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© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Barr defends aggressive federal response to protests
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
83 Comments
PTownsend
Barr defended it because sending the legions of Trump-troopers was probably his idea. Barr and the billionaire 'elite' in the Federalist Society in their attempt to subvert the republic so their chosen authoritarian can override the legislative and judicial branches enabling them to have even greater control are desperate to keep their Trump in office. They know political theater - heavily armed males wearing Star Wars costumes - probably appeals to their base, especially those in their base who fear 'others'.
Pukey2
William 'Fred Flintstone' Barr and Trump had better hope they never find themselves in the middle of these protests.
Wolfpack
Every President needs a wing man :-).
Wolfpack
Democrats believe that their right to dissent is being violated if the government uses it resources to stop Marxist rioters from burning down federal buildings and hurling molotov cocktails, frozen water bottles, and bricks at the police. It is horrible that the government is trying to prevent antifa zealots from firing metal ball bearings with sling shots. I don’t understand the point of the violence that the Dems are supporting but it’s not beneficial to the communities that are enduring these senseless attacks on civil society.
bass4funk
In other words, Barr is a criminal for trying to stop the mob from burning down the courthouse and Federal properties. They want marked cars and the Feds in uniforms that makes them targets and they did it the smart and deceptive way. The Democrats today showed they wanted to hear themselves and didn’t want to hear from the AG at all. They were rude, inconsiderate, wouldn’t let him speak, wouldn’t give him a 5 minute break. This was a spectacle made for TV and for the Democrats to vent. Then why have a “hearing?” The entire idea of it is to hear and listen to the person that was summoned, that never happened.
JohnSmith
He waited weeks before sending agents in. He is not suppressing dissent. He is protecting federal property. Most America loving people will support this and would probably support stronger action i.e. agents protecting business owners who are having their livelihoods destroyed in the name of BLM. Can you imagine having to put up a sign on your shop window begging 'please don't hurt us'? The America hating left has completely lost it.
Blacklabel
AG Barr testimony was very clear what he is doing and why and the videos backed up the fact that these are not "peaceful" protests.
I am sure many people who watched the testimony were seeing this for the first time, and now realize what is actually going on. I expect this to be over within a week or so, as even Antifa themselves are realizing this only helps Trump get reelected.
Blacklabel
That was the most hilarious part, Barr said, I thought this was a hearing and I thought you were here to hear ME. they finally got him there and wouldnt even let him speak.
Of course, I knew that the Seattle congresswoman would be the one to be featured on CNN. Her whole rant of "Im starting to lose my temper" was manufactured outrage for YouTube and Twitter consumption. Multiple times Dems talked over AG Barr and said "I havent asked you a question yet" to cut off any answers he tried to give until the time ran out.
bass4funk
The Democrats just wanted to vent, in that case just set up a life like prop of him, yell at it and televise it and save him and the rest of us time. “No” to 5 minute bathroom break? Imagine if a Republican led Committee said “No” to a woman OR a woman of color....we all know what would happen. I’m surprised the man was as calm as he was, but then again, a lot of these lawyers now turned politicians used to be his students so I’m sure he got a bit of a chuckle when they tried to flex and hoping they can intimidate him, funny....
Wolfpack
It has just been revealed that Steele’s primary source for his discredited dossier paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign is, get this, a Russian working for a Democrat think tank in DC. More than a little irony in this revelation.
Blacklabel
Yes, we also found that there is yet another investigation we didnt know about into the unmasking with yet another prosecutor.
Another good part was when they kept saying Trump friends get special treatment, and Barr said asked who has been indicted on the Dem side and they couldnt name anyone.
If it were indeed special treatment, none of those people would have ever been indicted to begin with. They spent an inordinate amount of time talking about the original length of Roger Stone sentence considering it was legally commuted anyway.
Wolfpack
True - it’s better than burning down the capital building. So again, Barr has done his country another public service in defense of civil society.
sunfunbun
'Largely absent' is Barr's wrong narrative laden opinion. George Floyd's death is the reason peaceful protests largely occur. If he gets that straight, first, it'd help bring more peaceful solutions.
