In case you missed it, the Washington Post reported earlier that AG Bill Barr has booked a lavish holiday party at Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel:

More:

Attorney General William P. Barr is planning a holiday treat for his boss. Last month, Barr booked President Trump’s D.C. hotel for a 200-person holiday party in December that is likely to deliver Trump’s business more than $30,000 in revenue. Barr signed a contract, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, for a “Family Holiday Party” in the hotel’s Presidential Ballroom Dec. 8. The party will feature a buffet and a four-hour open bar for about 200 people.

Needless to say, it didn’t take long for people to get pretty upset:

William Barr booked Trump’s D.C. hotel for a 200-person holiday party that is likely to deliver Trump’s business more than $30,000 in revenue. Corruption in plain sight.https://t.co/oBLcYrQyhe — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) August 27, 2019

What shameless corruption done in the open looks like??https://t.co/heXpeKxVrp — Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) August 27, 2019

Attorney general books Trump hotel for $30,000 holiday party, adding to questions about independence

Corruption at its worst out in the open. https://t.co/WmUPnKKFbH — Richard McFadyen?? (@RTMcFadyen) August 27, 2019

These headlines are one day apart. The corruption is becoming even more brazen. pic.twitter.com/NbONN7DX8c — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 27, 2019

Bill Barr . . . still sucking up In an unethical way. https://t.co/KqqhGJmjYo — Barbara Boxer (@BarbaraBoxer) August 27, 2019

Bill Barr demonstrating once again that he’s a GOP operative. This is straight banana republic stuff. https://t.co/8Z3jp5E5BI — Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) August 27, 2019

When I was a federal prosecutor, every year I had to sit through an ethics lecture about how to avoid the appearance of impropriety. It sure looks like Bill Barr could use that lecture. https://t.co/fAvqZS6eWN — Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 27, 2019

You have to be Fu**ing kidding me!! This is corruption by Trump and his AG Bill Barr in front of our eyes!!! Attorney general Barr books Trump’s D.C. hotel for $30,000 holiday party #swampmonster https://t.co/HXPWAwboLz — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) August 27, 2019

Impeach him. Impeach every lawless Trump official. They don’t care and never will until held accountable. This is a smash & grab presidency. We are not helpless: tell every Member of Congress. https://t.co/KpoBBZ4nSs — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 27, 2019

Wow. It sure sounds like a cut-and-dry case of Trump administration corruption. But is it? As Brit Hume points out, a lot of the people who are up in arms over this seem to have overlooked a pretty significant detail:

If the Justice Dept. were paying for the party, that would be a problem. But Barr is paying out of his pocket. https://t.co/vtHvrw9pYv — Brit Hume (@brithume) August 27, 2019

Indeed:

Barr is paying for the event himself and chose the venue only after other hotels, including the Willard and the Mayflower, were booked, according to a Justice Department official. The official said the purpose of Barr’s party wasn’t to curry favor with the president.

That changes things a bit, doesn’t it?

Wait, wait. Barr is paying for this party himself? How is it possible that nobody thought that part of the story was tweetworthy until now? Fer cripessake, I saw journalists going on about DOJ paying the White House for a party for like six hours today. https://t.co/Ujxn7nVIaf — Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) August 27, 2019

Lack of curiosity on their part? — Shady Ranger (@ShadyRanger) August 27, 2019

The optics of this still aren’t the greatest, but would it kill people to get the full story before flying off the handle?