DOJ Election Crimes Chief Resigns After Barr Memo

NBC News reports:

The head of the branch of the Justice Department that prosecutes election crimes resigned Monday hours after Attorney General William Barr issued a memo to federal prosecutors to investigate “specific allegations” of voter fraud before the results of the presidential race are certified.

Richard Pilger, who was director of the Election Crimes Branch of the DOJ, sent a memo to colleagues that suggested his resignation was linked to Barr’s memo, which was issued as the president’s legal team mount baseless legal challenges to the election results, alleging widespread voter fraud cost him the race.

“Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications, and in accord with the best tradition of the John C. Keeney Award for Exceptional Integrity and Professionalism (my most cherished Departmental recognition), I must regretfully resign from my role as Director of the Election Crimes Branch,” Pilger’s letter said.

Read the full article.

The second tweet below is from OANN.

DOJ folks will appreciate the significance of Richard Pilgar’s resignation as head of election crimes – he invoked Mr. Keeney, whose integrity is legendary at DOJ & said, that Barr’s sea change in policy toward investigating election crimes compelled him to step down. https://t.co/l8egsI8F9S

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) November 10, 2020

Today:

2:30pm: Bill Barr meets with @senatemajldr.

3:23pm: @senatemajldr defends Trump in Senate speech.

7pm: Barr authorizes DOJ to investigate election fraud.

8pm: Obama lackey Richard Pilger resigns from DOJ election crimes job.

Maybe the GOP decided to fight.

— Emerald Robinson ✝️ (@EmeraldRobinson) November 10, 2020