Why would Trump ask Barr about whether he would recuse himself?

[thesquanderer]

There have been reports that Trump repeatedly asked his attorney general nominee Barr whether he would recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation. What I don't understand is, what is the premise under which it would even come up? Sessions recused himself because he was potentially involved in the investigation, having had contact with Russian government officials himself. Has Barr had some Russian involvement? If so, what is it? If not, on what basis would he have any reason to even consider recusing himself, since recusal only arises from the perception of a possible bias or conflict of interest? Why was Trump concerned that he might have needed to recuse himself?

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Because Donnie Two Scoops isn't really that bright

He is ignorant of history, the law and pretty much everything else that doesn't involve some sort of crime.

[Yonnie3]

2. Because Individual 1 doesn't understand recusal.

The reasons why someone would recuse themselves make no sense to him.

[jberryhill]

3. He doesn't understand

[RockRaven]

4. Trump cares so much about Barr NOT recusing himself only because he made the appointment assuming

that Barr would do his bidding and interfere with the Office of Special Counsel. It is the entire motivating force behind his AG selection process. The sole criteria. Having an AG who won't interfere with OSC is like not having an AG at all, to Trump. Hence the question.

That Barr gave the desired answer (or something close enough for Trump to accept), and accepted the nomination, indicates that Barr either a) intends to blow off/ignore Trump's corrupt desires entirely once in office, in which case he misled Trump to achieve the nomination, or b) intends to f--k around with Mueller. Either path involves dishonor, but the first is far less dishonorable because it involves lying to a criminal to foil that criminal's plans.

[boston bean]

5. he is ripe for recusal then. Trumpass has compromised his AG by asking the question. What a

dumfuckingass

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. He assumes that if Barr declines to recuse himself, he'll interfere with the investigation.

However, Barr could decline to recuse and still not interfere, which Tiny doesn't understand because he assumes his appointees are his employees and will do whatever he tells them. Barr has a reputation to protect, and is surely smart enough to know that working in Trump's administration carries a very high risk of getting shit all over one's self - so I think what will happen is that he won't recuse himself but will just stand back and allow Rosenstein to continue to supervise the investigation without interference. He probably knows Trump is going down and doesn't want to go down with him.

[lark]

7. Barr is a repug hack who is on record questioning the validity of the investigation.

That is why drumpf is asking this as it's the very reason he was chosen in the first place.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. But there's no evidence that he's actually stupid.

While he may be a hack who has criticized the investigation, it's one thing to flap ones gums about it and another thing to be put in a position to be expected to commit obstruction of justice. The investigation has come to the point where it's obvious that Trump was up to his flabby orange ass in the whole thing, and Mueller has taken steps to ensure that the truth will come out sooner or later. Barr may be a GOP partisan but he's also an institutionalist and not a Trump loyalist with any previous connections to him, and I doubt he wants to go down in history as another Robert Bork. I may be overly optimistic but I don't think he'll do much.

[lark]

10. You are far more trusting than I am.

He's a Repug operative and not a never trumper, so he obviously puts party above country. Repugs with a conscience are now Never Trumpers, the rest go along with the crazy for profit or hate or tribal party reasons. Barr is a tribalist as he's made plain with many criticisms of Mueller & the entire investigation. Putting Barr in there will be a very bad thing for the country and the truth, I'd take a big bet on that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. He has nothing to gain by interfering with the investigation.

That's why I don't think he'll do it. He's been in private law practice for years, has established a good reputation and really hasn't got a dog in this fight despite his critical comments. Like I said before, it's one thing to criticize; it's something else to be on the hot seat, faced with doing something that is likely to ruin his reputation forever. He can come away from this mess looking like Elliot Richardson or Robert Bork and I'm sure he knows that.

[lark]

12. Being a total Repug, would he even care about reputation if paid enough by PUtin?

Drumpf doesn't have that kind of cash, but his master does. I don't trust him one little bit and think drumpf thinks he's finally got his ringer to telling him everything Mueller is doing and to stop him dead in his tracks. Drumpf wouldn't hire him if he hadn't pledged personal loyalty, and pledged to torpedo the investigation, you know that.

[Corgigal]

8. Because

if he does then he won't get the job. It's Trump Hail Mary and you have to be in the game to play.

If he takes the job, right now in this historical context, I don't trust Barr because of Trump. If he wants him, good enough for a No. 2 years in, it's that easy.