Barr is frighteningly wrong to believe there are not even superficial attempts for reform. What a stupid statement. Reform is exactly what's been the subject of unfair practice by the judicial system which is why the protests, and ultimately violence, are occurring. Voices were not heard. Pleads to listen were ignored. And now, when a protest occurs, he says at a point of where violence occurs they weren't there for any superficial attempt at reform? F...ing ridiculous.
If an incendiary comment by idiot president referring to protestors as terrorists doesn't pop out of his ridiculous mouth, people would not be so angry. Republicans don't want peaceful solutions toward racial equality, and if they did, they'd understand reform has been on the table for a long time. When violence occurs they revel in the idea of bringing the military into action. Violence should not beget more violence, but this is a Republican American mantra. They love bringing the military to war or anything to promote their gun toting.
Blacklabel
so what is the actual connection between George Floyd and 95% white people violently attacking police and federal property in Portland? Do you think this makes George Floyd happy, the violence done supposedly in his name?
Strangerland
That's quite the theory you have on this conspiracy.
How many people do you think would be required to keep this secret - and how were they so effective at doing so?
Blacklabel
Dems said many times all this is being created just to make videos for the Trump reelection campaign.
Did Trump bring these violent people here and order them to start fires, attack police and riot? Why would these people who hate Trump play along with this if they know it helps Trump get reelected?
Wouldnt they stop attacking federal buildings, stay home and let the federal agents leave? then there is no video and no violence to be used for campaign ads, no?
SuperLib
Barr will go down with Trump.
Serrano
Barr will go down with Trump.
Dream on.
William Bjornson
Wolfpack(!)
Au contraire. It's where we should START because it is where America's profound corruption begins.
Sorry to intrude on YOUR reality, Wolfpack, but Barr's disgraceful behavior serves only trump and his illiterate base and embarrasses us around the world. So do you... And your screen name suggests your philosophical roots as I suppose it was meant to...
bass4funk
What peaceful protests? Where are they? So all the violence and destruction is peaceful? How? Looking at the aftermath and destruction you would think we are in Iraq, but yes, liberals say it’s all peaceful. Okeeey....
Blacklabel
Barr destroyed those guys easily, as they wouldnt even let him speak.
Do you understand why there are few to no clips of what Barr said and all the clips are of Dems asking questions? He wasnt allowed to say anything. I was really interested to hear what Barr had to say on some of these topics, but unfortunately he was cut off by nearly every Dem.
Interestingly, the 2 ladies who are up for VP had the best questions and acted the most reasonably.
TV audition for Biden I guess.
Blacklabel
same mistake a poster here was making yesterday. Can anyone find the error in this logic?
Serrano
Those rude Democrat congressmen repeatedly cutting off Barr and who didn't like his answer of "I will follow the law" are truly a disgrace.
bass4funk
In the hours of watching that entire circus, I heard more Democrats scream “I reclaim my time” more than I heard from Barr.
William Bjornson
@Blacklabel
Essentially, yes. Perhaps you might rewatch the movie "Wag the Dog" and you'll know what's really going on here in Portland, Oregon (bring money, enjoy the outdoors, go home). Didja notice that the only arrests are almost exclusively marchers and the black clad 'destroyers' are not arrested? Because many of them are 'Proud Boys', our local variant on the Brown Shirts of yesteryears. Those people so terrified by Life that they can actually believe that America, based as it is on Total Greed, could ever even be tempted by "From all according to their abilities, to all according to their needs." Humans are NOT CAPABLE of this anymore because ALTRUISM is the chief need and we've seen how that has worked out for Russia, China, at alia. Time to abandon the puppet reactionary behavior and begin thinking. Even 10 year olds can do that. Why not trumpoids?
lincolnman
Barr, doing his best John Mitchell impersonation....
Resign Bill - redeem what little of your reputation you have left...
Hang around on the Trump Titanic and you'll just go down with the rest of the crew - and the Captain...
Blacklabel
I have not seen one person "marching" in Portland.
