AG Barr and Trump are setting up an authoritarian power grab to kill the whistleblower inquiry

[ffr]

<snip>
Instead of an actual legal opinion, all that has been disclosed about the administration's reasoning for withholding the urgent complaint from Congress is the basic framework that the complaint did not fall within the bounds of activity covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act.
<snip>

At base, Barr and the White House are applying maximal intimidation in order to keep the complaint from going public. And if it does go public in any sort of credible way (i.e., with a name attached to it), Barr and Trump will then have a self-fabricated foil in arguing that the disclosure wasn't legal. That will allow them to divert attention away from Trump's misconduct and instead create an argument over whether he has been unlawfully wronged.

In other words, this is all a diversion tactic, but it's a very dangerous one. Barr is both wily and lawless. He clearly cares nothing for the American people, but rather works in sole service of preserving presidential power... - DailyKOS

Hail Mary move on behalf of the two individuals at the top of our government that are laying out their final moves.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Do or die.

I’m rooting for the bright sunlight of a free and open government that serves the people. Not this trumpian bullshit.

[Boomerproud]

3. Keep rooting-I mean that sincerely.

The clock is ticking and truth and justice are in a corner. We need a hero.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Clearly we're teetering on the brink.

I wish we had more than hope.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Their last broadside as the dreadnought turns turtle...

for the crew of HMS Barham. I meant no disrespect.

[Thekaspervote]

5. These are very dark times indeed. We must as best we can stay the course and believe in what

We are doing... no matter how small.

[Liberal In Texas]

6. Yeah, they paint themselves as the victim.

Right out of the repub playbook.