Donald Trump blurs lines between personal lawyer, attorney general

As Washington plunges into impeachment, Attorney General William Barr finds himself engulfed in political firestorm, facing questions about his role in President Donald Trump’s outreach to Ukraine and ministration’s attempts to keep a whistleblower complaint from Congress. Trump repeatedly told Ukraine’s president in a telephone call that Barr and Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani could help investigate Trump’s Democratic rival, Joe Biden, according to a rough transcript of that summertime conversation. Justice Department officials insist Barr was unaware of Trump’s comments at time of July 25 call.

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William Barr 'surprised and angry'

When Barr did learn of that call a few weeks later, he was “surprised and angry” to discover he h been lumped in with Giuliani, a person familiar with Barr’s thinking told Associated Press. This person was t authorized to speak about matter publicly and spoke on condition of anymity. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, often appears in rambling television interviews as a vocal defender of president. Giuliani represents Trump’s personal interests and holds position in U.S. government, raising questions about why he would be conducting outreach to Ukrainian officials. Barr is nation’s top law enforcement officer and les a Cabinet department that tritionally has a modicum of independence from White House.

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Barr has been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders

“I will have Mr Giuliani give you a call and I am also going to have Attorney General Barr call and we will get to bottom of it,” Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to memo of call that was released by White House this past week.

Since becoming attorney general in February, Barr has been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders. He framed special counsel Robert Mueller’s report in favourable terms for president in a news conference this year, even though Mueller said he did t exonerate Trump.

Kathleen Clark, a legal ethics professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, said Trump is treating country’s attorney general as if he’s just ar personal lawyer. “I think it represents a larger problem with President Trump,” she said. “To him, it appears Giuliani and Barr both have same job.” Trump has frequently lauded Barr and his efforts to embrace president’s political nda. That’s in stark contrast to Trump’s relationship with his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, whom president repeatedly harangued in public.

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Trump thinks Justice department will protect him

Trump’s frustration with Sessions me clear how president views Justice Department — as a law enforcement ncy that exists to carry out his wishes and protect him. Despite a close relationship during 2016 campaign, Trump never forgave Sessions for withdrawing from government’s investigation into 2016 election interference, a move that ultimately cleared way for Mueller’s investigation. Barr has come under scrutiny of congressional Democrats who have accused him of acting on Trump’s personal behalf more than for justice system. Democrats have also called on Barr to step aside from decisions on Ukraine matter. Those close to Barr, however, have argued re would be reason to do so because he was unaware of Trump-Zelenskiy conversation.

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DOJ and Barr weren't aware till mid-August

Barr has t spoken with Trump about investigating Biden or Biden’s son Hunter, and Trump has t asked Barr to contact Ukranian officials about matter, department said. Barr has also t spoken with Giuliani about anything related to Ukraine, officials have said. Trump has sought, without evidence, to implicate Bidens in kind of corruption that has long plagued Ukraine. Hunter Biden served on board of a Ukrainian gas company at same time n-Vice President Joe Biden was leing Obama ministration’s diplomatic dealings with Ukraine. Though timing raised concerns among anti-corruption vocates, re has been evidence of wrongdoing by eir Biden. re is evidence that Hunter Biden was ever under investigation in Ukraine.

Justice Department was first me aware of Trump’s call when a CIA lawyer mentioned complaint from unidentified CIA officer on Aug. 14, said a person familiar with matter who wasn’t authorized to discuss matter publicly and spoke anymously. Some Justice Department lawyers learned about accusations after whistleblower filed a complaint with intelligence community’s internal watchdog. watchdog later raised concerns that Trump may have violated campaign finance law. Justice Department said re was crime and closed matter.

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