Former Attorney General William Barr said in a new interview that Donald Trump became so enraged when he told him there was no evidence of widespread election fraud that the then president immediately took him up on his offer to step down.
What You Need To Know
- Former Attorney General William Barr said in a new interview that Donald Trump became so enraged when he told him there was no evidence of widespread election fraud that the then president immediately took him up on his offer to step down
- In his first televised interview since resigning, Barr told NBC News’ Lester Holt that Trump summoned him to the White House on Dec. 1, 2020, after The Associated Press published a story in which Barr said, “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election”
- Barr is promoting a book about his time in the Trump White House, “One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General,” which goes on sale Tuesday
- In a letter to NBC, Trump called Barr’s account of the meeting a fabrication
In his first televised interview since resigning, Barr told NBC News’ Lester Holt that Trump summoned him to the White House on Dec. 1, 2020, after The Associated Press published a story in which Barr said, “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”
“I told him that all this stuff was b******* about election fraud and it was wrong to be shoveling it out the way his team was,” Barr told NBC News.
“And he started asking me about different theories, and I had the answer. So I was able to tell him, this is wrong because of this,” the former attorney general continued.
Barr said Trump was visibly angry.
“I said, ‘OK, well, look, I understand you’re upset with me, and I’m perfectly happy to tender my resignation,’” Barr said.
According to Barr, Trump then immediately slapped his desk and said, “Accepted! Go home. Don’t go back to your office. Go home. You’re done.”
NBC released an excerpt of the interview, which will be aired in full Sunday. Barr is promoting a book about his time in the Trump White House, “One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General,” which goes on sale Tuesday.
In a letter to NBC, Trump called Barr’s account of the meeting a fabrication. At a Dec. 3, 2021, White House event Trump claimed that Barr hadn’t look for voter fraud.
Barr did not formally submit his resignation until Dec. 14, 2020, and it did not take effect until Dec. 23. In his resignation letter, he did not mention his conclusion about the lack of election fraud, writing: “I appreciate the opportunity to update you this afternoon on the Department’s review of voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued. At a time when the country is so deeply divided, it is incumbent on all levels of government, and all agencies acting within their purview, to do all we can to assure the integrity of elections and promote public confidence in their outcome.”
The letter included no criticism of Trump, only praise.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the events leading up to it, said Barr has spoken with the panel.
In a court filing Wednesday, the committee said for the first time its evidence suggests Trump and his associates engaged in a “criminal conspiracy” to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win in the Electoral College.
