where does attorney general barr get his radical ideology

by Prof. Barry Hahn I 7 min read

Is William Barr conservative or liberal?

William BarrBornWilliam Pelham Barr May 23, 1950 New York City, U.S.Political partyRepublicanSpouseChristine Moynihan ​ ( m. 1973)​Children330 more rows

What does William Barr Do?

LawyerWilliam Barr / ProfessionA lawyer or attorney is a person who practices law, as an advocate, attorney at law, barrister, barrister-at-law, bar-at-law, canonist, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solicitor, ... Wikipedia

Who was attorney general after Barr?

Jeffrey A. RosenPreceded byWilliam BarrSucceeded byMonty Wilkinson (acting)38th United States Deputy Attorney GeneralIn office May 22, 2019 – December 23, 202027 more rows

Is William Barr married?

Christine BarrWilliam Barr / Spouse (m. 1973)

How much does the Attorney General of the United States make?

Attorney General is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$221,400, as of January 2021.

Does William Barr children?

Mary DalyWilliam Barr / Children

Who was Trump's first AG?

Jeff SessionsSucceeded byDon FosterPersonal detailsBornJefferson Beauregard Sessions III December 24, 1946 Selma, Alabama, U.S.Political partyRepublican33 more rows

How is Attorney General removed?

He can be removed by the President at any time. He can quit by submitting his resignation only to the President. Since he is appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, conventionally he is removed when the council is dissolved or replaced.

Who was Trump's last ag?

Matthew WhitakerIn office November 7, 2018 – February 14, 2019PresidentDonald TrumpDeputyRod RosensteinPreceded byJeff Sessions22 more rows

Who is the president's lawyer?

White House CounselIncumbent Stuart Delery since July 2022Formation1943First holderSamuel Rosenman

Who is the attorney general of the United States now?

General Merrick B. GarlandMeet the Attorney General Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was sworn in as the 86th Attorney General of the United States on March 11, 2021.

Who is the current attorney general?

Merrick GarlandUnited States / Attorney generalMerrick Brian Garland is an American lawyer and jurist serving as the 86th United States attorney general beginning in March 2021. He served as a circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 2021. Wikipedia

Who is the president's lawyer?

White House CounselIncumbent Stuart Delery since July 2022Formation1943First holderSamuel Rosenman

Who did Trump pardon?

Trump issued pardons to seven Republican congressmen convicted of crimes: Chris Collins, Duncan D. Hunter, Steve Stockman, Rick Renzi, Robin Hayes, Mark Siljander, and Randall "Duke" Cunningham.

Who appointed Attorney General Garland?

Merrick GarlandIn office March 20, 1997 – March 11, 2021Appointed byBill ClintonPreceded byAbner J. MikvaSucceeded byKetanji Brown Jackson22 more rows

Who was Trump's first attorney general?

Jeff SessionsSucceeded byDon FosterPersonal detailsBornJefferson Beauregard Sessions III December 24, 1946 Selma, Alabama, U.S.Political partyRepublican33 more rows

What did Barr do?

A former head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (an office in which I also later served), Barr had espousedan extreme viewof executive power that exalted the presidency to a position of inviolability rather than treating Congress as a coequal branch.

Who overruled Roger Stone's sentencing?

Last week, Attorney General William P. Barr overruledthe Justice Department’s sentencing recommendation for President Trump’s ally Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress, after the president tweeted that the original recommendation was “horrible” and “very unfair.”. Barr also ordereda review of former national security adviser Michael ...

Who was the Democratic senator who reflected the situation in which we find ourselves?

After Barr’s hearing, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) reflected many Democratic senators’ sentiments when she concludedthat “the situation in which we find ourselves — and the manner in which Mr. Barr has chosen to interpret the law — leaves too many questions about whether he can be an impartial attorney general.”.

Did Barr send a memoto?

Barr had recently reaffirmed these views as a private citizen when, in June 2018, he sent an unsolicited me moto the deputy attorney general arguing that Mueller could not investigate whether Trump obstructed justice by attempting to thwart the Justice Department’s Russia investigation.

Did Barr's nomination fail Hamilton's test?

Unfortunately, by rubber-stamping Barr’s nomination, a majority of Senators have failed Hamilton’s test, causing deep and possibly irreparable harm to the interests of Congress, the Justice Department and the American people. Wealthy and connected defendants like Roger Stone get off easy all the time. Comment.

