Liberal media seized on news of special counsel Robert Mueller’s letter to William Barr, which expressed frustration over the attorney general’s initial depiction of his investigation’s findings, and presented it as evidence of wrongdoing.
Yet, much of the anti-Trump left seemingly ignored a crucial detail of the Tuesday report from The Washington Post, which explained that during a phone conversation between the two, the attorney general actually asked the special counsel whether or not his memo was “inaccurate.” (RELATED: ‘Completely 100% Wrong:’ Lindsey Graham Calls Out Judge Nap On Obstruction Question)
“There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation,” the letter read, according to the Post. “This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Dept. appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations.”
Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters called on Barr to resign. Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff used the news to undermine the attorney general. Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer called on Barr to testify publicly.
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
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
Liberal attorney Laurence Tribe called for Barr’s impeachment, and that was one of the milder responses.
AG Barr flat-out LIED to the American people about the Mueller report’s incrimination of President Trump. He’s been outed as a total fraud. We can’t let Barr — or Trump — get away with such gross abuse of power. Barr must be impeached if he doesn’t resign first.
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 30, 2019
But the Post report explained:
When Barr pressed Mueller on whether he thought Barr’s memo to Congress was inaccurate, Mueller said he did not but felt that the media coverage of it was misinterpreting the investigation, officials said.
In their call, Barr also took issue with Mueller calling his memo a “summary,” saying he had never intended to summarize the voluminous report, but instead provide an account of its top conclusions, officials said.
Justice Department officials said that, in some ways, the phone conversation was more cordial than the letter that preceded it, but that the two men did express some differences of opinion about how to proceed.
Conservatives and some media figures were quick to point this out on Twitter:
“Idiots should learn to read,” wrote Women For Trump co-founder Amy Kremer. “It’s there in plain sight.”
Idiots should learn to read…it’s there in plain sight.
On Mueller to Barr… the media coverage was the problem. pic.twitter.com/u0FfH9vdOG
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) May 1, 2019
Barr: Was my letter inaccurate?
Mueller: No.
Barr: Was the media coverage of my letter inaccurate?
Mueller: Yes.
— Meech (@michi83) May 1, 2019
No. But the collusion truthers have morphed into coverup truthers so the reported Mueller complaint will be with us awhile, never mind that he found no actual inaccuracies in the Barr memo. https://t.co/bNHK4LtXpI
— Brit Hume (@brithume) May 1, 2019
You left out a key article detail in your headline (Can’t imagine why…)
“When Barr pressed Mueller on whether he thought Barr’s memo to Congress was inaccurate, Mueller said he DID NOT but felt that the MEDIA coverage of it was misinterpreting the investigation.” https://t.co/U8RLfR6UWT
— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) May 1, 2019
THIS HEADLINE IS A LIE!
Mueller stated that he completely agreed with Barr’s Summary and was frustrated by the way the media handled it.
Drudge sucks. pic.twitter.com/7vb5ZeY2QO
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) May 1, 2019