In recent days, the Justice Department dropped its case against disgraced former Trump adviser Michael Flynn, who had been caught lying to federal investigators about his communications with the then-Russian Ambassador to the United States. Trump-appointed Attorney General Bill Barr’s team at the Justice Department insisted that the case against Flynn had supposedly been out of place since the start, and pressed about the broader implications of his actions during a recently aired interview, Barr quipped that it doesn’t really matter because history is written by the winners. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was among the many aghast at the attorney general’s behavior, since upholding some rule of law that outlasts the ebbs and flows of power struggles is supposed to be Barr’s job.
Wow. So #BillBarr has gone full 1984. Hensatid winners write history in response to being asked how history will look at him dropping Flynn's case. #VoteBlueToEndThisNightmare #VoteBlueNoMatterWho #VoteBlue https://t.co/gVOZFabYJv
— Julien Demassey (@frubanoid) May 8, 2020
Murphy commented on Twitter:
‘My god. The entire idea of the rule of law – that thing the Attorney General is supposed to be in charge of upholding – is predicated on the outcome of elections NOT mattering when it comes to the operation of the legal system.’
My god.
The entire idea of the rule of law – that thing the Attorney General is supposed to be in charge of upholding – is predicated on the outcome of elections NOT mattering when it comes to the operation of the legal system https://t.co/nFxz0Nf49G
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 8, 2020
There was no shortage of fierce criticism for Barr from many other public figures as well. Writer Adam Stein, for instance, noted:
‘The head of the American justice system now saying publicly that there is no good or bad except what the strongest want. The definition of autocracy.’
Barr, originally, had laughably commented:
‘I think it’s sad that nowadays, these partisan feelings are so strong that people have lost any sense of justice.’
Is he aware of who he works for? Does he really expect us to listen to this bemoaning of a supposed loss of a sense of justice from a top official in the administration of wannabe dictator Trump and not take it as absolutely ridiculous?
The head of the American justice system now saying publicly that there is no good or bad except what the strongest want. The definition of autocracy. https://t.co/7bgdzw0rEb
— Adam Stein (@adamstein) May 8, 2020
Asked how history would look back on his decision to drop the case against Flynn, Barr commented:
‘Well, history is written by the winners. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history.’
For the top law enforcement official to insist that, basically, “might makes right” is not exactly reassuring when it comes to the future of the rule of law in the United States.
REPORTER: How will history look back on your decision to drop charges against Flynn?
BILL BARR: “Well, history is written by the winners. So it largely depends on who’s writing the history.” pic.twitter.com/GVr2bIaavc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 7, 2020
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