"He [Mueller] did not contradict. We went back to the Special Counsel’s Office today and said, “Did you contradict what the attorney general said when he said that ‘if it had not been for that opinion, you would have charged’?” NBC News' Julia Ainsley said on MSNBC.
"And they said, 'We’re not contradicting, but we’re providing more context that' — It’s not even the point. They didn’t even make a decision because they didn’t look at this like a prosecution. They didn’t walk down that road because they stopped because of this opinion," she added.
This was Bill Barr's statement in question:
But I will say that when we met with him, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein and I met with him, along with Ed o’Callaghan [sic], who is the principal associate deputy, on March 5th. We specifically asked him about the OLC opinion and whether or not he was taking a position that he would have found a crime but for the existence of the OLC opinion. And he made it very clear several times that that was not his position. He was not saying that but for the OLC opinion, he would have found a crime. He made it clear that he had not made the determination that there was a crime.
So let's be clear here. If Robert Mueller denied that he stated this to Barr, Rosenstein and O'Callaghan, then he would be accusing Barr of lying. Ultimately then, someone would have to go ask Rosenstein and O'Callaghan how they recall the meeting, assuming that the meeting was not otherwise taped or a transcript otherwise created.
But what Robert Mueller stated today, does not contradict what Bill Barr stated in the hearings. Mueller did not deny meeting with Barr, Rosenstein, and O'Callaghan. Mueller did not deny that he made the statements in question.
Furthermore, Robert Mueller was not explaining why he didn't recommend an indictment, nor did he even suggest that he found evidence of any crimes. Rather he was specifically explaining why it is that he did not enter into the realm of making a normal prosecutorial decision. His argument was that since he could not prosecute, he did not want to make a normal prosecutorial decision.
That certainly can easily fall into the wheelhouse of both statements and both situations. He decided not to make a prosecutorial decision (because of the longstanding policy against indicting a President), but he also did not take a position that if not for that policy, that he would have found that the President committed a crime.
Bottom line: Bill Barr did not commit perjury in his testimony. Anyone telling you he did, is completely out to lunch.
44 comments:
I think Mueller was hoping people would forget Barr's statement today.
He was trying to give that impression without actually stating so knowing the TDS infected Democrats would fall for it hook, line, and sinker and fill in the blanks on their own.
Everything the Democrats said about Mueller's statements today weren't objectively accurate. They were filled in with there own bias suppositions.
Which I think was what Mueller was looking for.
Christie Says Mueller Clearly Contradicted Barr
May 29, 2019 at 2:28 pm EDT
Former Gov. Chris Christie (R) said that special counsel Robert Mueller contradicted Attorney General William Barr in comments earlier that morning, The Hill reports.
Said Christie: “Those comments by Bob Mueller about the other processes — obviously impeachment being the only constitutional way — definitely contradicts what the attorney general said when he summarized Mueller’s report and said he then had to draw the conclusion on that. Mueller clearly contradicts that today in a very concise way.”
Dems will impeach...when the headlines are all about obama deep staters going to trial. They'll have to change the subject.
The bigger logical dilemma for liberals is this...
It's mutually exclusive for Mueller to say he did not attempt to reach a prosecutorial decision, but still claim that he believes that the President committed a crime.
If he says the former, then he cannot say the latter.
If he says the latter, then he cannot say the former.
So he is stuck where he is at, which is looking like someone who would like to imply things while openly denying them if asked straight out.
I can absolutely assure you that Barr pressed him on this. I can absolutely assure you that he did so in front of Mueller's direct boss, and another AAG. If Mueller had reached a conclusion one way or the other, then the idea that he was not reaching a conclusion would actually be a lie.
If Mueller was confident that he found a crime (but could not indict) then he would have told Barr that, and Barr would have likely demanded that go into the report.
But of course Mueller punted when in the Report. He obviously punted when given an opportunity to clarify himself in this meeting. And the entire process was a giant Mueller punt on obstruction.
He stated "We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime."
Nor did they make a determination as to whether the President did not commit a crime.
Those comments by Bob Mueller about the other processes — obviously impeachment being the only constitutional way — definitely contradicts what the attorney general said when he summarized Mueller’s report and said he then had to draw the conclusion on that. Mueller clearly contradicts that today in a very concise way.”
