why does bill barr want to be attorney general?

by Ms. Lavinia Ernser 9 min read

What is Bill Barr known for?

Barr’s veneration for the DOJ seems to be a powerful force in his desire to take the job again. He may also nurse the same ambition as many people who have held powerful jobs: the desire to …

Is William Barr out as Attorney General?

Feb 15, 2022 · Appoint the United States Attorney General on the advice and consent of the Senate by and with the President’s consent. is the head of the Department of Justice. (Table follows) The General Counsel.

Did Attorney General William Barr prioritize Trump's political goals?

Answer (1 of 5): A unitary executive and the end of the US’s democrartic system of checks and balances put in place by the founding fathers and cherished by Americans since the inception of the country. The US is supposed to have three co-equal branches of government - …

Is Attorney General Barr targeting violent crime in a campaign year?

Dec 15, 2020 · LISTEN TO ARTICLE. Attorney General William Barr has resigned with a little more than a month left in President Donald Trump’s administration. This seems to suggest that Barr thinks what happens ...

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What did Barr do before becoming attorney general?

From 1973 to 1977, Barr was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency. ... Before becoming Attorney General in 1991, Barr held numerous other posts within the Department of Justice, including leading the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) and serving as Deputy Attorney General.

How is US Attorney General chosen?

the president of the United StatesThe attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

Where did Bill Barr go to law school?

George Washington University Government Procurement Law Program1977Columbia University1973Columbia University1971Horace Mann SchoolWilliam Barr/Education

Who was the attorney general under Trump?

Jeff SessionsOfficial portrait, 201784th United States Attorney GeneralIn office February 9, 2017 – November 7, 2018PresidentDonald Trump33 more rows

What is the purpose of the US attorney general?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to: Represent the United States in legal matters. Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.Oct 8, 2021

What power does the US attorney general have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Who is William Barr wife?

Christine BarrWilliam Barr / Wife (m. 1973)

Who is AG Barr married to?

Christine BarrWilliam Barr / Spouse (m. 1973)

Who are William Barr's daughters?

Mary DalyWilliam Barr / Daughter

Who was the last US attorney general?

List of U.S. attorneys generalAttorney GeneralYears of serviceMerrick Garland2021-PresentEric Holder2009-2015Michael B. Mukasey2007-2009Alberto R. Gonzales2005-200782 more rows

Who was the last attorney general?

California Former Attorneys GeneralMatthew Rodriguez2021 – 2021Kamala D. Harris2010 – 2017Edmund G. Brown, Jr.2007 – 2011Bill Lockyer1999 – 2007Daniel E. Lungren1991 – 199929 more rows

Are Jeff and Pete Sessions related?

Pete Sessions is not related to former Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

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."

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".

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."

Where was Donald Barr born?

Early life and education. Barr was born in New York City in 1950. His father, Donald Barr, taught English literature at Columbia University before becoming headmaster of the Dalton School in Manhattan and later the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, both members of the Ivy Preparatory School League.

Who was the special counsel in the Inslaw case?

In October 1991, Barr appointed then-retired Democratic Chicago judge Nicholas Bua as special counsel in the Inslaw scandal. Bua's 1993 report found the Department of Justice guilty of no wrongdoing in the matter.

Did Barr try to undermine Cohen's conviction?

In the spring of 2019, Barr reportedly attempted to undermine the conviction of Trump fixer Michael Cohen for campaign finance violations, detailed The New York Times in June 2020. Barr reportedly raised doubts multiple times about the validity of the charges against Cohen, including requesting the Office of Legal Counsel to draft a memo with legal arguments which could have helped Cohen's case. Barr's efforts were reportedly stemmed by the prosecutors of the Southern District of New York. Ultimately, Cohen's conviction was not changed.

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."

Who was the Attorney General on the verdict?

During an interview on “Verdict” with Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles, Attorney General Bill Barr provided some frank answers on several issues. Whether it was riots, big tech censorship, or why he took the job, his responses were direct and his priorities unmistakable.

What did Barr say in the interview?

The interview opened with Barr answering questions about federal law enforcement agencies’ role in addressing the unrest and lawlessness that has been occurring nationwide. Barr responded that federal action is taken after the fact. It is up to state and local leaders to prevent these crimes from happening.

Did Barr resign?

Attorney General William Barr has resigned with a little more than a month left in President Donald Trump’s administration. This seems to suggest that Barr thinks what happens in the next five weeks could irretrievably tarnish his legacy. If so, that’s pretty stunning, considering how much Barr has already diminished his reputation and that of the Justice Department with his pro-Trump shenanigans.