Did you mean to say "shooting explosives at federal buildings and assaulting officers", thats who I see getting arrested on the live streams.
Strangerland
This must drive you guys crazy.
The extremism of your team begot extremism. Sucks lying in the bed you made don't it.
The unbending, uncompassionate, hard-line extremist far/alt right wing extremism has created such a frustration in America, naturally leading to unbending, uncaring, hard-line extremist far-left extremists.
Imagine if the right had opened up a discussion on police violence when Kapernick took a knee? Imagine if instead of being unbending, uncompassionate, hard-line right-wing extremists, they were flexible, compassionate, open-minded right-wing citizens. Do you really think we'd be seeing these same riots now?
bass4funk
To make it easier for the mob and these Democrats? Barr is not a stupid man.
Strangerland
Ironic seeing as he's in trouble for not letting the protestors speak.
Blacklabel
they arent talking in Portland, arent they?
lincolnman
That's probably true - you have to watch something other than Fox News to see reality...
So why can't Trump get his far-right, violent, militia thugs under control?
lincolnman
Not stupid? He signed on to Trump's administration even after seeing what Trump did to his predecessor Sessions, who was one of the first Repubs to endorse Trump? Calling him a "stupid southerner", "Mr Big Ears", and that he was "not mentally qualified" to be AG - even though Trump picked him.
Yet Barr said OK after all of that and more?
Stupid is as stupid does....
Strangerland
In their eyes, it's become futile to even try.
When you don't let someone speak, eventually they stop bothering to try. Violence often ensues.
Teh mess that is the current-day USA is a direct result of the people feeling everything is futile. A LOT of people who voted for Trump did so in the hopes he'd do something different, which would lead to better lives for them. Four years later, they only need to turn on the TV to see that things are clearly much, much worse.
A LOT of other people voted against Trump. They had watched the unbending, hard-line extreme right wingers (then including the Tea Party) who weren't the opposition during the eight years of Obama, they were obstructionist. There was complete and utter disrespect for the office of president (calling Obama a liar during a speech, pointing their finger up his nose on the tarmac etc). Then Trump was elected, and twelve years later the country has gone from Hope, to Hope The Country Doesn't Collapse.
And then, there was already a HUGE portion of the population who were disenfranchised well before even Obama. They've seen the past twelve years go even further down the toilet.
And in the midst of a pandemic, Trump and his elites have made billions.
And you wonder why the country has burned?
This is the bed the Republicans created by going so far to the right, that Obama appeared far left to them (the man was a centrist - which as a centrist, is why I like him).
So Republicans, now that you broke it, what's your plan to fix it? Cause Trump's got nothing.
Blacklabel
cant they make some time to speak instead of firing projectiles at a building?
Who is stopping them from speaking yet that same person cant stop them from setting fires?
Blacklabel
nobody is buying that misinformation.
Strangerland
I'm not sure that Barr is necessary stupid. He's smart enough to keep Trump happy. And if that's his goal, then it would make him pretty effective at meeting that goal at least - he's managed to avoid the same anger from Trump that Sessions received.
Unfortunately, one would hope the AG of the country's priority would be the law of the land. But clearly it's not in Barr's case.
bass4funk
Like Eric Holder said, I’m the Presidents “Wingman.”
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
Great line of questioning by Swallwell. Apparently Barr doesn't read Trump's tweets, but he says they make his job difficult. lololol
u_s__reamer
Democrats believe that their right to dissent is being violated if the government uses it resources to stop Marxist rioters from burning down federal buildings and hurling molotov cocktails, frozen water bottles, and bricks at the police. It is horrible that the government is trying to prevent antifa zealots from firing metal ball bearings with sling shots. I don’t understand the point of the violence that the Dems are supporting but it’s not beneficial to the communities that are enduring these senseless attacks on civil society.
WOW! That's one heck of a furry squirrel, but our attention must not be diverted from the serious business of grilling the brazen Barr who, as malevolent consigliere to Trump's past and present impeachable offenses, has proven himself the most corrupt AG in living memory with a dirty-linen laundry list of illegalities and malfeasance that the toothless, milquetoast Dems are, sadly, unlikely to uncover given their poor track record of unmasking corruption by asking the right, hardball questions.
