CAFE Insider

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 [email protected] 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

Hi CAFE Insiders, due to the long weekend, the CAFE Insider podcast will be published tomorrow, Wednesday 2/19. Stay Tuned!

In this bonus clip from Stay Tuned, Dan Goldman discusses his relationshipswith Republican congressional members and staffers, plus his experience testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.

Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.

In this episode of the CAFE Insider podcast, “Presidential Payback!” Preet and Anne break down the aftermath of Trump’s acquittal, including:

— President Trump’s sudden dismissal of Lieutenant Colonel Vindman and Ambassador Sondland, two witnesses who testified in the House impeachment hearings.

— Attorney General Bill Barr’s internal DOJ memo, which outlines a new policy that would require his personal approval of any presidential campaign investigations. 

— The stand-off between the Trump administration and the state of New York over “sanctuary” laws designed to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. 

We hope you’re enjoying CAFE Insider. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne.

REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

IMPEACHMENT / VINDMAN DISMISSAL

• Deputy Sec. of Defense David Norquist’s letter to Sen. Schumer, 12/16/20
• Clip: Romney explains vote in favor of impeachment, 2/5/20
• “Trump Fires Sondland and Vindman in Post-Acquittal Rage,”  The New York Times, 2/7/20
• “Republican Senators Tried to Stop Trump from Firing Impeachment Witnesses,” The New York Times, 2/8/20
• “GOP Senators incensed by Schiff’s ‘head on a pike’ comment,” NBC News, 1/25/20
• “Trump singles out Romney in post-acquittal Twitter rant,” Politico, 2/9/20

DOJ / GIULIANI "PROCESS"

• Clip: Sen. Lindsey Graham on Face the Nation, 2/9/20
• “Giuliani is giving Biden info the government, Barr confirms,” Los Angeles Times, 2/10/20

BARR MEMO

•  AG Bill Barr’s memo outlining new restrictions on opening politically sensitive investigations, 2/5/20
• “Attorney General Bill Barr issues new rules for politically sensitive investigations,”  NPR, 2/6/20
• Barb McQuade tweet on Barr’s memo, 2/8/20
• “Paul Manafort Sentencing: What You Need to Know,” NPR, 3/6/19
• “Alaska Senator Stevens Found Guilty of Accepting Gifts From Oil Executive,” The Guardian, 10/27/08

EMOLUMENTS

• DC Circuit Court of Appeals decision, 2/7/20
• “Individual members of Congress barred from suing Trump over business dealings,” Washington Post, 2/7/20

TRUMP V. NY

• DHS press release on “Trusted Traveler” programs action, 2/6/20
• “Trump officials threaten to expand retaliation for ‘sanctuary’ policies to more states as N.Y. residents are kicked out of global entry,” Washington Post, 2/6/20
• “President Trump, Gov. Cuomo battle over Global Entry,” CBS, 2/8/20

ANNE LAUGHING CHALLENGE

• Marco Rubio / Nicole Wallace Twitter thread, 2/8/20

In this bonus clip from Stay Tuned, John Dickerson discusses some of his favorite campaign speeches and his time anchoring "Face the Nation."

Thank you for being a member of the CAFE Insider community.

POLITICAL SPEECHES

• Clip: Mario Cuomo 1984 Democratic National Convention Keynote Speech, C-SPAN, 7/16/84
• Clip: Ronald Reagan’s 1976 Presidential Endorsement Speech, C-SPAN, 8/19/76
• Clip: President Obama delivers Eulogy, Youtube, 6/26/15
• Clip: Senator Barack Obama 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Speech, 7/27/04
• Clip: Obama Speech in Manassas, Virginia, 11/3/08