# What happens if Bill Barr is fired or resigns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 13, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906 "2020-02-13T22:24:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/1 "2020-02-13T22:24:20Z")
[Barr: Trump tweets on cases make it ‘impossible’ to do job](https://apnews.com/1af22f727511099b03998f9e072a69c1). > [@](#): > > Attorney General William Barr took a public swipe at President Donald Trump on Thursday, saying that the president’s tweets about Justice Department prosecutors and cases “make it impossible for me to do my job.” > > Barr made the comment during an interview with ABC News just days after his Justice Department overruled its own prosecutors But what did he say? Well: > [@](#): > > “I’m happy to say that, in fact, the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case,” Barr said in the ABC interview. “However, to have public statements and tweets made about the department, about our people in the department, our men and women here, about cases pending in the department, and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that we’re doing our work with integrity.” and > [@](#): > > Barr said he was “of course” prepared to deal with any ramifications from the president for his comments. > > “As I said during my confirmation, I came in to serve as attorney general. I am responsible for everything that happens in the department, but the thing I have most responsibility for are the issues that are brought to me for decision,” Barr said in the interview. This next one prolly won’t sit well with Trump: > [@](#): > > In the ABC interview, Barr said of the president: “If he were to say go investigate somebody because — and you sense it’s because they’re a political opponent — then the attorney general shouldn’t carry that out, wouldn’t carry that out.” Then he contradicted himself when he tried to sound tough: > [@](#): > > On Thursday, he said he would not be “bullied or influenced by anybody.” > > “And I said, whether it’s Congress, newspaper editorial board, or the president. I’m gonna do what I think is right. And, you know, the, I think the – I cannot do my job here at the Department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.” If you cannot do your job with the constant background commentary from your boss, then you are being bullied or influenced, by definition. How did this dumbass ever get to be AG once, let alone twice? But the real issue is: what would or will happen when Trump fires him or demands his resignation? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/2 "2020-02-13T22:29:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …But the real issue is: what would or will happen when Trump fires him or demands his resignation? Rudy’s available. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/3 "2020-02-13T22:32:45Z")
How far do you think that nomination would get? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/4 "2020-02-13T23:05:17Z")
IMHO from some of his earlier comments my takeaway was that he is somewhat of a nihilist at his core. Which is why he seems to be comfortable being Trump’s man. Which to me is frankly frightening. So, to hear him express some moral center about his job leaves me curious. Is he being genuine? Or is he handing us all a line of bull to sound like he actually cares? I tend to go with the latter. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/5 "2020-02-13T23:10:03Z")
Nothing to do with any moral centre. He’s just trying to get Trump’s guy off as lightly as possible and Trump’s big mouth is making it hard to do that. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/6 "2020-02-13T23:12:03Z")
Barr’s lips are so firmly attached to Trump’s ass that he doesn’t need to talk to Trump to know how to do his bidding–he can just smell it. These comments are just a distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/7 "2020-02-14T01:11:09Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How far do you think that nomination would get? Collins will express “severe concerns” and then vote to confirm anyway. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/8 "2020-02-14T01:33:56Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Nothing to do with any moral centre. He’s just trying to get Trump’s guy off as lightly as possible and Trump’s big mouth is making it hard to do that. this ^ Barr’s complaint is that Trump is too stupid to understand that Barr’s perfectly willing to do all the dirty work that Trump wants him to do, and that Trump’s ill-timed tweets are fucking it all up. Barr understood that Trump wanted Stone to receive a lighter sentence - he knew his job. But Barr also knows you don’t go bragging about how you can manipulate the justice system, which is what Trump is doing on twitter, even if he never comes out and says as much. So Barr’s right: Trump is making it hard for Barr to discreetly undermine the rule of law. Beyond that, Barr knows that he has to give the appearance of at least trying to be a somewhat normal AG from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/9 "2020-02-14T01:38:29Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How far do you think that nomination would get? > [@Smapti](#): > > Collins will express “severe concerns” and then vote to confirm anyway. Or there’s always “acting AG.” Trump wouldn’t have any problem with that. The only drama would be in the way Rudy and Dershowitz would be trashing each other in the press in an effort to secure the job. Though come to think of it, Trump would enjoy that show a great deal. Maybe throw Devin Nunes into the arena as another possible–he’s not a lawyer, but what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/10 "2020-02-14T01:43:42Z")
