9 Nov 2020 10:37 pm
Top DOJ official in charge of voter fraud probe quits within hours of Barr memo.
In response to Barr's memo, the top DOJ official overseeing voter fraud investigations just quit, report Mike Schmidt and others at the NYT tonight.
Excerpt:
Attorney General William P. Barr, wading into President Trump's unfounded accusations of widespread election irregularities, told federal prosecutors on Monday that they were allowed to investigate "specific allegations" of voter fraud before the results of the presidential race are certified.
Mr. Barr's authorization prompted the Justice Department official who oversees investigations of voter fraud, Richard Pilger, to step down from the post within hours, according to an email Mr. Pilger sent to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times.
Mr. Barr said he had authorized "specific instances" of investigative steps in some cases. He made clear in a carefully worded memo that prosecutors had the authority to investigate, but he warned that "specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims should not be a basis for initiating federal inquiries."
In response to Barr's memo, the top DOJ official overseeing voter fraud investigations just quit, report Mike Schmidt and others at the NYT tonight.
Excerpt:
Attorney General William P. Barr, wading into President Trump's unfounded accusations of widespread election irregularities, told federal prosecutors on Monday that they were allowed to investigate "specific allegations" of voter fraud before the results of the presidential race are certified.
Mr. Barr's authorization prompted the Justice Department official who oversees investigations of voter fraud, Richard Pilger, to step down from the post within hours, according to an email Mr. Pilger sent to colleagues that was obtained by The New York Times.
Mr. Barr said he had authorized "specific instances" of investigative steps in some cases. He made clear in a carefully worded memo that prosecutors had the authority to investigate, but he warned that "specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims should not be a basis for initiating federal inquiries."