William Barr, President Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, blasted special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into potential obstruction of justice by Trump in a 20-page memo to the Justice Department back in June, The Wall Street Journal is reporting.
In the unsolicited document, which was reviewed by the newspaper, Barr called the obstruction of justice inquiry a “fatally misconceived” theory that would cause lasting damage to the presidency. Barr wrote in the memo that he was submitting it as a “former official.”
Barr wrote that he was concerned about reports that Mueller’s probe was looking at whether the president obstructed justice when he fired James Comey as FBI director.
The newspaper noted Barr would likely oversee Mueller’s investigation if he is confirmed.
Barr wrote that he is “in the dark about many facts” about Mueller’s investigation. Still, he described Mueller’s approach as “grossly irresponsible” with “potentially disastrous implications” for the executive branch.
“As I understand it, his theory is premised on a novel and legally insupportable reading of the law,” Barr wrote.
And he added: “I know you will agree that, if a DOJ investigation is going to take down a democratically-elected President, it is imperative to the health of our system and to our national cohesion that any claim of wrongdoing is solidly based on evidence of a real crime—not a debatable one,”
Trump announced earlier this month he will nominate Barr as attorney general. Barr would succeed Jeff Sessions, who was forced out by Trump in November.