# Bill Barr says there was no widespread fraud **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 1, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955 "2020-12-01T21:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/1 "2020-12-01T21:31:50Z")
According to the Associated Press, > **[Disputing Trump, Barr says no widespread election fraud](https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — Disputing President Donald Trump’s persistent, baseless claims, Attorney General William Barr declared Tuesday the U.S. > [@](#): > > Barr said U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been working to follow up specific complaints and information they’ve received, but they’ve uncovered no evidence that would change the outcome of the election. > [@](#): > > “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election,” Barr told the AP. I am surprised, considering how desperate Barr seemed previously. Naturally, this attracted opposition: > [@](#): > > “with all due respect to the Attorney General, there hasn’t been any semblance” of an investigation. From Rudy Giuliani, of course. I wonder how many die-hard Trumpers in important positions are still supporting the fraud narrative. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/2 "2020-12-01T21:48:52Z")
Barr? Truth? Well, Hell almighty! (He did make sure to leave a special prosecutor in place, as a kind of turd on the carpet for Biden.) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/3 "2020-12-01T22:17:23Z")
Hell has frozen over? I’m going call some ex-girlfriends tonight! 💏 🙀 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/4 "2020-12-01T22:22:12Z")
Barr must have finished shredding files over the long weekend. He no longer feels he needs a presidential pardon. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/5 "2020-12-02T20:44:53Z")
Right-wing media is unsurprisingly turning on Barr now: > **[Bill Barr bashed in right-wing media after election fraud comments: 'He is...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/media/bill-barr-right-wing-media-reliable-sources/index.html)** > > A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. Reminds me of this joke: A trump lover and his buddy are driving home from a trump rally when they are killed in an accident. They find themselves at the Pearly Gates. Jesus walks up and says “hey guys, St. Peter’s off today, so I’m filling in. A couple angels are reviewing your lives to see if you’re worthy to enter or not. In the meantime, got any questions? As the son of God, I can answer anything you want to know”. One of the trump lovers asks “so how exactly did the Socialist Democrats rig the election?”. Jesus says “the election wasn’t rigged. It was the most closely watched, most secure election in American history, with absolutely no hint of any significant fraud whatsoever. Your guy got a lot of votes, but Biden got more votes, and he won the electoral college in a valid, clear-cut victory. It’s as simple as that. End of story”. The trump lover turns to his buddy and says “I had no idea the Deep State went THIS deep!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/6 "2020-12-02T20:50:33Z")
IANA religious expert, but it’s amazing to me how different the answers are to these two questions: 1. What would Jesus do? 2. What would Jeebus do? A little accent seems to go a very long way. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/7 "2020-12-02T20:51:43Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > (He did make sure to leave a special prosecutor in place, as a kind of turd on the carpet for Biden.) Yeah, no. Maybe. The Special Counsel rules require that the appointment be someone who is not currently part of the DOJ. Obviously that excludes John Durham as a valid choice. However, it could still be somewhat problematic for Biden to fire him because optics. I hope Biden says, screw optics, you’re outta here. It’s customary for new presidents to fire many of/all the US attorneys appointed by the previous administration, because they are often political appointments, so that wouldn’t be unusual. But the right would howl he was only doing it to scotch a “valid” investigation. They’re going to howl anyway. May as well give them a whipping. //// Ooohh, I see Xavier Becerra is under consideration as the new AG. That would be a terrific pick, though Senate Republicans would probably never approve him. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/8 "2020-12-02T21:17:31Z")
Perhaps he hopes that he won’t have to fight other rats for a life preserver. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/9 "2020-12-02T21:35:00Z")
Trump to his entire scurvy crew: > Folks - I’ve only got 12 pardons here; no more where they came from. What am I bid? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/10 "2020-12-02T21:47:38Z")
Barr’s not only being “outed” as an enemy [by Lou Dobbs on FoxSnooze and Greg Kelly on Newsmax](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/media/bill-barr-right-wing-media-reliable-sources/index.html), but now even [Roger Stone, in a video posted to Parler](https://www.newsweek.com/roger-stone-bill-barr-deep-state-trump-1551733), accuses him of a ‘Deep State’ Connection. Am I a fool to keep watching the news sites, in hopes that Trump fires him? Since I consider Barr to have dangerous “ideals”, I can’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/11 "2020-12-02T22:46:06Z")
Shark Tank indeed. Don’t slip off the narrow gangway across the pool lest you be the guest of honor at a feeding frenzy. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/12 "2020-12-02T23:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election,” Barr told the AP. “we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome” = Sure, there’s fraud. Just not quite enough of it. “To date” = But who knows, more fraud might show up eventually! Keep your fingers crossed, guys! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/13 "2020-12-03T21:33:58Z")
How to wind up hated by both sides. What an ass. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/14 "2020-12-03T21:38:41Z")
Loyalty only to self is not a pretty sight in public. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/15 "2020-12-03T21:59:38Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > I am surprised, considering how desperate Barr seemed previously. Naturally, this attracted opposition: I’m not surprised. But going back, I also was not surprised that before the election, Barr engaged in reprehensible actions in order to get Trump reelected. He is smart enough to know that based on the utter lack of evidence of any fraud, he has nothing to gain anymore from Trump. Hence at least being smart enough to do something where he can regain a modicum of respect, or something, if you don’t like that particular word. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/16 "2020-12-03T22:52:59Z")
yup. if he could throw the election he would as it stands trump loses his usefulness to barr in two months. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/17 "2020-12-04T13:27:55Z")
Also keep in mind that he chose his words carefully: he didn’t say there was no fraud, only that there wasn’t enough fraud to change the outcome of the election. He left himself some room to weasel around with. Barr did his best for Trump. He doubled down on his bet with this administration, and despite Trump’s private rage, those closest to Trump know that Barr enabled Trump in ways few others could. But that being said, this is yet another cautionary tale about the blowback of illiberal democracy and political cults like MAGA. I would hope that conservatives would start taking a look at the pattern here: there is no reward for partial loyalty, not even 90% loyalty. You have to be 100% loyal to an authoritarian regime, or you’re out. In the end, conservatives will be devoured by their right wing rage just like everyone else. They’ll just be the last to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/18 "2020-12-04T13:32:19Z")
“First Trump came for the Mexican children, and because I was not a Mexican child…” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/19 "2020-12-04T13:45:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Also keep in mind that he chose his words carefully: he didn’t say there was no fraud, only that there wasn’t enough fraud to change the outcome of the election. He left himself some room to weasel around with. Seems like a sensible thing to have said anyway. It is absurdly unlikely that in such a large event, there wasn’t _some_ small amount of interference from attempted fraud. It may well be that there was a _great deal_ of fraud, but still not enough fraud to tip the outcome in favour of the Donald ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955/20 "2020-12-04T14:01:10Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It is absurdly unlikely that in such a large event, there wasn’t _some_ small amount of interference from attempted fraud. It may well be that there was a _great deal_ of fraud, When they show evidence of said possible fraud then it should be taken seriously. But when it just conjecture, conspiracy theories and out right whining from cry babies who are upset that their guy lost and decide its best to take such nonsense to court it needs to be called out and dismissed. This nonsense that there must have been some level of fraud is just bullshit, they need to put up or shut up until they have facts to back up their claims. This iceberg has no tip from what I have seen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-barr-says-there-was-no-widespread-fraud/926955.md?page=2)