IMHO trump has to fire Barr. He has to crack down on even minor insubordination or others might get cocky. As for replacing him with anyone from Rudy to Ivanka, “acting” works just fine. No need to confirm. OTOH, why replace him at all? What does an AG really do anyway? Drain the swamp, amirite? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/11 "2020-02-14T01:57:33Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How far do you think that nomination would get? 53-47. Straight party-line, except maybe a coin flip for Romney and Manchin. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/12 "2020-02-14T02:11:29Z")
Oh, I think it’s wishful thinking to hope Trump will fire Barr or that Barr is going anywhere. For this job, Trump needs Barr. In fact, Trump needs Barr more than Barr needs him. But Trump is lucky, because Barr is wants to stay and fulfill his own agenda. He is perfectly happy to use Trump to do it. Barr knows how to wield power in the job of AG and he is feared. Rudy is too obviously nuts, Ivanka would be laughed out of the office on her first day. Every US attorney in the country would walk off the job if Trump tried to appoint her, even in an acting capacity. Barr is coming under heavy fire for his interference in the Stone matter. He doesn’t need Trump to man the flamethrowers with his tweets, making matters worse. But Barr will stay put – not because Trump has anything to fear from Barr by way of insubordination, but because Barr intends to remake the nation as a fundamentalist Catholic stronghold. He views this as his mission and this is his moment. I recently read that it’s believed Barr has put the kibosh on at least 6 investigations spawned by the Mueller investigation as well as others within his (Barr’s) purview related to Trump malfeasance. We may actually see Trump shut up for a change, exactly when we wish he wouldn’t. Barr’s/Trump’s actions aren’t about saving Roger Stone. Trump can do that with the stroke of a pen to pardon Stone. It’s about demonstrating raw power and seeing how far they can push those limits. There will be lots more of this in the next 7 months. Now is the time to make your displeasure known to every member of Congress within your sphere, loudly and often. The very foundation of our nation, the rule of law, is more imperiled than it has ever been. This is not normal. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/13 "2020-02-14T02:14:13Z")
Solid post; I agree. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/14 "2020-02-14T04:02:35Z")
People on TV are discussing this like it’s serious. :smack: It’s just theater. I’m willing to bet Barr discussed this with Trump beforehand and told him exactly what he would say and why he was saying it. (Or more likely just said “I have to say some bad things but I really, really, won’t mean them - I’m just putting out ‘fake news’ MSDNC will eat up”.) The proof is in the twitter feed. Nobody in a position of power gets to criticize Trump. There will always be a nasty comeback. But crickets from his feed on this. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/15 "2020-02-14T04:04:59Z")
The same thing that happens in this administration every time someone leaves. They’re replaced by someone worse. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/16 "2020-02-14T04:32:53Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > People on TV are discussing this like it’s serious. :smack: It’s just theater. I’m willing to bet Barr discussed this with Trump beforehand and told him exactly what he would say and why he was saying it. (Or more likely just said “I have to say some bad things but I really, really, won’t mean them - I’m just putting out ‘fake news’ MSDNC will eat up”.) This. Exactly. It’s a show, and not for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/17 "2020-02-14T04:44:02Z")
And Trump just did an interview with Geraldo and admitted that he sent Guiliani to Ukraine because he didn’t trust his intelligence agencies. > **[Trump contradicts past denials, admits sending Giuliani to Ukraine | CNN...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/politics/trump-rudy-giuliani-ukraine-interview/index.html)** > > Emboldened after his impeachment acquittal, President Donald Trump now openly admits to sending his attorney Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine to find damaging information about his political opponents, even though he strongly denied it during the impeachment... ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/18 "2020-02-14T04:50:15Z")
Didn’t trust them to make stuff up and promote lies and fantasies, he means. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/19 "2020-02-14T12:47:36Z")
Absolutely zero chance Barr gets fired. His outrage about Trumps tweets is just kayfabe to make him seem like an honest broker instead of Trump’s bagman. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906/20 "2020-02-14T13:13:19Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Rudy’s available. Rudy’s lost his mind, and it’s unclear how much of a mind he had to begin with. Barr knows his craft; he has a 360-degree view of the engine, and he knows not just the engine, but its parts. He’s Cromwell. He knows how to use the levers of federal power as a weapon. As Aspenglow said, Trump needs him, and even if Trump doesn’t want to admit it, almost everyone around him, including his own children, know it. They won’t let Barr leave unless Barr is so badly demeaned and insulted that he has no choice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-bill-barr-is-fired-or-resigns/847906.md?page=2)