DOJ IG has released their long-awaited report on Bill Barr’s intervention in the Roger Stone sentencing.
The takeaway conclusion is that Barr (who refused to cooperate, as did several others) did not intervene in response to Trump’s tweets that day. Based on newly installed Acting US Attorney Tim Shea’s intervention, he had already intervened. DOJ IG concluded that Barr’s intervention was highly unsual, but did not look bad.
We recognize that the Department’s handling of the sentencing in the Stone case was highly unusual, including its filing of a second sentencing memorandum and DOJ leadership’s personal involvement in the preparation of that second memorandum. Moreover, Shea’s and Barr’s participation in the Stone sentencing, given their status as Administration political appointees and Stone’s relationship with the then President, resulted in questions being asked and allegations being made about the Department’s decision making. However, absent a law, rule, regulation, or Department policy that prohibits their participation (none of which exist here), whether the U.S. Attorney and/or the Attorney General should personally participate in such a matter is ultimately left to their discretion and judgment, including their assessment of how such involvement will affect public perceptions of the federal justice system and the Department’s integrity, independence, and objectivity
The report concluded that Aaron Zelinsky did not intentionally lie when he claimed there was a great deal of pressure. His belief that that was the case was good faith.
I’ll have more later.