CAFE Insider 2/19: "Chief Law Enforcement Officer"

On this episode of the CAFE Insider podcast, "Chief Law Enforcement Officer," Preet and Anne break down the growing scandal around the politicization of the Justice Department under Attorney General Bill Barr’s leadership, including:

— Barr’s interview with ABC News, in which he defends his handling of the Roger Stone sentencing and says that President Trump’s tweets make it “impossible” to do his job.

—The DOJ’s decision not to charge former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and the context of the surprise announcement.

—Barr’s appointment of outside prosecutors to review the DOJ’s handling of politically sensitive investigations, including the ongoing case against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

We hope you’re enjoying CAFE Insider. Email us at Insider@cafe.com with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne.

REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

BARR

• Clip: Full Barr interview, ABC News, 2/13/20
• “DOJ Alumni Statement on the Events Surrounding the Sentencing of Roger Stone,” Medium, 2/16/20
• “1,100 Former DOJ Employees Call On Barr To Resign After Intervening In Stone Case,” NPR, 2/16/20
• Trump tweet attacking Judge Amy Berman Jackson, 2/11/20
• “The Trials of Bill Barr,” Wall Street Journal, 2/13/20
• “Trump declares himself the ‘chief law enforcement officer’ of America,” Washington Post, 2/19/20
• “Barr has said he's considered resigning over Trump's interference in Justice Department matters, source says,” CNN, 2/18/20

MCCABE

• Inspector General report on McCabe’s conduct, 4/13/20
• “DOJ drops leak case vs. McCabe, judge said White House involvement like a 'banana republic'” NBC News, 2/14/20
• “Why Wasn’t Andrew McCabe Charged?” National Review, 2/15/20
• “Andrew McCabe, Ex-F.B.I. Official, Will Not Be Charged in Lying Case,” New York Times, 2/14/20

FLYNN/OUTSIDE PROSECUTOR

• “Barr Installs Outside Prosecutor to Review Case Against Michael Flynn, Ex-Trump Adviser,” New York Times, 2/14/20
• “DOJ opens investigation into Alexander Acosta plea deal,” Politico, 2/06/19