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In an internal letter to the Justice Ministry, Barr opened an investigation into what he calls “specific cases” of voter fraud. Writes the New York Times and the AP news agency.
Thus, Barr apparently supports President Trump’s claims that Joe Biden’s victory is due to widespread electoral fraud. So far, no evidence has been presented to support Trump’s claims.
Barr added that the “false, speculative, imaginative and unlikely” charges should not be investigated.
Barr’s order runs counter to the Justice Department’s long-standing practice of not conducting investigations that could affect the outcome of an election.
Barr’s decision comes after President Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday.
Withdrew in protest
The head of the Department of Election-related Crimes at the Justice Ministry, Richard Pilger, has stepped down in protest at Barr’s decision.
In an internal email, he writes that he is withdrawing after reading “the new practice and its effects,” writes AP.
Pilger has told his colleagues that he will instead work against corruption in another department.
Generally processed by states
In the United States, it is up to the states to organize elections. Therefore, it is also often the responsibility of each state to investigate allegations of voter fraud.
Law professor Stephen I. Vladeck tells the New York Times that it would be bad enough if Barr had changed his practice in a situation where there were credible suspicions of voter fraud.
“But doing this when there is no such evidence, and when the president’s obvious strategy is to delegitimize the outcome of a well-conducted election, is one of the most problematic actions taken by a justice minister in my life,” Vladeck said.
Biden’s campaign is protesting
Joe Biden’s employees protest against the Minister of Justice’s decision.
– This is exactly the type of accusation that the president and his lawyers make every day. Their demands are heard in courtroom after courtroom. says Bob Bauer, who is a primary contributor to Joe Biden.
Bauer adds that he does not believe the Trump campaign will succeed with allegations of voter fraud.
“Ultimately, American democracy is stronger than any clumsy and cynical party political plan,” he said.
Other Democrats are also reacting strongly to William Barr’s decision.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Calls Barr Corrupt and Signs Twitter that he should stop following messages from a “would-be dictator,” probably a reference to Trump.
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