When was Barr confirmed as Attorney General?

On February 14, 2019 , Barr was confirmed by the Senate in a vote that fell largely along party lines. He was sworn in hours later, becoming the second person in U.S. history to serve twice as attorney general. Barely a month into his term, Barr would be thrust into the spotlight when, on March 22, Mueller concluded his nearly two-year-long investigation and submitted his confidential report to the attorney general. Two days later Barr released a four-page summary, which stated that the “investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia” and also stated that “the evidence developed during the Special Counsel’s investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.”

Who is William Barr?

William Barr, in full William Pelham Barr, (born May 23, 1950, New York City), American lawyer and government official who served as attorney general of the United States during the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush (1991–93) and Donald Trump (2019–20). Barr was the second person in U.S.

What did Barr argue about the firing of Comey?

Barr argued that the firing of Comey was a “facially-lawful” exercise of “ Executive discretion” and that obstruction would not apply unless Trump had already been found guilty of an underlying crime. Such arguments were advanced by many Trump supporters as well as by advocates of increased presidential authority.

What did Barr say about Mueller?

In June 2018 Barr, a private citizen with no formal ties to the U.S. government, sent an unsolicited 19-page memo to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. In it Barr disparaged Robert Mueller ’s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He was particularly focused on the possibility of Mueller pursuing an obstruction of justice case against Pres. Donald Trump over Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey. Barr argued that the firing of Comey was a “facially-lawful” exercise of “ Executive discretion” and that obstruction would not apply unless Trump had already been found guilty of an underlying crime. Such arguments were advanced by many Trump supporters as well as by advocates of increased presidential authority.

Why did Barr resign?

A visible rift between Barr and Trump began to appear in the wake of the November 2020 presidential election. Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that Joe Biden ’s victory was invalid due to widespread fraud. Barr, in an unusual break with the president, publicly stated that the Justice Department had found no evidence to support those allegations. On December 14 Barr announced that he would resign as attorney general, effective December 23.

Why did Barr refuse to appear before the House Judiciary Committee?

In addition, the Justice Department refused to comply with a subpoena for the unredacted Mueller report, an official stating that the Judiciary Committee’s request did not constitute “legitimate oversight.” In July 2019 the House voted to hold Barr in criminal contempt for refusing to provide documents related to the Trump administration’s unsuccessful efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. As Barr was head of the Justice Department, the legal body that would be tasked with prosecuting such an offense, the move was almost entirely symbolic.

How did Barr help Trump?

Throughout his term as attorney general Barr would use his position to insulate the White House and Trump’s allies from congressional oversight and federal prosecution. Most notably, the Justice Department directly intervened in the cases of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and Trump adviser Roger Stone. Flynn, who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators, saw the charges against him dismissed, only to have that dismissal reversed by a U.S. appellate court. In the Stone case, the Justice Department’s own sentencing recommendation was countermanded by a Barr-appointed official after Trump tweeted that he felt that it was too harsh. In both cases, the federal attorneys overseeing the prosecutions resigned in protest. Trump eventually pardoned Flynn and commuted Stone’s sentence.

What law firm does Barr work for?

In 2017, Barr signed on to work with the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, which has an unusual connection to the Trump administration. The firm pays an estimated $8.4 million in annual rent to lease part of a San Francisco skyscraper in which President Trump owns a 30% stake.

When did Barr retire?

The biggest benefit, however, came upon retirement. Barr stepped down from the company at the end of 2008, receiving a $17.1 million distribution from Verizon’s income deferral plan, according to an SEC filing. On top of that, company documents also detail an additional $10.4 million separation payment for Barr.

How much did Barr disclose about the merger?

That deal was lucrative for Barr—he disclosed $1.7 million of income related to it on his financial disclosure report. But the merger was troubling to Trump, whose Justice Department tried to block it. During his confirmation hearing, Barr promised to recuse himself from the case as attorney general.

How much did Barr make in his career?

W. Bush and Donald J. Trump. But he made his fortune out of office, collecting more than $50 million in compensation as an executive and director for some of America’s largest companies.

How much did Barr get paid after leaving Verizon?

