Trump recognized Ashcroft a few minutes ago, reminding me of the bedside incident:

"The infamous showdown took place in March 2004, while Ashcroft was recovering from illness in a hospital bed. Acting attorney general James Comey—now President Obama’s nominee to head the FBI—was refusing to reauthorize one component of the secret surveillance program. Comey concluded that it was illegal. This prompted White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to rush to Ashcroft’s hospital room in hopes of getting the ailing AG to countermand Comey, who was tipped off about Gonzales’ plan and sped there as well.

In the confrontation that ensued, Ashcroft supported Comey both formally (because Comey was legally the attorney general while Ashcroft was incapacitated) and on the legal substance. Bush reauthorized the program despite the Justice Department’s conclusion that it was unlawful. Comey then threatened to resign—with Ashcroft, FBI director Robert Mueller, and other top officials reportedly ready to join him. Bush ultimately backed down, and the troublesome program was briefly suspended until it could be renewed under a different legal authority."

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/what-the-ashcroft-hospital-showdown-on-nsa-spying-was-all-about/

I wonder if Trump making a point of the death penalty for killing a police officer is directed at, for example, the DNC, Clinton Crime Syndicate, or other linked groups who can be connected to cops that have been murdered. RICO charges compounded with killing law enforcement would be the end of many of these people.

Guy on FOX just said nominating Barr is a great move, and that Trump is "playing 3-dimensional chess with a Rubik's Cube behind his back".