The Obamagate fakeout

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Attorney General Bill Barr — who famously whitewashed the Mueller report ahead of time and who just two weeks ago dropped the Justice Department’s case against Michael Flynn — isn’t suddenly practicing objectivity.

At a press conference Monday, Barr addressed U.S. Attorney John Durham’s review of FBI behavior in its investigation of the Trump campaign’s 2016 ties to Russia. Pushing back against President Trump’s “Obamagate” allegations, Burr said, “As to President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement, based on the information I have today, I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man.”

It might sound like the AG has suddenly discovered fair play. Not quite.

To begin, Durham hasn’t even finished his investigation, yet Barr is pre-spinning — he adds that “others” in the prior administration may be in legal jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Republican-led Senate committees are using their perches to investigate the prior administration: Government Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson is probing Hunter Biden’s role in Ukraine company Burisma (precisely what Trump pressured Ukraine to do that led to impeachment). This week, Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham announced a broad subpoena into the the Russia investigation, calling for appearances by Barr and Obama-era figures including Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, ex-national security adviser Susan Rice and ex-FBI Director Jim Comey.

In short, Barr or no Barr, Republicans are prepared to pound the table throughout the 2020 elections, breathlessly alleging corruption that does not exist.