Former Attorney General Barr Believes Trump Knew He Lost the Election, Speaks on Special Counsel’s Probe – CNN

Former US Attorney General William Barr believes that former President Donald Trump “knew well he lost the election,” according to an interview with CNN. Barr’s comments come ahead of Trump’s arraignment in the special counsel’s probe into election interference. Special counsel Jack Smith has brought four charges against Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, as part of his investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election leading up to the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Trump’s lawyers argue that his election lies are protected under the First Amendment, but Barr disagrees, stating that lying about the election does not protect one from entering into a conspiracy. While once a loyalist to Trump, Barr has become one of his most significant critics since resigning in 2020. He defended Special Counsel Jack Smith, saying that he is not a partisan actor and that there is more evidence to come about Trump’s state of mind regarding the election. Barr declined to comment on whether he has spoken with Smith’s team as part of the investigation. Despite his criticism, Barr did not rule out voting for Trump if he were the Republican nominee in 2024, stating that he would have to assess the situation at that time.