Mueller, unsatisfied with media misinterpreting Barr’s summary, sparks more misinterpretations
Special counsel Robert Mueller was not pleased with the media’s reaction to AG William Barr’s summary of his report, according to a letter he wrote which is already being (mis)interpreted by mainstream media.
“The summary letter…did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this office’s work and conclusions,” Mueller wrote to Barr last month, recommending he release the special counsel report’s introductions and executive summaries as soon as possible because “There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation.”
When Barr inquired about specific problems with his letter, Mueller clarified that it was the media’s “misguided” coverage of the letter that was the primary problem, according to Justice Department officials. Mueller wanted to release the redacted report as soon as possible in order to provide the much-needed “context” for Barr’s letter, and his office cooperated with Barr on the redactions.
Apparently, most readers didn’t make it to that part of the story, if the response on social media was anything to go by. Russiagate truthers found a new spring in their step and impeachment hopes renewed, declaring they were right all along – President Donald Trump was guilty as sin.
Don’t forget: Trump knows and has ALWAYS known that Barr mischaracterized the Mueller Report.
— ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ (@WritesTruths) May 1, 2019
People on the left that took the Barr letter at face value to call the Mueller investigation a sham is looking pretty foolish tonight.
— Better Blogger Than Halperin (@untimelygamer) May 1, 2019
In fact, why not impeach Barr too, some suggested.
AG Barr must resign or be impeached. He cannot be trusted to oversee the remaining Mueller investigations. Barr is part of Trump’s coverup. We cannot have a corrupt AG. 🔥🔥🔥
— bkb00 (@borden_bk) May 1, 2019
AG William Barr lied to our faces about the Mueller report.He was buying Trump some time so Republicans could control the media narratives for a few more weeks.Some Dems are hesitant about impeaching Trump, but there should be ZERO hesitation about Barr.#ImpeachBarrpic.twitter.com/2bDxgFBMIY
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) May 1, 2019
Even politicians got into the game, with several members of Congress calling for the AG’s resignation.
Attorney General Barr willfully misled the American people to cover up attempted crimes by Donald Trump. He should resign his position or face an impeachment inquiry immediately. https://t.co/dTKCMccF7X
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) April 30, 2019
In light of Mueller's letter, the misleading nature of Barr’s 4/10 testimony & 4/18 press conference is even more glaring.Barr must bring the letter with him when he testifies in the Senate tomorrow.And it’s time for Mueller to testify publicly. Now.https://t.co/d3lObZSQBE
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 1, 2019
Now it is confirmed Mueller objected to the “context, nature, and substance” of Barr’s misleading summary of the report.And the false public narrative it allowed the White House to create.No one can place any reliance on what Barr says. We need to hear from Mueller himself. https://t.co/ET7tQxnGQG
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 1, 2019
Some tried in vain to call attention to the part of the story where Mueller told Barr there was nothing specifically inaccurate in his letter.
Before everyone loses their mind about this story (which they will anyway) please read this paragraph, in which Mueller purportedly tells Barr that he did not find Barr's March 24 letter to be inaccurate. Mueller was merely complaining about media coverage https://t.co/Yi4xs5y9cXpic.twitter.com/gxQkfW8Hwz
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 30, 2019
We've read the Mueller report. We know what it says. It obliterates the conspiracy theories. And Mueller said Barr's letter *wasn't misleading*, just that media coverage overread it. But this is the 3-year-history of this story: one-day media hysteria on Twitter that goes nowhere https://t.co/chFGVuLzA9
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 30, 2019
…and predicted Mueller would pour cold water on all this revived speculation posthaste.
What's going to happen: in a matter of days, Mueller will release statement saying his disagreements w/ Barr were inconsequential, and media is overplaying.And it won't matter a bit to ppl going crazy right now, and that includes a TON of journalists who should know better.
— Little Australia (@LitThom) May 1, 2019
What are you going to say when you find out Mueller's feelings about Barr are the opposite of what you think and report today, and further that Mueller is upset with the media's (not Barr's) characterization of his report?Start preparing.
— Marty Blartfast (@Munchensenton) May 1, 2019
Glenn Greenwald was sucked into a flame war.
Yes, I read the WashPost article. Obviously a 4-page bottom-line letter summarizing findings didn't capture the 400-page report. That nothing is "literally inaccurate" in the letter is pretty important. You know what else I read? The Mueller Report itself. https://t.co/qYe0ER9vKa
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 1, 2019
Because it was accurate on the conspiracy theories you claimed to have smoking gun evidence for to the point you turned in your own source to the FBI, but now refuse to talk about because you know the FBI thought it was a joke. Nobody claims Barr's conspiracy summary was wrong. pic.twitter.com/Wflq6Dyun2
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 1, 2019
While others theorized that Mueller’s letter had been leaked in order to head off unpleasant surprises during Barr’s testimony.
Counterintuitive as it may seem, I think we will learn some day that this letter was leaked by Barr's DOJ allies. They knew that @HouseJudiciary had the letter and they wanted to try to dilute its impact with their own spin. https://t.co/32KMlJwqZa
— Elizabeth de la Vega (@Delavegalaw) May 1, 2019
At least one person picked up on the irony of misinterpreting a letter about the media misinterpreting a letter, and advised the curious to just read the Mueller report if they wanted to know what was in it.
Interesting situation. We have Barr's letter. We have Mueller report. Unless there's some huge, decisive stuff in the redactions (and early indication is there's not), we can judge for ourselves, can't we? Does it really matter what Barr, or Mueller, or Andrew Weissmann thinks?
— Byron York (@ByronYork) May 1, 2019
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