EJ Dionne: Six takeaways on the Barr letter

[MBS]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/24/six-takeaways-barrs-letter-about-muellers-probe/?utm_term=.696789b9074c

That special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has not resolved all the issues surrounding President Trump is disappointing many of the president’s foes, but it’s not surprising. Mueller is an honorable man. He is not a bomb thrower. He always defined his role narrowly. . .
At this point, six things seem obvious:
First, the full Mueller report must be released as quickly as possible. . . .
Second. . . The Mueller probe spanned 675 days. It took Barr and Rosenstein just two days to let the president off the hook. How did they decide so quickly? The words “rush to judgement” come to mind. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said he would call Barr to testify. He must.
Third, on the issue of Russian collusion, there is an odd discrepancy between the language Barr uses and what he quotes the report as saying. . .What did Mueller find? Again, this is an argument for making the whole report public quickly.

Fourth, Congress must continue to hold Trump accountable. Republican efforts to shut down any further inquiry should be laughed away. . . just because House Republicans ignored their responsibilities for oversight when they controlled the House doesn’t mean Democrats should do the same. . . Nothing Mueller is quoted as saying justifies pretending that there is nothing left to probe. And, yes, there are still investigations into Trump that will continue in the offices of U.S. attorneys. Those inquiries must be protected.
Fifth, Mueller should testify before Congress, too. . .

Sixth: We have no idea right now if material will emerge over the coming months that will justify impeachment. Impeachment is, in any event, a last resort. In the meantime, everything we have learned about Trump from Mueller’s inquiry and from media reports suggests potential corruption, conflicts of interest and a leader who has surrounded himself with shady figures against whom Mueller secured either convictions, indictments or plea deals. The case against Trump is strong. If this case needs to be argued in the political sphere, so be it. The 2020 election is 20 months away.

[lagomorph777]

1. +1. We have to hold media accountable for reporting Barr's lies as if Mueller said them.

[Paka]

2. Excellent points.

Thank you for posting.

[sandensea]

4. Worse than Barr's misrepresentation (what else is new), is the media's.

Most big media outlets ran with the "Mueller report exonerates Trump" story faster than a Faux News bimbo every time they see Murdoch down the hallway.

Candy Barr may have crafted the lie; but big media made sure it framed the story.

Except, of course, for msnbc. They may not be perfect (and who is); but where would we be without them.

[MBS]

5. Yes, I've been shocked by the caving in the press.

I shouldn't be surprised by this, especially by the New York Times, which has a history of caving to whomever is in power. (See: Judith Miller and buildup to Iraq war). But after more than two years of actual journalism, they then fold? SHAME.