This has turned into a dog fight. William Barr has decided to play rough and he exercised the option to have Trump fire Geoffrey Berman, which Trump has done.
NOW: AG Barr says in a letter to Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman that Trump has now officially fired him, and that's that, rejecting any argument by Berman that a judicial appointment means he can't be removed.
Previously: https://t.co/3Kil8GKQQv pic.twitter.com/y1fkXsAFDC
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) June 20, 2020
Some context from the New York Times.
Mr. Barr asked Mr. Berman to resign, but he refused, so Mr. Barr moved to fire him, according to a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Trump had been discussing removing Mr. Berman for some time with a small group of advisers, the person said. Mr. Trump has been upset with Mr. Berman ever since the Manhattan prosecutor’s office pursued a case against Mr. Cohen.
At some point during their conversation, Mr. Barr suggested to Mr. Berman that he might take over the civil division of the Justice Department if he agreed to leave the position in Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the conversation.
Mr. Barr’s attempt to fire Mr. Berman had received unexpected pushback from Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a close Trump ally.
Mr. Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee — which would approve Mr. Clayton’s nomination — suggested in a statement that he would allow New York’s two Democratic senators to thwart the nomination through a procedural maneuver.
I’m not sure what the “procedural maneuver” is. I had read previously that Graham said he would take blue slips from the two New York senators, a blue slip being an opinion on a nominee, favorable or unfavorable, but I scarcely see that as “thwarting” what’s been done.
Of all the corruption in government right now, this is the most singular act of the moment. Conservative writer Jennifer Rubin calls it “gobsmacking.” There will be plenty more pieces as this latest debacle unfolds, in the same real time that Trump resumes his MAGA rallies.
A deputy has been assigned to take Berman’s place. As she worked on his team, she may keep up his good work. This is getting fun.
FYI, that deputy apparently got in a tussle with Trump mentor Roy Cohn on a Mafia case.
Minus the replacement that Barr had in mind for last night, this counts as another humiliating defeat in a week full of them.
It’s embarrassing to be sure but with Berman stepping aside now having a good career prosecutor take over is a hollow victory. The statute prevented Barr or Trump from firing Berman as he was appointed by the Judges up there. The new person might be Berman’s preference, but as she was put in place by Barr SHE serves at the pleasure of the President and unless I’m badly mistaken there is nothing in the law to prevent Barr from turning around and demanding HER resignation, or firing her if she refuses.
I’m deeply disappointed that Berman didn’t stand his ground. OTOH I wonder how much pressure or even outright threats were brought to bear on Berman and/or his family today.
OMG…incredibly, it gets worse for Barr. Trump just said no, he didn’t have anything to do with the firing. Hoarse Whisperer is betting Barr is racing against a deadline of some kind, hence the reckless behavior.
Legal cases in SDNY involving Himself and/or Giuliani, most likely. Himself’s taxes, Epstein, Halkbank from Turkey…
Berman was appointed by the judges of SDNY, and that section says he’s the USA until his successor is confirmed, not when the AG says he’s been fired.
So far, there’s zero actual evidence that Himself has fired Berman.
This is exactly the case. Because the admin hadn’t bothered to confirm his appointment properly, due to laziness or sheer ineptitude, Berman had been confirmed in the position by the SDNY court itself. ( Otherwise they would have been left with no-one in the position, and unable to perform their duties as a court.) Under the regulations, he can’t be fired until his successor is confirmed by the senate.
Trump obviously knew none of this. But what the ever-living eff was BARR’S excuse?!
So, sending a tweet that was open and public, telling the lie that Berman was ‘standing down’ wasn’t creating a ‘public spectacle’?
[ For USA ] Single Mom With 4 Kids Lost Her Job But Was Able To Stay On Top By Banking Continuously $1500 Per Week With An Online Work She Found Over The Internet… Check The Details HERE===========>www.fox200.com