Who is Noah Feldman?

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and host of the podcast “Deep Background.”. He is a professor of law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. His books include “The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President.”.

What did Barr say about Mueller?

Barr then grabbed the imaginary ball, running to the media and to Congress to say that the evidence was “not sufficient” to convict Trump of obstruction. That was something Mueller’s report expressly declined to do.

Who is the judge that branded Trump's attorney general and his Justice Department lieutenants the judicial equivalent of

Former Attorney General William Barr’s reputation took another hit on May 3. Federal District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a scathing opinion that branded Trump’s attorney general and his Justice Department lieutenants the judicial equivalent of cover-up artists. And today, a group of lawyers (including two of the authors of this op-ed) asked the District of Columbia Bar disciplinary authorities to take action against Barr based in part upon the judge’s decision.

Did Barr quit the presidency?

Barr quit his position on the same day the Electoral College officially called the 46th presidency for President-elect Joe Biden, which Trump continues to dispute. (Barr notably told the Associated Press on Dec. 1 that there was no evidence widespread voter fraud occurred.)

Did Barr resign?

Still, as per CNN, a White House official revealed that Barr "wasn't asked to resign," and that the meeting between Barr and Trump on Dec. 14 was "amicable," which Trump echoed in his announcement of Barr's departure. Sen. Mitt Romney revealed his theory behind Barr's exit, as per NBC.

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Overview

William Pelham "Bill" 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.
From 1973 to 1977, Barr was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency. He then served as a law clerk to judge Malcolm Richard Wilkey of the United States …

Early life and education

Barr was born in New York City in 1950. His father, Donald Barr, taught English literature at Columbia University before becoming headmaster of the Dalton School in Manhattan and later the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, both members of the Ivy Preparatory School League. Barr's mother, Mary Margaret (née Ahern), also taught at Columbia. Barr's father was Jewish and raised in Judaism but later converted to Christianity and joined the Catholic Church. His mother is of Irishancestry. …

Career

From 1971 to 1977, while attending graduate school and law school, Barr worked for the CIA. He was first hired as a summer intern for two years. During his law school years he was an analyst in the Intelligence Directorate division from 1973 to 1975, and then transitioning to an assistant in the Office of Legislative Counsel and an agency liaison to Congress from 1975 to 1977.

Political positions

A lifelong Republican, Barr takes an expansive view of executive powers and supports "law and order" policies. Considered an establishment Republican at the time of his confirmation, Barr gained a reputation as someone loyal to Trump and his policies during his second tenure as Attorney General. His efforts to support the sitting president politically during his DOJ office tenure have be…

Personal life

Barr has been married to Christine Moynihan Barr since 1973. She holds a master's degree in library science, and together they have three daughters: Mary Barr Daly, Patricia Barr Straughn, and Margaret (Meg) Barr. Their eldest daughter, Mary, born 1977/1978, was a senior Justice Department official who oversaw the department's anti-opioid and addiction efforts; Patricia, born 1981/1982, was counsel for the House Agriculture Committee; and Meg, born 1984/1985, is a fo…

Honors

In 1992, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) by George Washington University.

See also

• Russian interference in the 2020 United States elections
• Timeline of investigations into Donald Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)
• Timeline of investigations into Donald Trump and Russia (2019)

Riots and Monuments

  • The interview opened with Barr answering questions about federal law enforcement agencies’ role in addressing the unrest and lawlessness that has been occurring nationwide. Barr responded that federal action is taken after the fact. It is up to state and local leaders to prevent these crimes from happening. He did note that when the violence began at the end of May, the thirty-five Join…
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Big Tech Censorship

  • Barr discussed the Department of Justice’s view on censorious behavior by big tech platforms. He calls it a case of bait and switch. The platforms pledged to provide a place for free expression and built large networks. Then they began censoring points of view they did not agree with. To address this, the DOJ is recommending modifications to Section 230 of the Communications De…
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The Politicization of The Department of Justice

  • Host Michael Knowles asked Barr how politicized the DOJ was when he returned as Attorney General. Barr responded: He went on to explain that this is extremely dangerous in a republic like ours, and the majority of the criticism he receives is for trying to get to the bottom of it. The most recent criticisms area result of the DOJ withdrawing the prosecution against General Michael Fly…
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Why Did Barr Take The Job?

  • Bill Barr is only the second person to serve twice as attorney general. In explaining the primary differences between his first tenure and his service now, there were two. He noted the pace of things is much quicker due to improved technology. He also noted political divisions and the lack of bipartisan cooperation. Knowles asked the obvious question as to why Barr chose to return t…
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