Blacklabel
Yes I was wondering why Barr even needs to defend his obvious independence. If Trump were controlling him, we would have multiple FBI and DOJ indictments against the liars and leakers. We dont (yet), even for people the IG said lied and falsified documents on the Dem side.
The last guy was the "wingman for my boy", and no Dem demanded he be independent whatsoever. Is this a new job requirement now that Trump is President? the last AG certainly did exactly what he was told by the President, unlike Barr. But Barr still getting attacked anyway.
Strangerland
Now you want to speak.
I'm sure Kapernick would be pleased to hear that four years ago.
bass4funk
Swallwell was the absolute worst. He clearly only wanted to hear himself, he wouldn’t let couldn’t get a word in edgewise in. It was just dishonest, disrespectful. Liberals laugh, they always do until the shoe is on the other foot then they whine non-stop. Barr is definitely a gentleman, deep respect, but I prefer conservatives to get as dirty as liberals then they get tongue tied.
This is the best Swalwell beat down ever. Classic.
Strangerland
Unmarked thugs in unmarked vehicles.
Who are they? Any proof?
Blacklabel
he has done nothing but speak for the last half decade, getting paid hundreds of millions of dollars to do it. while profiting from sweat shop Nike goods made in China and Vietnam at slave wages.
Oppression indeed.
Blacklabel
It was announced who they are, they are federal agents.
The allegation that is intentional misinformation was that the protesters were far-right, violent, militia thugs under control. Nice deflection try, no they are not. Previous Arrest records and mug shots show us who they are.
Strangerland
Here's another question for the future - how does the reckoning for this look when Biden is president? Will new checks and balances be put in place to prevent future tyrants like Trump from abusing the office? He exploited the holes in the system, and it's unlikely he'll ever face any punishment for the overwhelming majority of what he's done (if he even survives to the election in covid season in the first place - he's definitely in a high-risk category). But will America take steps to ensure this travesty does not happen again? Is this America's rock bottom? Or is there still a long way to fall?
Strangerland
And the right has derided, criticized, and ignored his words.
And you wonder why the people feel like things are so futile they may as well riot?
Not so in touch with the minds of the people it would appear.
Strangerland
Maybe. Or maybe they're not. How do you know?
Strangerland
How do you know? They're not wearing identification. Their vehicles are not marked.
Blacklabel
simple: because you cant prove they arent.
if you could prove they werent, you would have provided some evidence to support your allegation. So who are they, if not federal agents? everyone who has interacted with them has blamed "the feds" for their detainment. Seems pretty clear they proved who they were to those they detained.
Blacklabel
riot? didnt you mean "peaceful protest"? oops
elephant200
Trump cannot mobilise the military crack down on BLM! But mobilising paramilitary law enforcement agency!
Very similar like the Hong Kong's anti protesting measures implied by Chinese government last year!
Strangerland
Are you going to ask me to prove god doesn't exist yet?
You do realize that it's impossible to prove non-existence, right?
However, existence can be proven.
I can't prove that these are federal agents though. Neither can you apparently.
Blacklabel
The Wall of Moms are not even Moms. some are not even biologically female and others just "identify" as Moms per their Twitter.
Likely the same for the veterans, as no veteran would stand there to protect someone shooting explosives at federal officers from behind them. They just exist along with the Antifa running around with helmets as "media/press" to try to set a sympathetic narrative and to block feds from engaging with the anarchists hiding behind them.
Once the photo ops are over and the violence ramps up at night, the Wall of Moms and Wall of Vets seem to disappear.
You guys might want to watch an actual live stream sometime.
Strangerland
No, I meant riot. It's why I chose the word.
Strangerland
Good old uncompassionate, unflexible, hard-line right-wing extremism.
How's that working out for America?
Blacklabel
ok so now you admit criminal activity that subjects the person doing it to immediate arrest. Good, making progress. riot.
Its not working out so good that the liberal media will allow non females who cannot have children and females who dont have kids to represent themselves as "Moms" for a political sympathy narrative.
