April 4, 2019

Trump Lashes Out After Reports That Mueller Investigation Is More Damaging Than DOJ Claimed

“Fake News.”

Shawn Thew/ZUMA

For indispensable reporting on the coronavirus crisis and more, subscribe to Mother Jones' newsletters.

President Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out at a New York Times story revealing that several members on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team are apparently dissatisfied with the attorney general’s portrayal of their findings. The investigators, the Times reported, “have told associates that Attorney General William P. Barr failed to adequately portray the findings of their inquiry and that they were more troubling for President Trump than Mr. Barr indicated, according to government officials and others familiar with their simmering frustrations.”

Trump, without evidence, accused the paper of fabricating its sources. He then repeated his false claim that the Times had previously issued an apology to him for inaccurate and “very bad” reporting on him.

In his tweet, the president did not mention the two additional stories—from the Washington Post and NBC News—that backed the Times‘ initial reporting. Those subsequent reports went even further, citing multiple sources who said Barr specifically omitted the special counsel’s own summaries of the 400-page report. A senior law enforcement official also told NBC that Mueller’s finding, in NBC’s words, “paint a picture of a campaign whose members were manipulated by a sophisticated Russian intelligence operation.”

Trump’s tweet came shortly after the Department of Justice released a statement defending Barr’s initial summary. Meanwhile, Democrats this week took formal steps toward officially subpoenaing the full report.

When asked about reports that some on Mueller’s team are frustrated with Barr’s memo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday offered the following solution for the president: “Release the Mueller report, as soon as possible.”

Thank you!

We didn't know what to expect when we told you we needed to raise $400,000 before our fiscal year closed on June 30, and we're thrilled to report that our incredible community of readers contributed some $415,000 to help us keep charging as hard as we can during this crazy year.

You just sent an incredible message: that quality journalism doesn't have to answer to advertisers, billionaires, or hedge funds; that newsrooms can eke out an existence thanks primarily to the generosity of its readers. That's so powerful. Especially during what's been called a "media extinction event" when those looking to make a profit from the news pull back, the Mother Jones community steps in.

The months and years ahead won't be easy. Far from it. But there's no one we'd rather face the big challenges with than you, our committed and passionate readers, and our team of fearless reporters who show up every day.

Thank you!

We didn't know what to expect when we told you we needed to raise $400,000 before our fiscal year closed on June 30, and we're thrilled to report that our incredible community of readers contributed some $415,000 to help us keep charging as hard as we can during this crazy year.

You just sent an incredible message: that quality journalism doesn't have to answer to advertisers, billionaires, or hedge funds; that newsrooms can eke out an existence thanks primarily to the generosity of its readers. That's so powerful. Especially during what's been called a "media extinction event" when those looking to make a profit from the news pull back, the Mother Jones community steps in.

The months and years ahead won't be easy. Far from it. But there's no one we'd rather face the big challenges with than you, our committed and passionate readers, and our team of fearless reporters who show up every day.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our newsletters

Subscribe and we'll send Mother Jones straight to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate

We have a new comment system! We are now using Coral, from Vox Media, for comments on all new articles. We'd love your feedback.