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Trump ignores attorney general plea to stop tweets | |
(32 minutes later) | |
US President Donald Trump has tweeted he has "the legal right" to intervene in criminal cases after his attorney general complained White House tweets were making his job "impossible". | US President Donald Trump has tweeted he has "the legal right" to intervene in criminal cases after his attorney general complained White House tweets were making his job "impossible". |
In his post, Mr Trump also denied he had ever meddled in any cases. | In his post, Mr Trump also denied he had ever meddled in any cases. |
America's top law officer William Barr on Thursday asked Mr Trump to stop his tweets, saying he would not be bullied. | America's top law officer William Barr on Thursday asked Mr Trump to stop his tweets, saying he would not be bullied. |
Mr Barr spoke out after Mr Trump renewed his attack on the criminal trial of his ex-adviser, Roger Stone. | Mr Barr spoke out after Mr Trump renewed his attack on the criminal trial of his ex-adviser, Roger Stone. |
Prosecutors had recommended Stone serve a stiff sentence, but Mr Trump tweeted that was unfair. | Prosecutors had recommended Stone serve a stiff sentence, but Mr Trump tweeted that was unfair. |
On Friday morning, Mr Trump ignored the attorney general's plea for a tweet embargo. | On Friday morning, Mr Trump ignored the attorney general's plea for a tweet embargo. |
Mr Barr - who has been accused of bowing to presidential pressure - said on Thursday that President Trump "undercuts" him by tweeting, making it "impossible for me to do my job". | Mr Barr - who has been accused of bowing to presidential pressure - said on Thursday that President Trump "undercuts" him by tweeting, making it "impossible for me to do my job". |
"I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases," Mr Barr told ABC News. | "I think it's time to stop the tweeting about Department of Justice criminal cases," Mr Barr told ABC News. |
"I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me," he added. | "I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me," he added. |
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the president should listen to Mr Barr's advice. | Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the president should listen to Mr Barr's advice. |
"If the attorney general says it's getting in the way of doing his job, the president should listen to the attorney general," the Republican senator told Fox News. | "If the attorney general says it's getting in the way of doing his job, the president should listen to the attorney general," the Republican senator told Fox News. |
There was widespread anger this week when the Department of Justice said it planned to reduce the length of the prison sentence it would seek for Stone, a long-time friend of the president. | There was widespread anger this week when the Department of Justice said it planned to reduce the length of the prison sentence it would seek for Stone, a long-time friend of the president. |
Stone was convicted in November of obstructing an investigation by the House Intelligence Committee into Russian interference in the 2016 election. | Stone was convicted in November of obstructing an investigation by the House Intelligence Committee into Russian interference in the 2016 election. |
Federal prosecutors had initially recommended that Stone should face seven to nine years in jail for trying to thwart the investigation. | Federal prosecutors had initially recommended that Stone should face seven to nine years in jail for trying to thwart the investigation. |