2020 Election

Attorney General Authorizes Probes Into Alleged Voting Irregularities

Attorney General William Barr reversed a longstanding policy of waiting until an election is certified to investigate such allegations.

Attorney General Authorizes Probes Into Alleged Voting Irregularities
Susan Walsh / AP
SMS

The Justice Department's top election crimes prosecutor is stepping down after Attorney General William Barr reversed longstanding policy and authorized federal prosecutors to investigate allegations of voting irregularities.

In a memo issued last night, the attorney general said prosecutors can probe "substantial allegations" of voting irregularities that could "potentially impact the outcome of a federal election."

The department's policy has previously been to wait until after an election is certified. The memo comes as President Trump alleges – without evidence – that there was widespread voter fraud in last week's election.