You Knew It Would All Go To Shit

NOW: AG Barr says in a letter to Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman that Trump has now officially fired him, and that's that, rejecting any argument by Berman that a judicial appointment means he can't be removed.

Previously: https://t.co/3Kil8GKQQv pic.twitter.com/y1fkXsAFDC

— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) June 20, 2020

You just didn’t know it would go this fast.

I was going to call this a great act of chutzpah: creating the spectacle and blaming Berman for it is like shooting your parents and asking for clemency because you’re an orphan. But Barr wasn’t even started yet.

Stuart Gerson, AAG under Bush 41, on Barr's attempt to fire Berman: "The upshot of all of this is that the administration is subverting the rule of law...in a clear attempt to favor associates of the president and insulate his own misconduct from scrutiny."https://t.co/rjJQYrrevl

— Checks and Balances (@chkbal) June 20, 2020

There was that, but it’s almost a side issue now.

President Trump just told reporters at the White House that he's "not involved" with the firing of US Attorney Berman. Trump said it's up to Attorney General Bill Barr

— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) June 20, 2020

Let’s go to the horse’s mouth!

Trump on firing of Geoffrey Berman: "I'm not involved." (AG Barr says Trump gave the order to fire Berman.) pic.twitter.com/EVv6k5g9Zv

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 20, 2020

When will President Trump become familiar with what the powers and duties of his office are?

— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) June 20, 2020

Why is that important?

I’m old enough to remember when Trump screwed up the firing of an FBI Director by contradicting the cover story for the firing https://t.co/seIIGt8ZKk

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) June 20, 2020

So what, now?

Yes, Trump is saying he's not involved, and that's the only way Berman can be removed. Barr is a wannabe President, but he's not the President. As I read the law, Berman is still the US Attorney for SDNY. https://t.co/FAJpSZNGmc

— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) June 20, 2020

To be clear: Berman was appointed by the District Court, which is what this OLC opinion speaks directly to:

In case you want to read it yourself.

Here's the explicit and clear position of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel.👇

Which amounts to this: If the President was "not involved" in the firing of Berman, then Berman can't be fired. pic.twitter.com/k8FWHPwhG1

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) June 20, 2020

So Barr has no authority to fire Berman, and Trump can’t do it by telling Barr to take care of it. And Trump says he didn’t do that much.

Through line between the SDNY debacle and the messes with the DC US attorney office: Barr is every bit as corrupt as commonly believed but not as competent.

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) June 20, 2020

And Donald Trump is an idiot. Any questions?

It’s like Berman forced Barr to put Trump’s name on the decision and now Trump realizes how bad that could turn out for him. https://t.co/VR0eGQFUz6

— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) June 20, 2020

Geoff Berman has agreed to leave. Thank you for your service to the country. Despite challenges, the fine people at SDNY will continue the long tradition of integrity and independence under Audrey Strauss. Let’s all wish her well. 🙏 https://t.co/9KRgUOeObn

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) June 20, 2020

Welp. That was a fun 19 hours.

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) June 20, 2020