I am certainly apt to believe that Mueller didn't necessarily want Barr to make a call on obstruction. But Barr never directly states that Mueller "wanted" him to make a call. Barr specifically believes that it was Mueller's job to make a call, and that because Mueller punted, that Mueller had "left it up to him" to make a call.
This is the only real disagreement between Mueller and Barr IMHO. Mueller obviously did not feel he should make a determination, while Barr believe that a determination was perfectly reasonable (even if a President could not be indicted).
In fact, if it was part of his appointment... to investigate possible obstruction by the President, then most certainly it's reasonable to make a call. If you didn't feel you had a constitutional case, then perhaps no investigation was even necessary.
There is actually precedent from other appointed prosecutors that deems that a judgement can be rendered, just that the President could not be indicted or otherwise charged. Ken Starr certainly was willing to make the statement that Bill Clinton would have otherwise been indicted, had it not been for the DOJ rules against it.
Had Mueller really wanted Congress to impeach the President, he could have did exactly what Ken Starr did. He could have put his best foot forward and made a call that he believed Trump committed obstruction.
Why didn't he?
Was it really because he didn't believe he could make a call?
I think the bigger reason is that he knew that Barr, Rosenstein, O'Callaghan, and others in the Dept of Justice would disagree with him if he tried to bring that claim based on the evidence he actually reported.
Msnbc complaining that Mueller didn't find Trump guilty of a crime.
I guess they didn't get the Roger delusion memo.
Barr lied.....Mueller's reiteration of what was known was compelling....maybe a few people will wake up like My ballz and his idiotic comment that mueller should have found trump guilty.....Even I know he has more brains than that....BWAAAAAAAA!!!! What a dumb fucking asshole he can be!!!!
Mueller put out a report for congress to prosecute.....Barr exonerating him on all counts is nothing but BULLSHIT!!!!
I find it significant that Mueller doesn't want to be put under oath under any circumstances.
I don't think Nadler will subpoena Mueller. He's enough of a politician to recognize a bomb that will blow up in his face.
What a fucking scum sucking asshole.....
McConnell says he would fill a Supreme Court vacancy even if it comes in an election year
The Senate majority leader held up a nomination by President Obama in 2016, saying then that “the American people should have a voice” in the selection.
Barr lied
If Barr lied so did Rosenstein and O'Callaghan. All three were at the meeting and I suspect there was a transcript.
In that meeting " We specifically asked him about the OLC opinion and whether or not he was taking a position that he would have found a crime but for the existence of the OLC opinion. And he made it very clear several times that that was not his position. He was not saying that but for the OLC opinion, he would have found a crime. He made it clear that he had not made the determination that there was a crime."
There's a reason why Mueller doesn't want to be put under oath.
McConnell says he would fill a Supreme Court vacancy even if it comes in an election year
That's because he has the votes and you do not. Thanks Harry.
@TimRunsHisMouth
When Ken Starr released his report on Bill Clinton, he used the word "GUILTY" 11 times.
Robert Mueller NEVER used that word.
I don't think Nadler will subpoena Mueller. He's enough of a politician to recognize a bomb that will blow up in his face."
Now, MyBallsinthewoodsagain, that my can not be true. Nadler is about following the facts , I know because he and Speaker in Name Only Polosi said so, and we know they are both honest . Right?
Fuck you queen.
Buck up.
"Pelosi said, “There is a false video that Republicans are putting out on Facebook now, this is self-serving of me to say, but I say it because women say to me ‘I would run, but I couldn’t subject my family to what you go through.'”
The House Democrat leader then blamed Facebook for spreading the allegedly doctored press conference from last week, suggesting that Facebook was complicit in spreading Russian fake news and other false information."
New Slogan from the Holly Wierd Big Money Crowd to Speaker in Name Only Polosi " DO YOUR FUCKING JOB, IMPEACH"
Schiff not moved by Muellers Monologue.
"“We look forward to Mueller’s testimony before Congress,” Schiff began in a statement. “While I understand his reluctance to answer hypotheticals or deviate from the carefully worded conclusions he drew on his charging decisions, there are, nevertheless, a great many questions he can answer that go beyond the report, including any counterintelligence issues and classified matters that were not addressed in his findings.”