The word "Mom" has a known meaning, which few of these people meet.
Strangerland
Maybe. Keep arresting them. See if that works as well as refusing to have a conversation when Kapernick kneeled did.
Strangerland
How's that working out by the way?
Strangerland
Oh no. Call the word police. Someone is using a word wrong. Put them in the gulag. The horror. The horror.
Blacklabel
so what are the "veterans", as that word also has a known meaning?
Veterans of a campaign on Call of Duty games online? Veterans of working in a fast food restaurant? These terms have meaning and positive associations that these people are stealing when they misrepresent who they really are.
Same as all the Press/Media people who are not, who are simply an anarchist with a phone. I have seen numerous times a supposed "press" person throw an explosive, assist in attacking officers or call out in support of their "comrade" when he/she is arrested. Thats not press, and they are misusing the considerations given to legitimate press.
AG Barr testimony and the videos made it clear to the American people what is going on in Portland. That is what we wanted to see and hear so that it can be stopped.
bass4funk
Of course these are civil law enforcement agents and it’s the best thing that could happen and to get one leg up on the stags is the element of surprise incoming in a marked car or in uniform we clearly make them a target, so dress up in black or military fatigue you get the best agents you can muster and you snatch up these criminals, you give them their Miranda rights, you prosecute them, and hopefully you can incarcerate them for a very long time and charge them with a federal crime, something that they can’t dismiss so easily as in state charges and this is a very good thing. I hope they ramp it up and do more of these, I wholeheartedly support it and it’s long overdue.
Also if these mayors and governors on the state level want to see their cities damaged and have continued anarchy that’s on them and I hope the voters vote them out or they can keep them and watch their city and their state turn into another Somalia.
Blacklabel
no it is a lie and intentional misrepresentation. But you know this.
Strangerland
How do you know these unmarked thugs are veterans?
You don't just trust the government's word do you?
Well, we have his claims. But there isn't anything to show they are true.
It does appear that you promote this lack of transparency in government though.
Imagine if Obama had done this?
And imagine if Biden picks Hillary as his VP, then he dies, and she becomes president and does this?
Hmmm?
Blacklabel
its amazing what liberals will support if they think it hurts Trump or makes him look bad. Lying, rioting, violence, theft, misrepresentation, arson, murder, explosives, assault.
(hint; this is helping Trump, not hurting him at all, you might want to stop doing it)
thats all from me, enjoy your misinformation and narratives. Time to watch the livestream to say hi to all the "Moms" (who are neither female, nor Moms)
bass4funk
There isn’t anything to show that it’s not. But seriously, it doesn’t matter what the Democrats think or how much they try to make Barr look like a bad guy, we get it, they’re powerless and this episode was for them to let out their anger and vent and they are entitled to think what they like, these criminals are getting snatched up and no amount of whining is going to stop this operation and even better, they won’t and can’t stop the prosecutions on the Federal level, thank God for that!
Silvafan
@Black
So, all those Moms and Vets groups in Portland putting themselves between the federal agents and BLM protesters want to burn the government building?
The feds say they won't leave Portland until the violence stops. Privately, they concede they're fueling that violence.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/feds-wont-leave-portland-until-071500399.html
Oh, my......
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
How courageous of you to come and admit lying is wrong. Why is it only okay when Donald does it? Why is arson okay when right wing extremists do it?
https://theintercept.com/2020/07/15/george-floyd-protests-police-far-right-antifa/
lololol According to who? How would you know?
plasticmonkey
Barr is Trump's personal lawyer. Period. He doesn't work on behalf of the American people or the office of the presidency. He works on behalf of Trump.
And don't even start with the "wing man" stuff. False analogy.
Silvafan
@Black
Are you talking about the anti-lockdown protesters or the White Supremacy associates trying to cause trouble for the BLM movement?
Minneapolis ‘Umbrella Man’ protester is white supremacist Hells Angels biker: cops
https://nypost.com/2020/07/28/minneapolis-umbrella-man-protester-is-hells-angel-white-supremacist-cops/
Oh, my.......
bass4funk
Just as Holder was for Obama and he proudly admitted it.
