William Barr Out as Attorney General, Will Depart Post Before Christmas
Barr, one of the president’s most loyal allies, will leave his post on Dec. 23.
By Claire Hansen, Staff Writer Dec. 14, 2020, at 6:17 p.m.
ATTORNEY GENERAL William Barr, one of President Donald Trump's staunchest defenders, is resigning and will depart his post on Dec. 23, just weeks before the president leaves office.
Barr submitted his resignation to Trump on Monday following a meeting at the White House, Trump said in a tweet announcing the attorney general's departure that came just minutes after President-elect Joe Biden surpassed the 270-vote threshold in the Electoral College to officially become the next president.
Trump team shrugs off attorney general's findings of no widespread fraud
Trump characterized Barr's departure as friendly, but his resignation comes two days after Trump publicly criticized him for not doing enough to investigate Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son. It also followed criticism from Trump after Barr refused to back the president's claims of fraud in last month's presidential election.
Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will become the acting attorney general after Barr leaves, Trump said.
"Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job! As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family," Trump tweeted.
Barr in his resignation letter only briefly nodded to the Justice Department's review of voter fraud allegations. Trump is still claiming that widespread voter fraud cost him a legitimate victory in the election.
Barr praised the president at length in the letter.
"I am greatly honored that you called on me to serve your Administration and the American people once again as Attorney General. I am proud to have played a role in the many successes and unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people," Barr wrote. "Your record is all the more historic because you accomplished it in the face of relentless, implacable resistance."
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