Attorney General William Barr understands why President Donald Trump is frustrated with Democrats and others after the investigation into his 2016 campaign and Russia.
Barr described why he believes the investigation into Trump’s campaign was baseless.
“I think what happened to him was one of the greatest travesties in American history,” the attorney general said.
Barr added, “Without any basis, they started this investigation of his campaign and even more concerning actually is what happened after the campaign, a whole pattern of events while he was president. … to sabotage the presidency … or at least have the effect of sabotaging the presidency.”
Watch his comments below:
Barr’s comments come shortly after Trump fired intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson. Atkinson reported a whistleblower complaint to Congress, which lead to Trump’s impeachment in the House, as IJR previously reported.
Trump received criticism for his decision from lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and, more recently, former CIA Director John Brennan.
Barr defended Trump’s decision to fire Atkinson.
“I think the president did the right thing in removing Atkinson,” Barr said.
Fox News’ Laura Ingraham pointed out Atkinson is the second inspector general Trump has removed since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.
The second inspector general Trump removed was Glenn Fine, Pentagon inspector general, as IJR previously reported.
Fine was in charge of overseeing the $2 trillion in funding for coronavirus relief efforts.
Barr replied to Ingraham’s claim some critics say Trump does not want a watchdog.
“No I think that’s true, I think he wants responsible watchdogs,” Barr said.
Additionally, the attorney general reminded that the Department of Justice must conduct business as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m amused whenever I see you know ‘Barr has intervened in this case’ or ‘Barr has done such and such at the time of the COVID crisis,'” Barr said. “Business for the Department of Justice has to continue.”