My guess was right. The report did provide ammunition for both sides, although Trump’s attorneys are undoubtedly happier about it than the handful of Democrats crying out for impeachment. Here are my observations on the Barr letter:
- Boy, the people who are going to jail for lying about their dealings with Russians must be feeling really stupid right now.
- Does this mean Trump will stop screaming about the witch hunt and the deep state? Probably not, even though it should.
- As we know, Trump lies about virtually everything, and on the slightest provocation. Ironically enough, that probably constitutes a defense to an obstruction of justice argument. How can you develop the intent to obstruct justice just by lying if you have no regard for the truth on any matter?
- The real question with Trump is why he has this weird regard for Putin that causes him to behave in a manner that is inconsistent with the rest of his party and his administration. Mueller didn’t answer that question, so it remains. Maybe the prosecutors in New York who are looking at his business interests will have something useful to say on the matter. Maybe it’s a strange personality quirk, or a general love of strongmen, or fascist ideology. We just don’t know.
- The Democrats are obviously going to continue to look at the obstruction issue, but I would expect it to peter out slowly over time. That said, Trump is still in clear legal peril over the Stormy Daniels hush money matter. It’s not as if all of the criminal issues surrounding him are somehow going to go away anytime soon.