A Justice Department career official who oversees the DOJ’s election crimes unit resigned on Monday night, several hours after Attorney General Bill Barr issued a new Trump-friendly policy authorizing investigations into allegations of mass voter fraud before the election results are certified.
Richard Pilger, the director of the election crimes branch at the department’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), sent an email to his colleagues announcing that he was stepping down in response to the new rule.
“Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications, […] I must regretfully resign from my role as Director of the Election Crimes Branch,” Pilger wrote.
He told his colleagues that PIN Deputy Chief Robert Heberle would serve as acting director of the branch, and assured them that PIN “remains committed to operating properly in all of its functions.”
Earlier on Monday evening, Barr released a memo informing federal prosecutors that under the new policy, they may pursue “substantial allegations of voting and vote tabulation irregularities prior to the certification of elections” in their jurisdictions. Critics slammed the rule change and accused Barr of feeding into President Donald Trump’s undemocratic efforts to undermine President-elect Joe Biden’s legitimate victory by baselessly crying voter fraud.
A DOJ official claimed in an interview with the New York Times that Trump, who has refused to concede the race to Biden, nor GOP lawmakers had asked Barr to enact the policy.
Trump has been on a crusade to steal the election with bogus accusations that his defeat was caused by mass voter fraud despite the fact that such fraud has not been proven to exist.
Officials need to stop resigning and start actively resisting.
I don’t disagree, but–how, exactly?
Meantime: this is a desperation move on the part of Fat Bill. He’s placating Orange Infant #1, and at the same time desperately trying to avoid further/additional exposure that could land him in jail after Jan 20. This move is dangerous, yes–but it’s also weak.
True, better to be fired for doing the right thing. But maybe he can sleep a bit better now.
Thank you Mr. Pilger for your courage and actions. Isolate and publicly challenge the Republican leadership and President. Hold them accountable. Front page headlines until Barr backs away. Active resistance while in office is not the way to proceed. Out of office, do everything possible to publicize and investigate the abuse of power by those who remain. Maintain the integrity of the process, despite what the Republicans are doing.
He should’ve stayed and slow walked anything that came in. Sooner or later they’ll find the true believers who are more than willing to grease the skids on the slide to fascism.