Here we go again: letter emerges casting doubt on NY Times "reports"

When you call a former reputable newspaper "fake news," you're wandering into dangerous territory. The one freedom most important for national freedom is that of the press, and naturally free speech and the right to protect ourselves to ensure it. But it's no secret that whenever the media makes a mistake, it is always in the same direction--it first accuses the president or those on the right of wrongdoing, only later to retract the story after the world has read the lies. And the retractions are often buried somewhere in the paper where it's hardly read.

It's "here we go again" with the New York Times. [H/T Daily Wire]

A letter emerged into the light of day late on Monday from the Australian government. It disputed the New York Times report claiming that President Trump "pushed" Australia to help AG William Barr investigate the origins of the Mueller Russia investigation. The former newspaper was trying to "discredit" the investigation in what they said was an example of the president of "using high-level diplomacy to advance his personal political interests."

The letter stated:

Dear Attorney General,

I refer to President Trump’s announcement on 24 May that you will investigate the origins of the Federal Bureau of Investigations probe into Russian links to the 2016 US election. 

I note that the President referred to Australia, the United Kingdom and the Ukraine as potential stakeholders. Moreover, I note that he has declassified intelligence material to support your investigation. 

The Australian Government will use its best endeavors to support your efforts in this matter. While Australia’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, The Hon. Alexander Downer, is no longer employed by the government, we stand ready to provide you with all the relevant information to support your inquiries. 

The Acting White House Chief of Staff, The Honorable Michael Mulvaney, has been copied on this letter. 

Yours sincerely,
The Hon Joe Hockey

The current development came to light after the Times suggested it was a scandal for the president to ask Australia to cooperate with an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice into the Russian investigation regarding the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after The Times’ report was published, a source at the DOJ pushed back on it, telling Fox News: “The countries have been helpful. There was no pressing required.”

“The president was letting the heads of other countries know that the attorney general would be contacting the appropriate law enforcement entities in each country, according to the DOJ official. When Barr was in Italy last week, he did talk to law enforcement officials there about Durham’s review, Fox News was told,” the network added. “The DOJ official also stressed that this has been a routine procedure in diplomacy and that Barr would not usually reach out to his direct counterpart in another country unilaterally. Instead, usually there would be an introduction of sorts made at the head-of-state level.”

The load of new information regarding the DOJ’s investigation included recent reporting from The Washington Post, which attempted to cast AG Barr in a negative light for conducting his job, claiming that he was trying to help Trump “discredit” Mueller’s investigation.

They are doing this in an attempt to neutralize Barr's credibility so when he finds nothing impeachable, they can claim he's in Trump's back pocket.

The new and relevant information from The Post’s report was the revelation that Barr has been in contact with British intelligence officials and has traveled to Italy as a part of the ongoing investigation.

“Barr has already made overtures to British intelligence officials, and last week the attorney general traveled to Italy, where he and Durham met senior Italian government officials and Barr asked the Italians to assist Durham, according to one person familiar with the matter,” The Post reported. “It was not Barr’s first trip to Italy to meet intelligence officials, the person said. The Trump administration has made similar requests of Australia, these people said.”

In May, Trump said regarding AG Barr: “And I hope he looks at the U.K., and I hope he looks at Australia, and I hope he looks at Ukraine. I hope he looks at everything because there was a hoax that was perpetrated on our country.”

The DOJ’s investigation into the origins of the Russia probe is being led by U.S. Attorney John Durham.

The games have begun and Joe Hockey has dropped the puck.


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