From 2009 to 2018, Dominion paid Barr $1.2 million in cash and granted him another $1.1 million in stock awards, according to SEC filings.

Who asked the Justice Department to investigate Barr?

In December 2019, Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Patrick J. Leahy asked the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate Barr for approving an illegal surveillance program without legal analysis.

Why does Barr support the death penalty?

Barr supports the death penalty, arguing that it reduces crime. He advocated a Bush-backed bill that would have expanded the types of crime that could be punished by execution. In a 1991 op-ed in The New York Times, Barr argued that death row inmates' ability to challenge their sentences should be limited to avoid cases dragging on for years: "This lack of finality devastates the criminal justice system. It diminishes the deterrent effect of state criminal laws, saps state prosecutorial resources and continually reopens the wounds of victims and survivors."

How much money did Barr give to the NRSC?

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) financially assists Republicans in their Senate election contests; in the seven years from 2009 to 2016, Barr gave six donations to the NRSC totaling $85,400. In a five-month period from October 2018 to February 2019, Barr donated five times (around $10,000 every month) for a total of $51,000. When Barr started donating more frequently to the NRSC, it was uncertain whether then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions would remain in his job. Barr continued donating even after Sessions resigned, and after Trump nominated Barr for Attorney General. The donations stopped after Barr was confirmed by the Senate as Attorney General. NRSC refunded Barr $30,000 before his confirmation. Previously in 2017, Barr had said he felt "prosecutors who make political contributions are identifying fairly strongly with a political party."

Why did Barr say Hollywood censors its own movies?

In July 2020, Barr condemned large American tech companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Apple, and Hollywood studios, accusing them of "kowtowing" to the Chinese Communist Party for the sake of profits. He said that "Hollywood now regularly censors its own movies to appease the Chinese Communist Party, the world's most powerful violator of human rights."

How much did Barr donate to the Republican Party?

Barr donated $55,000 to a political action committee that backed Jeb Bush during the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries and $2,700 to Donald Trump during the general election campaign.

What was Barr's first tenure?

During his first tenure as AG, media characterized Barr as "a staunch conservative who rarely hesitates to put his hardline views into action". He was described as affable with a dry, self-deprecating wit. The New York Times described the "central theme" of his tenure to be "his contention that violent crime can be reduced only by expanding Federal and state prisons to jail habitual violent offenders". In an effort to prioritize violent crime, Barr reassigned three hundred FBI agents from counterintelligence work to investigations of gang violence. The New York Times called this move "the largest single manpower shift in the bureau's history".

Why did Barr advocate for Guantanamo Bay?

He also advocated the use of Guantanamo Bay to prevent Haitian refugees and HIV infected individuals from claiming asylum in the United States. According to Vox in December 2018, Barr supported an aggressive "law and order" agenda on immigration as Attorney General in the Bush Administration.

What did Barr's extremist talk mean?

According to Mother Jones, Barr’s extremist talk “shocked legal experts, who saw Barr’s defense of religious freedom as an assault on the First Amendment’s protection against the government’s establishment of any religion.”. On Twitter, legal experts were horrified.

Who converted Larry Kudlow to Judaism?

Current Issue. Larry Kudlow is another fan of the center. Its longtime president, Father John McCloskey, converted Kudlow from Judaism when he was struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. “I’d like to unleash him on Capitol Hill,” Kudlow told The Washington Times in 2001.

Who is Walter Schaub?

As former government ethics lawyer Walter Schaub declaimed : This is repugnant. I’m comfortable talking about faith in public, but he was invited to speak at a law school because he’s the Attorney general. His job is to defend the 1st Amendment.

Who was the board member of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty?

For 21 years, Barr was also on the board of the DC-based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, perhaps best known in recent years as the firm behind the Hobby Lobby case that let corporations violate women’s rights by denying them coverage for contraception.

What did Barr do in an op-ed for the Washington Post?

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Barr went so far as to endorse the worst actions taken by Sessions, including his repeated efforts to strip LGBTQ people of the legal right to live, labor, and learn as who we are.

Is LGBTQ rhetoric new?

Such rhetoric is not new — LGBTQ people have endured it for generations. It has been used in defense of laws limiting LGBTQ rights, and was even a frequent argument against helping people with HIV/AIDS at the height of that crisis.

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