Director of DOJ’s Election Crimes Branch resigns over Barr’s invitation to intervene in elections

Most elite Republicans probably don’t think they can keep Trump in office, although it’s scary to think what would be happening of Biden hadn’t carried AZ/GA and the margin in PA was less than five figures. But they’re very actively trying to undermine the legitimacy of the election, and that’s plenty bad enough:

But critics of Mr. Barr immediately condemned the memo as a political act that undermined the Justice Department’s typical independence from the White House.

“It would be problematic enough if Barr were reversing longstanding Justice Department guidance because of significant, substantiated claims of misconduct — that could presumably be handled at the local and state level,” said Stephen I. Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law.

“But to do so when there is no such evidence — and when the president’s clear strategy is to delegitimize the results of a proper election — is one of the more problematic acts of any attorney general in my lifetime,” Mr. Vladeck added.

Mr. Pilger, a career prosecutor in the department’s Public Integrity Section who oversaw voting-fraud-related investigations, told colleagues he would move to a nonsupervisory role working on corruption prosecutions.

“Having familiarized myself with the new policy and its ramifications,” he wrote, “I must regretfully resign from my role as director of the Election Crimes Branch.” A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mr. Pilger’s message.

Barr can’t be defenestrated, preferably literally, from the DOJ soon enough.

I will have more about the sound of crocodile tears emanating from Jones Day tomorrow unless (or maybe even if!) Paul beats me to it, but Pilger reminds us that the choice is “resign or it hangs on you” no matter how many Concerns you anonymously express.