In 2020, then-Attorney General Bill Barr made a significant decision to publicly address former President Donald Trump's false claims regarding the alleged rigging of the election. Prosecutors revealed that Barr took this action after observing Trump spreading misinformation about the Justice Department's handling of election fraud allegations.
On November 29, Barr witnessed Trump making baseless accusations during an appearance on a news show, including the claim that the Justice Department was not actively investigating evidence of fraud. This prompted Barr to schedule a meeting with a reporter from the Associated Press to counter Trump's misleading statements.
On December 1, 2020, Barr released a statement where he clarified that the Justice Department had indeed examined potential election irregularities but found no substantial evidence of widespread fraud that could have impacted the election outcome. This public declaration marked a significant departure for Barr, a long-time Republican and former ally of Trump.
