William Barr being sworn in as Attorney General in the Oval Office on February 14, 2019 by Chief Justice John Roberts (Not in picture, Supreme Leader Snoke and Galactic Emperor Palpatine)
This post has been edited, it remains brief as the subject is simple — DS
It should be clear at this point that heads have to roll after the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Bill Barr was already courting controversy by not recusing himself, or at least staying recused, from the underlying investigation. One of the complications was that Bill Barr’s father personally knew Epstein and helped him get a job teaching mathematics at a top private prep school, even though the now disgraced zillionaire was only 20 years-old at the time and had no teaching certificate or college degree. That family connection was more than enough to merit recusal.
But as we’ve already seen in his short tenure, Barr operates with a callous, arrogant disregard for the American people he serves and the DoJ staff he commands. In this case he stubbornly forged ahead despite recommendations to recuse, putting himself squarely at the head of the loop by choice, even though he’s already come under fire for poor judgement in other investigations. Now, he stands at the helm of the department that failed miserably, spectacularly, and publicly at its most basic task: ensuring the safety of those entrusted into the care and custody of the DoJ so that justice can be served. To allow AG Barr any further role in this investigation, or any other, would be rewarding that failure.
This need not be a partisan demand, Senator Ben Sasse has already fired off a harsh letter holding the AG responsible for Epstein’s death and demanding an independent investigation. More are likely to follow from both parties. But we would certainly be justified in raising partisan concerns when it comes to Barr. He has a checkered past at best and went out of his way to downplay the Mueller report. Imagine what an unscrupulous, ultra partisan AG could do, especially working hand in hand with foreign disinformation campaigns, with sole control over any of the explosive materials already recovered and sitting in the Epstein file.
The Attorney General must resign, effective immediately. The victims, their families, and the American people deserve answers. Barr himself agrees to that much: he remarked today when told of the suicide that he was “appalled” by the death and said there were many questions about it that needed answering.
It’s just that Bill Barr has shown he is simply not the kind of leader who can provide them.