As Holder did. as well.
Sorry...
https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/04/eric-holder-im-still-the-presidents-wingman-160861
The point is, when Holder said, he stood proudly by Obama, every Dem was silent. Barr stands beside Trump, he’s corrupt. ROFL!
lincolnman
Maybe if Barr was a legitimate AG, he'd be investigating this instead of helping Trump pardon and commute his convicted felon cronies;
President Donald Trump’s campaign is violating federal election law by funneling close to a quarter-billion dollars to date through private companies in order to hide the ultimate recipients of the money, including the wife of one of his sons and the girlfriend of another, a watchdog group charged in a complaint filed Tuesday.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-fec-complaint_n_5f1b5264c5b6296fbf42ac01
The filthy, disgusting Trump swamp and cesspool lives on - until Nov...
Blacklabel
Oh congratulations you found one guy, maybe. Already been misidentified once before and no arrest yet.
He supposedly broke a window and wrote something on a wall to encourage others to loot and burn.
just ignore the 250 leftist arrests and focus entirely on this one guy. Find any Boogie Bois or whatever yet?
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
You might have a point if half a dozen Obama campaign officials were convicted of felonies committed over the course of a campaign. Of course, that never happened, so you don't have a point.
Silvafan
@Bass
LOL! Illogical argument. You are comparing apples to orangman.
President Obama has been considered by most in country through actual polls to be the greatest president in ones lifetime for saving the economy, giving the country healthcare, and killing Osama bin Laden. He also had 0 affairs, 1 marriage, 0 bankruptcies, and none of his close friends went to jail for lying to the government, pedophillia, and other offences. Most people would be proud to stand by his side.
People are judged by the company that they keep!
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
Its a few more than one.
https://theintercept.com/2020/07/15/george-floyd-protests-police-far-right-antifa/
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/21/right-wing-terrorism-warning-signs
kurisupisu
Americans are on the streets to watch rioting so why be surprised when violence occurs all around and to you?
Just stay at home and be safe!
Silvafan
@Black
LOL! It really is not that hard!
Last weekend:
Officials Say White Supremacists Infiltrated Black Lives Matter Protest in Richmond to Instigate Riots
https://www.complex.com/life/2020/07/white-supremacists-infiltrated-black-lives-matter-protest-in-richmond-instigate-riots
What about those booglou boys?
Three men linked to far-right extremist group arrested in attempt to disrupt Floyd protests with violence
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/three-men-linked-to-far-right-extremist-group-arrested-in-attempt-to-disrupt-floyd-protests-with-violence
Silvafan
@Black
Oh, more..........?
Alleged White Molotov cocktail tosser blamed attack on black people
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/alleged-molotov-cocktail-tosser-blamed-attack-on-black-people/
Minnesota Officials Link Arrested Looters to ‘White Supremacist’ Groups
https://www.courthousenews.com/minnesota-officials-link-arrested-looters-to-white-supremacist-groups/
bass4funk
But here is the thing, no Republican ever treated and Attorney General the way they did Barr today, if so many of these “so-called convicted were felons” then they wouldn’t have their sentences commuted and most of them will be pardoned anyway as well as so many of the previous reports as well as the upcoming Durham and Horowitz reports as well as from Strzok, Comey and Page “None” of these people really did anything criminal, the end result, we get it it’s about hating Trump and it’s about the election, but not one Democrat said anything today about the mayors or governors or anything about the violence in theIr liberal cities and why their state officials are not doing anything to stop this violence, ironic....
kurisupisu
And Mr Barr is giving testimony under oath which has penalties if broken.
That oath is a compelling reason to tell the truth
Silvafan
@Bass
Lots of faulty logic and untruths to unpack. Pardons mean they have to admit to their guilt of the charges. Someone is worried about getting re-elected and his falling approval numbers. The incumbent is even jealous of Dr. Fauci getting more likes.
Here is the thing. No one has actually witnesses such a blatantly corrupt administration led by such an obviously dishonest incompetent leader in the history of the US.