who is a chief of staff us attorney general william barr

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Who is General William Barr?

William Pelham Barr (born May 23, 1950) is an American attorney who served as the 77th and 85th United States attorney general in the administrations of Presidents George H. W. Bush and Donald Trump.

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

Is William Barr married?

Christine BarrWilliam Barr / Spouse (m. 1973)

Who is the US Attorney General boss?

Merrick GarlandUnited States Attorney GeneralIncumbent Merrick Garland since March 11, 2021United States Department of JusticeStyleMr. Attorney General (informal) The Honorable (formal)Member ofCabinet National Security Council13 more rows

Who was Donald Trump's attorney general?

Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (born December 24, 1946) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 84th United States Attorney General from 2017 to 2018.

Does William Barr children?

Mary DalyWilliam Barr / Children

Who was attorney general under George W Bush?

John David Ashcroft (born May 9, 1942) is an American lawyer, lobbyist and former politician who served as the 79th U.S. Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration from 2001 to 2005.

How powerful is the attorney general?

The Attorney General of the United States – appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate – heads the DOJ with its more than 100,000 attorneys, special agents, and other staff. It represents the United States in federal criminal and civil litigation, and provides legal advice to the President and Cabinet.

Who is the attorney general of the United States 2022?

2022 Attorney General Election InformationStatePrimaryDemocratic CandidatesAlaskaAugust 16, 2022ArizonaAugust 2, 2022Kris MayesArkansasMay 24, 2022Jesse GibsonCaliforniaJune 7, 2022Rob Bonta36 more rows

Who is head of the Justice Department?

U.S. Department of JusticeDepartment of JusticeSecretary:Merrick GarlandYear created:1789Official website:Justice.gov1 more row

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 the attorney general after Jeff Sessions?

Matthew WhitakerPreceded byJeff SessionsSucceeded byWilliam BarrChief of Staff to the United States Attorney GeneralIn office September 22, 2017 – November 7, 201822 more rows

Who was attorney general under George W Bush?

John David Ashcroft (born May 9, 1942) is an American lawyer, lobbyist and former politician who served as the 79th U.S. Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration from 2001 to 2005.

When was Barr appointed Attorney General?

Barr on December 7, 2018, and he was confirmed as the 85th Attorney General of the United States by the U.S. Senate on February 14, 2019.

Who is the attorney general who has served twice?

Barr joins John Crittenden (1841 and 1850-1853) as one of only two people in U.S. history to serve twice as Attorney General. Speeches of Attorney General William P. Barr. Updated May 6, 2021.

Who is the new chief of staff of the Attorney General?

Attorney General William Barr | Getty Images. Attorney General William Barr has named Will Levi as his new chief of staff, according to two Justice Department officials familiar with the matter.

Who was the attorney general who called on Barr to resign?

Edward Levi briefly resurfaced recently in the public discourse when Donald Ayer, former deputy attorney general for President George H.W. Bush, called on Barr to resign after his move in the Stone case, comparing him unfavorably to Levi.

Who is the DOJ chief of staff?

As chief of staff, Levi will work closely with Barr and other senior DOJ officials to manage the department’s day-to-day affairs. He will also regularly interact with the White House counsel’s office. Levi, who started his new role on Monday, replaces Brian Rabbitt, who is taking a senior role in the DOJ's criminal division.

Who is replacing Brian Rabbitt?

Levi, who started his new role on Monday, replaces Brian Rabbitt, who is taking a senior role in the DOJ's criminal division. The move had been in the works for some time, as Rabbitt had wanted to move back into issues he had worked on previously in the government and private sector. Levi got close to Barr working as one ...

Did Barr lower Roger Stone's sentence?

Most recently, Barr announced he was lowering a prison sentence recommendation for one of Trump’s former aides, Roger Stone, just after Trump complained about the recommendation. The move raised questions about whether Barr was following the president’s orders, a charge the attorney general denied.

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.

Who was Bill Barr's leader?

William Levi held a front-row seat to some of the most controversial moments of Bill Barr's leadership. Levi was seen as a measured counterweight to the voluble Barr. He was previously a Sidley associate from April 2017 to August 2018.

Who was the attorney general of the DOJ after Watergate?

And his grandfather, Edward Levi, as U.S. attorney general during the Ford administration, was widely credited with restoring credibility at the DOJ after Watergate. Levi’s wife, Addar Levi, is a former Covington & Burling associate who was selected by the Biden administration to serve as deputy general counsel of the U.S.

When did Levi join Barr?

Attorney Geoffrey Berman, records show. Levi was with Barr in early June 2020 as ...

Who is the attorney general who drafted the memos urging prosecutors to stamp out “predatory practices”?

Levi was with Barr in early June 2020 as the attorney general oversaw what turned into a violent clearing of protesters gathered at Lafayette Square just outside the White House, Law.com reported last year. As Barr ’s top aide, he was also closely involved in the drafting of memos urging prosecutors to stamp out “predatory practices” connected to the coronavirus and urging the increased use of home confinement for prisoners.

Is Barr still at Kirkland and Ellis?

Barr himself is yet to announce his next move and has not returned to his prior firm, Kirkland & Ellis. Levi, who previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, started at the DOJ after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions left but before Barr had arrived.

How long has Barr been at the head of the Department of Justice?

Barr, 68, served at the head of the Department of Justice from 1991 to 1993. The Washington Post reports that he is the leading candidate to be Trump’s next pick for attorney general.

What did the Washington Post describe Barr as having?

In 1991, The Washington Post described Barr as having “tempered candor with discretion, a strong will with a tolerance for the personalities and views of others.”

Why did Barr criticize Mueller?

