William Barr Says He Told Trump Election Fraud Claims Were 'Bulls***'

Former US attorney general William Barr said in an interview released during the January 6th committee hearing on June 9 that he had dismissed former president Donald Trump’s election fraud claims.

Barr said he had told the former president he considered the claim to be “bulls***" and that he did not want to be part of it.

“You can’t live in a world where the incumbent administration stays in power based on its view, unsupported by specific evidence that there was fraud in the election,” Barr said.

The hearings are part of an investigation by a bipartisan House panel focused on the attack on the US Capitol, led by Representatives Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney. Credit: January 6th Committee via Storyful

Video Transcript

WILLIAM BARR: been to-- I had three discussions with the President that I can recall. One was on November 23rd, one was on December 1st, and one was on December 14. And I've been through sort of the give and take of those discussions. And in that context, I made it clear I did not agree with the idea of saying the election was stolen and putting out this stuff, which I told the President was bullshit.

And, you know, I didn't want to be a part of it and that's one of the reasons that went into me deciding to leave when I did.

I observed, I think it was on December 1st, that we can't live in a world where the incumbent administration stays in power based on its view. Unsupported by specific evidence that the election-- that there was fraud in the election.

I've had-- I had three discussions with the President that I can recall. One was on November 23rd, one was on December 1st, and one was on December 14.