Democrats are melting down over Attorney General William Barr’s handling of the release of the Mueller Report with a scheduled Justice Department press conference at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The DOJ told Congress hard copies would be delivered later Thursday morning, causing further outrage. Other reports that DOJ and White House officials met in recent days about the Mueller report and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was at DOJ earlier Wednesday has sent many Democrats over the edge.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, screen image.
Senate Dem aide says DOJ has informed the Senate Intel Cmte they are bringing them hard copies of the Mueller report at 11AM, a full hour and a half post presser.
DOJ also informed the committee they won’t even begin to have a discussion about redacted material until Friday.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) April 17, 2019
Minutes after the Justice Department announced that Attorney General Barr will be holding a press conference tomorrow about the release of Mueller’s final report, just saw Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walk out of the Justice Department building. Never seen him here before.
— Mike Levine (@MLevineReports) April 17, 2019
And there it is:
1. Confirmation that Barr has been briefing the White House on the contents of the Mueller report while withholding it from the public
2. Confirmation that the delay was necessary so Trump’s lawyers could strategize and prepare the rebuttal pic.twitter.com/VzbOWlY84m
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 17, 2019
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said he is “deeply troubled”.
“Attorney General Barr wrote to me on April 1: “I do not believe it would be in the public’s interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report.” I agree. So why is the AG holding a press conference tomorrow morning to go over the Mueller report? #ReleaseTheReport”
“I’m deeply troubled by reports that the WH is being briefed on the Mueller report AHEAD of its release. Now, DOJ is informing us we will not receive the report until around 11/12 tomorrow afternoon — AFTER Barr’s press conference. This is wrong. #ReleaseTheReport”
Attorney General Barr wrote to me on April 1: "I do not believe it would be in the public’s interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report." I agree. So why is the AG holding a press conference tomorrow morning to go over the Mueller report? #ReleaseTheReport https://t.co/UA9XyC55v5
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) April 17, 2019
I’m deeply troubled by reports that the WH is being briefed on the Mueller report AHEAD of its release. Now, DOJ is informing us we will not receive the report until around 11/12 tomorrow afternoon — AFTER Barr’s press conference. This is wrong. #ReleaseTheReport https://t.co/bR50HhGJ0i
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) April 17, 2019
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Judiciary Committee blew a gasket, “So-called Attorney General is presiding over a dog and pony show. Here is a thought. Release the Mueller report tomorrow morning and keep your mouth shut. You have ZERO credibility.”
So-called Attorney General is presiding over a dog and pony show.
Here is a thought.
Release the Mueller report tomorrow morning and keep your mouth shut.
You have ZERO credibility.https://t.co/fKFeexUKkX
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) April 17, 2019
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, “Bill Barr sent a letter purporting to summarize Mueller’s conclusions. He took it upon himself to reach a conclusion on obstruction. He adopted the President’s “spying” smears. Now, he will spin a report no one has read. My advice: Wait to read Mueller’s words for yourself.”
“Just been informed by DOJ that we’ll receive Mueller’s report only after Barr gives a press conference. Once again, Barr wants to shape the public’s perception of the report. This is on top of reports DOJ secretly briefed the White House. This is not justice. Just PR.”
Bill Barr sent a letter purporting to summarize Mueller’s conclusions.
He took it upon himself to reach a conclusion on obstruction.
He adopted the President’s “spying” smears.
Now, he will spin a report no one has read.
My advice: Wait to read Mueller’s words for yourself.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 17, 2019
Just been informed by DOJ that we’ll receive Mueller’s report only after Barr gives a press conference.
Once again, Barr wants to shape the public’s perception of the report.
This is on top of reports DOJ secretly briefed the White House.
This is not justice. Just PR.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 17, 2019
UPDATE: Report Nadler and Dems will hold a preemptive press conference Wednesday night.
NEW: Am told that Nadler and fellow Dems will hold a press conference tonight about the forthcoming Mueller report and Barr’s handling of it. https://t.co/3yOqoDj9Xp
— Sam Stein (@samstein) April 17, 2019
UPDATE: The Mueller report will go live online after the Barr press conference.
Copies of the redacted Mueller Report will be delivered to the Hill tomorrow between 11am and noon on CDs. Report will be posted on the Special Counsel website after it is delivered to Congress. @CBSNews
— Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCNN) April 17, 2019
