Trump has nominated former Bush Senior attorney general (from 1991 – 1993) William Barr to succeed Jeff Sessions as AG, saying he was his “first choice since day one.”

Barr confirmed acceptance of the nomination, the post requiring Senate confirmation, the Judiciary Committee likely to hold hearings after the new Congress convenes in January.

The same holds for Trump’s nomination of State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to replace Nikki Haley as UN envoy. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold hearings on her selection in January. More on her below.

Public Citizen (PC) disturbingly supports Mueller’s Russiagate witch hunt probe into nonexistent improper or illegal Trump/Russia ties, notably related to nonexistent Kremlin election meddling. The Big Lie about it won’t die.

In response to Barr’s nomination, PC headlined “High Alert: Protecting the Trump-Russia investigations. Call Congress, tweeting:

“William Barr has downplayed both Russia collusion and obstruction. As attorney general, Barr could defund or shut down Mueller’s investigation.”

“That’s what’s at risk if we don’t push the Senate to act. Call your senators and demand a vote on legislation to #ProtectMueller.”

He never should have been appointed special council in the first place, his mission a witch-hunt, not a legitimate investigation, finding nothing improper or illegal about Trump’s relations with Russia – after over 18 months of trying.

Nor did House or Senate probes, millions of dollars wasted over nothing instead of investigating real crimes of state – ignored to suppress them.

If confirmed as AG, Barr should put a timeline on Mueller’s probe to conclude sine die. Otherwise it could go on as long as he wishes, achieving nothing but phony charges on Russian officials, solely for political reasons.

To his discredit, Barr urged GHW Bush to pardon Iran/Contra criminals. He supports unitary executive power, circumventing checks, balances, and other fundamental rule of law principles on the phony pretext of protecting national security.

ACLU national political director Faiz Shakir said the following about his nomination:

His “record suggests that he will follow Jeff Sessions’ legacy of hostility to civil rights and civil liberties.”

“If confirmed, Trump will have a partner in one of the most powerful roles of the administration…”

“The Senate must press Barr to adhere to the obligation of the Justice Department to defend the rights of all – immigrants, women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.”

“Barr must commit to defending the rule of law and civil rights, not serving as a political arm of Trump’s anti-constitutional agenda.”

Like Nikki Haley, Heather Nauert is a Trump regime loyalist, a geopolitical know-nothing with no diplomatic experience. It showed in how Haley operated.

The same goes for Nauert as State Department spokeswoman. She’s a former ABC News general assignment reporter – later a “news presenter” and contributor to Fox & Friends, a morning talk show.

As UN envoy, she’ll continue acting as a mouthpiece for Trump’s imperial agenda, supporting his wars on humanity, hostile to sovereign independent states like other regime officials.

According to the Wall Street Journal, White House chief of staff John Kelly is expected to leave “soon, people close to the White House said,” adding:

“to be Replace by , Vice President Mike Pence’s top aide and a longtime Republican political operative, is the likely replacement for Mr. Kelly, these people say.”

On Thursday, Trump reportedly said “(s)top calling John for anything. Call Nick. He’s my guy.”

The neocon/CIA-connected Washington Post reported that Trump is expected to name army General Mark Milley to succeed General Joseph (“fighting Joe”) Dunford as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.

He’s due to step down next fall, perhaps sooner given information on his likely replacement disclosed.

More Trump regime changes may come in the new year – his agenda likely to worsen, not improve.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.