“Barr is trying to avoid getting himself into a position of defying the president even though he doesn’t want to keep Mueller from testifying,” Mr. Buchanan added. It would collapse if Mr. Trump, who tweeted his objection to Mr. Mueller’s potential testimony over the weekend, were to decide to press the issue by explicitly ordering Mr. Barr to gag the special counsel. “Who is his client?” Mr. Bruff said. It’s a little like being married.”Whether Mr. Mueller testifies is a decision that Mr. Barr — and perhaps Mr. Trump — can control because the special counsel remains a Justice Department employee. It is not clear when Mr. Mueller will return to life as a private citizen; a spokesman has said for weeks that Mr. Mueller would be leaving “in coming days.”If Mr. Trump does decide to insist that Mr. Barr gag Mr. Mueller, the attorney general could seek to resolve his dilemma by slow-walking any official change in position until Mr. Mueller is no longer his subordinate.

Source: New York Times May 07, 2019 23:03 UTC