DOJ denies rumors Attorney General Barr is considering resigning over President’s tweets
A recent report alleged Attorney General William Barr has considered resigning due to the president's tweets about Justice Department investigations. According to the Washington Post, Barr discussed the possibility of leaving his position with members of the Trump administration.
Attorney General William Barr speaks at the National Sheriffs’ Association Winter Legislative and Technology Conference in Washington, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:12 AM PT — Wednesday, February 19, 2020
A recent report alleged Attorney General William Barr has considered resigning due to the president’s tweets about Justice Department investigations. According to the Washington Post, Barr discussed the possibility of leaving his position with members of the Trump administration.
This possibility floated after Barr expressed frustration with President Trump’s consistent tweets involving Department of Justice investigations in an interview with ABC.
“To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about people in the department, or our men and women hear about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases make it impossible for me to do my job,” he stated.
“The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.” A.G. Barr This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2020
Democrats and former Justice Department officials are calling for Barr to step down, following his recent sentence recommendation change of Republican strategist Roger Stone. However, Barr said he wouldn’t be swayed or bullied by Congress, the media or the president, but also said he can’t do his job with the constant background commentary that undercuts the work he is trying to do.
President Trump did voice his support for the attorney general amid calls for him to step down.
“I do make his job harder, I do agree with that, I think that’s true,” he stated. “He’s a very straight shooter…the attorney general is a man with incredible integrity.”
Despite the report, a spokeswoman for the department has come out against the claims and said they are just rumors. According to the official, Barr has no intentions of resigning.
Addressing Beltway rumors: The Attorney General has no plans to resign.
— KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ) February 19, 2020