Mueller withheld information .
@Barnes_Law
Mueller admitted today he had no legal authority to accuse Trump of any crime, that it would be unfair to do so, but his team couldn't clear Trump of a crime they could neither indict nor investigate. Cut through the legalese & you get 1 conclusion: it was a smear job from day 1.
White House Ordered USS John McCain Moved
May 29, 2019 at 7:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 120 Comments
The White House wanted the U.S. Navy to move “out of sight” a warship named for the late Sen. John McCain, a war hero who became a frequent target of President Trump’s ire, ahead of the president’s visit to Japan last week, according to an email reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
“A tarp was hung over the ship’s name ahead of the president’s trip… and sailors were directed to remove any coverings from the ship that bore its name. After the tarp was taken down, a barge was moved closer to the ship, obscuring its name. Sailors on the ship, who typically wear caps bearing its name, were given the day off during Mr. Trump’s visit.”
SMALL MINDED INSECURE CREEP OF A PRESIDENT
More and more are now seriously questioning mueller and his now blatant skewing of what a prosecutor should be.
Charging the president with a crime was, therefore, not an option we could consider." policy to not indict a President.
But he also noted, "if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so."
He obviously has handed it to the house of representatives.
@ByronYork
Least surprising story of day: Christopher Steele, former British spy who compiled dossier of phony Trump-Russia collusion allegations, will *not* cooperate with Attorney General Barr's investigators.
Well he has a right to "obstruct" justice
SMALL MINDED INSECURE CREEP OF A PRESIDENT
So, you’re a pedophile
@jsolomonReports
Breaking: Brits alerted US early in Russia probe to concerns about Steele, Congress told.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/446050-did-brits-warn-about-steeles-credibility-before-muellers-probe-congress#.XO8REW2b-dk.twitter
@15poundstogo
Comey op-ed and Mueller presser within 24 hours. Nervous, much?
@charliekirk11
RT if you think it’s time to move on from the Mueller hoax and focus on Strzok, Page, Brennan, Clapper, Comey, Ohr, Obama, Lynch, Page, Yates, and Powers
The Socialist Democrats can't win on Policy.
Clearly.
Joe White and the 22 Dwarfs have proven it.
Netanyahu has been drastically weakened.
ttps://1lme911nv0cg3ned26127983-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Fox-News-No-Exoneration.png
https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/29/chyron-of-the-day-2/
What did Obama know about the spying and what was his role?
If the Mueller report speaks for itself why did he hold a news conference and not take questions ?
‘The President Is a Liar’
James Comey: “It is tempting for normal people to ignore our president when he starts ranting about treason and corruption at the FBI. But we shouldn’t, because millions of good people believe what a president of the United States says.”
“In normal times, that’s healthy. But not now, when the president is a liar who doesn’t care what damage he does to vital institutions. We must call out his lies that the FBI was corrupt and committed treason, that we spied on the Trump campaign, and tried to defeat Donald Trump.”
Democrats are imploding
Because it spoke for itself, stupid.
Comey is desperate.
And a liar
True despicable.
What's the difference between Democrats and cockroaches?
Cockroaches will survive.
ROFLMFAO !!!
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,”
The way he said there was no collusion?
And trump proudly stated finally.....there was insufficient evidence of a crime....so therefor he is not guilty.....At least he no recognizes what Mueller found.....too bad congress doesn't get it yet....And for our esteemed host who claimed to have read the whole report not to question trump's fellating putin with out missing a slurp is Unpatriotic, just like his Dear Leader......!!!
A complete douche nozzle 24/7!!!!
White House wanted USS John S. McCain covered up during Trump’s Japan visit
When senior Navy officials grasped what was happening, they directed Navy personnel who were present to remove a tarp obscuring the McCain name, a senior official said.
What is he afraid of that his bone spurs will be outed as fake?????
Hi Denny hope you are well.
We know that Alky beat his wife. Now let's create the evidence. I heard he did from a source close to her family, unanimously.
Looks like lo iq fell for more FAKE NEWS.
He is their target market.
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