability to do his job, but president still has a right to defend himself and he uses social media, as you guys well kw, to get out his mess directly to American people.”