Attorney General Bill Barr is ending his tenure going against Donald Trump on a few fronts. During a news conference today, Barr repeated his position that he doesn’t see widespread voter fraud and won’t be appointing a special counsel to look into the accusations Donald Trump and his team have made about the election.
“If I thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool, I would name one, but I haven’t and I’m not going to.”
Outgoing Attorney General Bill Barr: "I see no basis now for seizing [voting] machines by the federal government."
As for whether Trump can pardon himself, Barr says, "I'm not gonna opine on a Constitutional issue." pic.twitter.com/PfYsI8fDLH
— The Recount (@therecount) December 21, 2020
And when asked whether a special counsel should be appointed to investigate Hunter Biden, Barr said that the current investigation is being handled “responsibly and professionally” and “I have not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel.”
Attorney General William Barr says he has "not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel" to investigate Hunter Biden, and has "no plan to do so" before he steps down https://t.co/Nj065CIsxp pic.twitter.com/My7WnkdTTq
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 21, 2020
Barr also contradicted Trump on the massive cyber hack on the U.S. government.
“I agree with Secretary Pompeo’s assertions,” AG Bill Barr says of the massive cyberhack, points blame at the Russians. Trump downplayed Russia’s role and floated China as the culprit
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 21, 2020
Some of the reporters who cover the State Department say this is the most open they have seen Barr during his tenure as attorney general. Barr’s last day is this Wednesday. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will then serve as acting attorney general.
Barr was hit by right-wing media after shooting down Trump's voter fraud claims in an interview with the AP. Expect this press conference to result in Barr getting trashed from the pro-Trump propagandists as he exits office. Another hero of the universe who exits a villain.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) December 21, 2020
Watch more of the q&a with Barr above.