The Washington Post and the New York Times are both out with blockbuster exclusives.
The Post is reporting that Attorney General Bill Barr held private meetings with British and Italian intelligence officials. The purpose was information for a Justice Department investigation into an effort by Donald Trump to discredit U.S. intelligence findings of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. The Post writes:
“Barr’s personal involvement is likely to stoke further criticism from Democrats pursuing impeachment that he is helping the Trump administration use executive branch powers to augment investigations aimed primarily at the president’s adversaries.“
The Post also notes that Barr’s prominent role in the investigation “underscores the degree to which a nearly three-year old election still consumes significant resources and attention inside the federal government. Current and former intelligence and law enforcement officials expressed frustration and alarm Monday that the head of the Justice Department was taking such a direct role in re-examining what they view as conspiracy theories and baseless allegations of misconduct.“
Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that in a phone call, Trump pressured Australian prime minister Scott Morrison to help Barr dig up information that would discredit the Mueller investigation.
The White House restricted access to a transcript of the Trump-Morrison call to high level government officials much lie the call with the Ukrainian president. From the Times:
“Like that call, the discussion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia shows the extent to which Mr. Trump sees the attorney general as a critical partner in his goal to show that the Mueller investigation had corrupt and partisan origins, and the extent that Mr. Trump sees the Justice Department inquiry as a potential way to gain leverage over America’s closest allies.“
“And like the call with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the discussion with Mr. Morrison shows the president using high-level diplomacy to advance his personal political interests.“
More leaks have begun.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
