Barr’s role

This letter is in response to the letter by Oren Spiegler (July 4, “Barr finally told the truth”). While I very much agree with Mr. Spiegler’s accurate assessments and characterizations of former Attorney General William Barr as essentially just a lackey who supported former President Trump’s agenda at any cost, I would only add that it would also be remiss for the country to forget Bill Barr’s prominent role in helping a previous Republican administration, namely that of former President George H.W. Bush, in covering up another scandal.

Back in 1992, the independent counsel of that time, Lawrence Walsh, had been investigating incidents from years earlier implicating the ReaganBush administration for its role in the Iran-Contra scandal. This involved the illegal sale of arms to Iran by which the proceeds were used to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

As former President Bush’s AG, Bill Barr recommended that Bush pardon such figures as Caspar Weinberger, Oliver North, and others involved in the scandal. Unsurprisingly, Bush did just that with only weeks left in office.

Bill Barr was a staunch supporter of unchecked executive authority then, especially as it pertained to Republicans, and of course that didn’t change under the Trump administration this time around. Therefore, while Bill Barr may be said to have “seen the light” in the aftermath of Trump, frankly it’s too little and too late. ALEXANDER ALIOTO

Cranberry