Trump Battles to Reverse Biden's Narrow Wins Amid Substantial Allegations of Voting Irregularities

Strategic Insights -

US Attorney General William Barr has authorized prosecutors to investigate "substantial allegations" of voting irregularities, allowing President Donald Trump's campaign to challenge the outcome of the presidential election. This move comes amidst Trump's efforts to reverse Biden's narrow wins in several key states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona. As the Electoral College meets on December 14 to finalize the outcome, election officials have stated that the election went relatively well, with minor issues like broken voting machines and ballots that were either miscast or lost. Barr's action raises the prospect that Trump will use the Justice Department to try to challenge the outcome.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Attorney General, William Barr, has authorized prosecutors to investigate "substantial allegations" of voting irregularities in the 2020 presidential election.
  • The investigation is aimed at addressing allegations of voter fraud and ensuring confidence in the election results, according to Barr.
  • The move comes as President Trump battles to reverse Biden's narrow wins in several key states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona.
  • Election officials have stated that the election went relatively well, with minor issues like broken voting machines and ballots that were either miscast or lost.
  • The investigation is limited to "clear and credible allegations of irregularities that could effect the outcome of a federal election in an individual state".
  • The Electoral College meets on December 14 to finalize the outcome of the election.
  • A Justice Department official declined to comment on what Barr and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell discussed.
  • Despite allegations of voter fraud, multiple studies have debunked the notion of pervasive voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process.
  • Barr has advised that allegations concerning voter fraud "should be handled with great care" and that "specious, speculative, fanciful or far-fetched claims should not be a basis for initiating federal inquiries".

Statistics:

  • 270 electoral votes are required to win the presidential election.
  • Biden won 306 electoral votes, while Trump won 232.
  • The Electoral College meets on December 14 to finalize the outcome of the election.
  • 47 states have certified their election results as of December 7.
  • 32 states have authorized investigations into allegations of voter fraud or irregularities.

Sources:

  • Fox News: Memo obtained by Fox News
  • US Department of Justice: Memo from William Barr to all heads of DOJ components
  • CNN: 'There's no evidence of widespread voter fraud in US elections'
  • The New York Times: 'Studies Debunk Voter Fraud Claims as Election Workers Blast Trump's Claims of 'Rigged' Election'
  • PBS NewsHour: 'Election 2020: How mail-in voting works and why it's secure'