Attorney General William Barr says he won't appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, son of president-elect Joe Biden, and neither does he intend to probe unfounded claims of widespread election fraud.
In rejecting President Donald Trump's major post-election claims Monday, Barr further distanced himself from Trump's false and debunked allegations that massive voter fraud perpetrated by Democrats robbed him of re-election.
"If I thought a special counsel at this stage was a right tool and was appropriate, I would name one, but I haven't and I'm not going to," said Barr in his last news conference before he leaves office December 30.
Barr emphasized there is no need for him to take special steps to protect the investigation of Hunter Biden's financial dealings by appointing a special counsel. This investigation into the younger Biden's financial dealings began in 2018.
Federal prosecutors and IRS investigations are conducting the probe. Hunter Biden has not been charged with any crime.
"To the extent there's an investigation, I think it's being handled responsibly and professionally currently within the department, and to this point, I have not seen a reason to appoint a special counsel, and I have no plan to do so before I leave," said Barr.
Barr has repeatedly said authorities are properly handling the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden's taxes. Federal authorities investigating Biden's taxes are examining his business dealings in China.
Trump keeps claiming, without evidence, that Biden corruptly boosted his son's business work overseas when he was vice president and that Hunter Biden was being paid off by foreign governments.
Barr also flat out rejected demands by Trump supporters for the federal government to seize voting machines alleged to have manipulated votes in favor of Biden.
"I see no basis now for seizing machines by the federal government -- wholesale seizure of machines by the federal government," Barr pointed out.
Barr also stood by his statement there was no widespread fraud that affected the outcome of the presidential election on Nov. 3.
As for a potential special counsel investigation into voter fraud, Barr said if he thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool and was appropriate, "I would do -- I would name one, but I haven't, and I'm not going to."
Once the closest of allies Barr and Trump had a major falling out earlier this month when the former declared the Department of Justice had found no evidence of voter fraud so rampant it would have reversed the victory of president-elect Joe Biden.
"To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election," said Barr in his interview with the AP.
Barr's assertion belies claims by Trump, his lawyers and his political allies he was the victim of massive voting fraud where fake ballots were illegally counted and voting machines tampered with.
Barr authorized federal prosecutors after Election Day to look into any substantial voting irregularities or fraud allegations brought to their attention before the presidential race was certified.
Barr said federal prosecutors and FBI agents investigated hundreds of complaints they received about possible fraud. He affirmed these investigators found no problems involving anywhere near the massive number of ballots that would have to be invalidated to deny Biden the presidency.
