CAFE Insider

In this episode of the CAFE Insider podcast, "Ethics: Comey, McCabe, Barr," co-hosts Preet Bharara and Anne Milgram discuss:

-- The Inspector General’s report concluding that former FBI Director James Comey violated bureau policy by disclosing memos documenting his interactions with President Trump

-- The New York Times report that the Justice Department is close to deciding whether to charge former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe for lying to federal agents

-- Attorney General Bill Barr’s decision to host a family holiday party at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., for some $30,000

We hope you’re enjoying CAFE Insider. Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions and questions for Preet and Anne. Thank you for being a part of the CAFE Insider community.

REFERENCES AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

HURRICANE DORIAN

• “Hurricane Dorian threatens the US,” CNN Live Updates
• Clip: “DC Chef José Andrés Is in the Bahamas, 'Ready' to Help After Hurricane Dorian,” NBC Washington, 9/1/19

ODESSA, TX SHOOTING

• Asha Rangappa’s tweet thread on background checks, 9/1/19
• “West Texas Shooting Spree Terrorized Two Towns and Killed 7,” New York Times, 9/1/19
• 23 U.S.C. § 158: National minimum drinking age, Legal Information Institute

JAMES COMEY

• Report of Investigation of Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey's Disclosure of Sensitive Investigative Information and Handling of Certain Memoranda, Office of the Inspector General, August 2019
• “Full text: James Comey testimony transcript on Trump and Russia,” Politico, 6/8/17
• “FBI's Interview Report Form FD-302,” Thomson Reuters Practical Law
• Columbia Law School’s tweet, 6/8/17
• Donald Trump’s tweet calling Comey a “dishonest fool,” 8/30/19
• Donald Trump’s tweet quoting Jason Chaffetz, 9/1/19
• Donald Trump’s tweet featuring an image of Iran’s Imam Khomeini Space Center
• Rod Rosenstein’s tweet reacting to the IG report, 8/29/19
• “What That Comey Email Report Really Says,” Lawfare, 8/29/19
• Harry Litman: “James Comey helped save democracy when he wrote his memos,” Washington Post, 8/29/19
• Barbara McQuade: “Comey says the DOJ IG report vindicates him. Trump says he's 'horrible.' So who's right?,” NBC News, 8/30/19
• “Preet Bharara Links Firing to Trump Team’s ‘Helter-Skelter Incompetence,’” New York Times, 4/6/17

ANDREW MCCABE

• “Prosecutors Near Decision on Whether to Seek an Andrew McCabe Indictment,” New York Times, 8/26/19
• Office of the Inspector General report: “A Report of Investigation of Certain Allegations Relating to Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe,” (February 2018)

BILL BARR

• “Barr books Trump’s hotel for $30,000 holiday party,” Washington Post, 8/27/19
• George Conway’s tweet, 8/27/19
• Walter Shaub’s tweet, 8/31/10

LAUGHING CHALLENGE

• Donald Trump’s tweet, “Has anyone noticed that the top shows on @foxnews and cable ratings are those that are Fair (or great) to your favorite President, me! Congratulations to @seanhannity for being the number one shoe on Cable Television!” 8/31/19

In this bonus clip from Stay Tuned, Senator Michael Bennet discusses partisanship in the Senate, why he doesn't support free college or loan forgiveness, where Vice President Joe Biden is wrong, and NASCAR Jesus. 

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

Today, we're sharing the audio from a recent CAFE Insider Town Call. Preet hopped on the phone for 40 minutes and answered questions in real time from randomly selected members of the CAFE Insider community.

In a wide-ranging Q&A, Preet addressed deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the rule of law, the 2020 election, his favorite lawyer joke, and even the next Bharara family vacation spot.

Thank you to our participants. Keep an eye out for an email announcing the next Town Call and in the meantime email us at [email protected] with your feedback as we continue to develop this special feature.

Next week, our regular CAFE Insider episode will be released on Tuesday, 9/3 in observance of Labor Day.

REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

• Stay Tuned 2019 fall tour: cafe.com/tour
• "Why the Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Is Not Over," New York Times, 8/11/19
• "Trump’s tax returns required under new California election law," LA Times, 7/30/19