William Barr authorized federal prosecutors across the country to pursue “substantial allegations” of voting irregularities, if they exist, before the 2020 presidential race is certified.The resignation was confirmed by the New York Times and CNN shortly after news of Barr’s memo was made public.
The attorney general’s actions came despite no evidence of widespread fraud.It also comes days after Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump and raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome.
It gives prosecutors the ability to go around longstanding Justice Department policy that normally would prohibit such overt actions before the election is certified.