Attorney General Bill Barr Authorizes DOJ To Look Into Voting Irregularities
Attorney General William Barr has authorized the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate irregularities reported during the 2020 election.
In a memo on Monday to the U.S. Attorneys, the Assistant Attorneys General for the criminal division, civil rights division, and national security division, along with the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, AG Barr directed the agencies to look into “post-voting election irregularity inquiries.”
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“Now that the voting has concluded, it is imperative that the American people can trust that our elections were conducted in such a way that the outcomes accurately reflect the will of the voters,”the memo read.
“Although the States have the primary responsibility to conduct and supervise elections under our Constitution, and the laws enacted by Congress, the United States Department of Justice has an obligation to ensure that federal elections are conducted in such a way that the American people can have full confidence in their electoral process and their government,” it added.
“I authorize you to pursue substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities prior to the certification of elections in your jurisdictions … such inquiries and reviews may be conducted if there are clear, and apparently-credible allegations of irregularities, that, if true, could potentially impact the outcome of a federal election in an individual State.”
Republicans ask DoJ to investigate reports of voter fraud
The Attorney General’s memo came after 39 House Republicans urged the Department of Justice to ensure the integrity of the voting and counting process in the recently concluded election.
“While each state runs its own election process, the United States Department of Justice is ultimately responsible for the integrity of federal elections. The American people must have the utmost confidence that the outcome of the presidential election is legitimate,” the letter said.
“With widespread reports of irregularities, particularly in the vote counting process, it is time for you to use the resources of the Department to ensure that the process is conducted in a manner that is fully consistent with state and federal law,” it added, noting that it is also important that the process be “completely transparent,” so that the American people will have full confidence in the result.
I’ve joined 38 of my colleagues in writing a letter to AG Bill Barr requesting he investigate claims of voter fraud and make sure only all legal votes are counted in this election.
The American people need to have confidence that the outcome of this election is legitimate!! pic.twitter.com/lXHYCU7FFC
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) November 7, 2020
“I’ve joined 38 of my colleagues in writing a letter to AG Bill Barr requesting he investigate claims of voter fraud and make sure only all legal votes are counted in this election,” Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana tweeted. “The American people need to have confidence that the outcome of this election is legitimate!!”
Read the full letter of the House Republicans here.
The Trump campaign has already earlier sued several states following multiple reports of voting fraud and irregularities affecting vote counting and mailed-in ballots in some key battleground areas.
Commitment to fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship
Meanwhile, in his memo AG Barr said while “most allegations” of purported election irregularities would not impact the outcome of an election, still “that is not always the case.”
“While U.S. Attorneys maintain their inherent authority to conduct inquiries and investigations they deem appropriate, it will likely be prudent to commence any election-related matters as preliminary inquiry, so as to assess whether available evidence warrants further investigative steps,” the memo said.
The Attorney General urged the DoJ nonetheless to “exercise appropriate caution” and maintain the Department’s absolute “commitment to fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship.”
He added that “while serious allegations should be handled with great care, specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims should not be a basis for initiating federal inquiries.”
“Nothing here should be taken as any indication that the Department has concluded that voting irregularities have impacted the outcome of any election,” AG Barr said in his memo.
“I provide this authority and guidance to emphasize the need to timely and appropriately address allegations of voting irregularities so that all of the American people, regardless of their preferred candidate or party, can have full confidence in the results of our elections,” he added.
“The American people and the leaders they freely elect deserve nothing less.”