Barr also criticized special counsel Bob Mueller’s team in 2017 for making political donations.

Where did Barr work?

In his early years, Barr worked for nine years at the Washington DC law firm Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge.

Is Barr a contender?

A source told the outlet that Barr is “a really serious contender and possibly the front-runner.”

Is Barr a conservative?

Barr has been described as a staunch conservative.

Who is William Barr?

If you want to understand William Barr, President Donald Trump’s strikingly partisan and loyal attorney general who has continually assured Trump that his desired actions are perfectly legal, then you have to understand William Barr, the person.

What did Barr do for the Justice Department?

For the next two years, as chief of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Coun­sel, Barr played a key role in shaping Rich­ard Thornburgh’s stormy tenure as attorney general. In a job that was essentially politi­cal, he helped maintain the administra­tion’s ideological purity by screening out judicial candidates who weren’t conserva­tive enough. He also drafted two key docu­ments rationalizing the U.S. invasion of Panama and the seizure of General Manuel Noriega.

Why was the Justice Department so slow to step in?

Some accuse Thornburgh and Barr of trying to cover up BCCI links to Iran­contra and the CIA , which has admitted using the bank’s facilities abroad in covert operations. No substantiation has been found for this charge, but few doubt that a stall-off did occur at Justice.

What did Barr do as a deputy AG?

Flogging another conservative hobby­horse, Barr fought hard as deputy AG to keep federal courts from expanding their right to review state criminal convictions on writs of habeas corpus. As a devout Catholic, he also pandered to the antiabor­tion crowd, even “torquing” the law in Au­gust 1991 to advance their crusade. The challenge came when a federal judge in Wichita issued an order barring anti-abor­tion demonstrators from blocking access to a clinic. The Justice Department inter­vened to try to force a lifting of the ban. Later asked about this by Congress, Barr gave an exquisitely technical rationale, as­serting that though the demonstrators were “lawbreakers… treading on other people’s rights,” they “should be dealt with” in state court, not federal court — thus the federal judge’s order was unenforceable.

What did Barr do in 1990?

In mid 1990, as Thornburgh’s own prob­lems with Congress deepened, Barr was tapped to run interference, and was named deputy attorney general. The appointment came just in time for him to draft another landmark tract for the administration, the legal pretext for the undeclared war against Iraq. It would have made any Nixonite proud. Explaining it later to Congress, Barr said he believed there was a “gray zone” between a declared offensive war and an emergency defensive action where “there is latitude for the president, if he believes that the vital interests of the United States are threatened by foreign military attack, there is room for him to respond.”

Was Barr a lawyer in the BCCI case?

During the 1980s Barr bounced between government service and a prestigious Washington law firm that would later rep­resent one of the key defendants in the BCCI affair. Barr assured Congress in 1991 that he was long gone from Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge by the time it took on its dubious BCCI client. Still, the appear­ance of compromised interests would dog Barr at Justice, particularly as its own in­vestigation of BCCI stalled.

When did Barr meet Bush?

Barr first met Bush in the CIA. In 1976 , having shifted to the agency’s legislative office, he helped write the pap sheets that director Bush used to fend off the Pike and Church committees, the first real embodiments of Congressional oversight of the CIA. Intimates say the experience was for­mative for Barr, turning him into an impla­cable enemy of congressional intrusions on executive prerogative.

What was the complaint against Barr?

On January 17, Democracy 21 filed a complaint with the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Departmental Ethics Office that detailed Barr’s pattern of biased actions and his failure to comply with Justice Department norms, rules and standards of conduct.

Who is Trump's attorney general?

Trump eventually got rid of Sessions and named William Barr as his new attorney general, clearly with the goal of having Barr serve as Trump’s personal defense attorney, not as the nation’s chief law enforcement official. And that is what Barr has done. The core mission of the Department of Justice is “to ensure fair and impartial administration ...

What is the letter from Barr?

The letter expressed “serious concerns about the propriety of Barr’s recent actions and statements.”. It urged Congress “to commence formal inquiries into a pattern of conduct by Attorney General William P. Barr that threatens public confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice.”.

What is the mission of the Department of Justice?

The core mission of the Department of Justice is “to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” This has not been Barr’s mission, however, as he has repeatedly abused his office to provide personal and political protection for Trump at the expense of the integrity and credibility of the department.

Why can't the Special Counsel seek an indictment of Trump?

The report stated that the special counsel could not seek an indictment of Trump because of a Justice Department policy that prohibited indictment of a sitting president.

When did Barr send a memo to the White House?

Barr signaled that both he and Trump saw Barr’s role as that of legal and political defender of the president when, as a private citizen, he sent an unsolicited 19-page memo to the White House and Justice Department on June 8, 2018.

When did Mueller report?

In July 2019, after Barr became attorney general, Mueller released a full report on the findings of his investigation.

Who was the acting attorney general of the United States in 2017?

For example, upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch left her position, so then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, who had also tendered her resignation, was asked to stay on to serve as the acting attorney general until the confirmation of the new attorney general Jeff Sessions, who had been nominated for the office in November 2016 by then- President-elect Donald Trump.

What was the purpose of the Attorney General's Office?

The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the United States solicitor general and the White House counsel .

How much does an attorney general make in 2021?

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

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United Stateson all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.

When does the Attorney General have to resign?

Presidential transition[edit] It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the President, to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day(January 20) of a new president.

Who was the attorney general nominee for Clinton?

Gerson was fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department, but other senior DOJ officials had already resigned.[14] Janet Reno, President Clinton's nominee for attorney general, was confirmed on March 12,[15]and he resigned the same day.

When was the Department of Justice established?

The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in the discharge of their responsibilities.