Barr Fires Back

            Most Americans know that President Donald Trump was investigated for nearly two years at a cost of $35 million to determine if he colluded with Russia to win the election. Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his cohorts finally delivered their report to Attorney General William Barr declaring that there was not enough evidence to prove that Trump colluded with Russia or obstructed the investigation.

            Barr, on his own free will, made 98.5 percent of the report available to the public. Democrats do not accept Mueller’s report and want to continue the investigation. They are calling for the entire, unredacted report even though they know that Barr cannot legally allow them to see information from grand juries. Barr agreed to be questioned by members of the House, but he refused to do so after they changed the rules. Now the House has ruled that he is in contempt of Congress because he will not do as they want – something that he cannot legally do. Trump had to claim executive privilege to protect his Attorney General and others in the executive branch from the power grab by Democrats in Congress.

            While questioned by Senators, Barr made the comment that he believed that “spying” was done, and Democrats got upset with him for using the word “spy” to describe an “investigation.” Now Barr has appointed John Durham to lead a special investigation into why and how Justice Department and FBI officials started the Russian probe and if the “spying” was legal. Durham, a Republican, is an excellent choice by all accounts, and Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal shares some reasons why. 

1. Career Prosecutor. Durham, 68, began his career as a Connecticut state prosecutor working [in] 1978 … in the New Haven State’s Attorneys Office….

2. Busting Mafia-FBI Connection. In 1999, then-Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Durham to investigate corruption in federal law enforcement in Boston…. Durham’s investigation led to a 10-year prison sentence for retired FBI agent John Connolly Jr., found guilty of helping the two gangsters avoid prosecution….

3. Special Probes of CIA and Terror Detainees. In 2008, then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed Durham as a special prosecutor to conduct what turned into a three-year probe of the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes. He didn’t recommend any prosecutions.

In an overlapping probe, then-Attorney General Eric Holder named him as a special prosecutor to investigate alleged mistreatment of terror suspects by CIA interrogators…. Durham concluded by closing most of the cases, but called for continued inquiries into the deaths of two prisoners.

4. Devoted Catholic, Red Sox Fan. Despite handling high-profile cases, Durham typically keeps a low profile…. “Other than an overwhelming commitment to the cause of justice, the two great devotions of John’s life are his Catholic faith and his family” ….

5. Public Corruption. Durham led some of the biggest public corruption cases in Connecticut….

6. Lauded by Democrats. … Democrats could have a difficult time in attacking Durham…. Among [his] admirers were … Connecticut’s two Democratic senators – Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy … [who] recommended Durham to serve as U.S. attorney….

            I think the results from Durham’s investigation will be interesting to know. I wonder if the Democrats will accept them or the results of several other investigations taking place.