Can Trump passively fire someone by delegating?

[intrepidity]

These fucking weakling weasels never man-up, especially Trump.

Can he claim to have delegated firing authority to Barr to avoid obstruction charge?

[Nevilledog]

1. Don't think that's gonna work here.

He'll have to do it himself.

Our only hope is Berman digs in his heels and fights back.

[Ninga]

2. Except that. Barr stated in a letter to Berman that Trump fired him. It's in writing. On paper,

with letterhead and stuff. See snippet of letter.


Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service. Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so. By operation of law, the Deputy United States Attorney, Audrey Strauss, will become the Acting United States Attorney, and I anticipate that she will serve in that capacity until a permanent successor is in place. See 28 U.S.C. 541(c).

[intrepidity]

4. I still detect wiggle room

It's circular though, to be sure.

Someone needs to ask Barr for the evidence that Trump agreed to the firing. No doubt that evidence will be something like "he said I could do what I want/needed."

[Thomas Hurt]

11. The President said he nothing to do with it. The President just said that is a lie.

[Ninga]

18. Yes he did. So both are lying? Barr? Pretzel nut?

[Thomas Hurt]

19. who knows, Trump probably told him to do it and then the Pig decided it looked bad and screwed Barr.

[mr_lebowski]

3. And who exactly would be bringing this 'obstruction charge'?

Definitely is not happening unless and until Biden wins come November, that is for positive.

[dawg day]

5. The question is-- since Berman was appointed by the district judges--

can he be fired at all?

He had to be appointed in the first place because Terrified Trumpy had left the post vacant.

He seems to think that he can resign once there's a duly nominated and confirmed successor, but not before then.

I guess we'll find out.

[intrepidity]

6. True, that's the larger question

But with this president... seems his power knows no bounds.

[tulipsandroses]

13. And this is where I am confused. Is Berman fired or not?

If Trump is saying he had nothing to do with it - then is Berman NOT fired?
Barr has no authority to do it so if Trump is doing the Shaggy thing again, it wasn't me.
Then does that mean Berman is not fired?

[beastie boy]

7. Trump never said he delegated. Unless he backpeddles, Barr may have committed an impeachable offense

Barr usurped the power of the president. Barr has no authority to fire AGs himself, and Trump, even if he could have, never gave him that authority. Yet Barr is on record saying Trump fired the AG. At least that's the way things stand now.

I get a feeling someone is going to get screwed big time over this.

[intrepidity]

12. please let it be Barr, please let it be Barr...

How delicious it would be to see Barr impeached for this

[beastie boy]

17. If things pan out the way I think they will, it WILL be Barr.

At this point, Trump is not likely to backpeddle and say he fired the AG. It will do him no good anyway, since the the best case scenario for him at this point appears to be the whole firing thing ending up in court and taking months.

BTW, Pnwmom just posted in Latest Breaking:

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Saturday he will not take up President Trump's nomination for a new U.S. attorney for Manhattan unless New York's Democratic senators sign off.

https://democraticunderground.com/10142519569

Do you think Trump will take responsibility for this failure?

[dweller]

8. fatnixon will tweet fire him ...

sooner or later

✌🏼

[Music Man]

9. "The buck stops with... uh... whoever can fall on their sword for me."

If this isn't Trump's decision, we all know that he has the authority to step in. He could at least express his disagreement. It is all bullshit. Just like the Covid-19 response, he wants to do *just* enough to make it look like he's doing his job, but wants to nod to his base enough that he doesn't offend the voters he needs. He doesn't care about doing the job right.

[wcmagumba]

10. The turtle and Lady G...

have both supposedly said that no replacement nomination can go forward without the consent of the D senators from NY...so (assuming they don't back peddle under pressure, big assumption here) who would assume the position (so to speak)?

[dlk]

14. He will certainly try

[yellowcanine]

15. Nope. And Berman is still the guy in SDNY.

Who sends a letter saying "The President fired you."?

It seems to me if Trump wants to fire someone he has to send he's own letter signed with his sharpie.

[gratuitous]

16. Why is Whiny Don such a wuss?

Can't he just call someone in and tell them they're fired? He has to go through all this jiggery pokery, instead of doing it face to face like a real person?

[former9thward]

20. Of course he can delegate.

Presidents rarely personally fire anyone. Even if the person to be fired is a cabinet official, a president normally has the Chief of Staff do it.