US Attorney General William Barr is leaving the White House, President Donald Trump has announced.
It comes just minutes after the Electoral College gave Joe Biden the 270 votes necessary to become President in 2021.
"Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job!" Trump said on Twitter.
"As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family.
"Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all!"
In a letter to the US President, Barr says that the Justice Department will continue to pursue allegations of electoral fraud at the November election and calls Trump's record "historic" because he accomplished what he did "in the face of relentless, implacable resistance".
"Few could have weathered these attacks, much less forge ahead with a positive programme for the country," Barr said in his letter.
The relationship between Trump and his Attorney General has been in question over recent weeks after Barr said the Justice Department had found no sign of major fraud at the election, differing from claims the US President continues to make.
Trump's legal team had accused Barr of failing to conduct a proper inquiry into the voter fraud claims.
Biden beat Trump by 306 to 232 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College that chooses the president, as well as by more than 7 million ballots in the popular vote.
Despite that, Trump has continued to claim loudly and without evidence that the election was marred by widespread fraud, allegations that have been repeatedly rejected by state and federal officials.
Trump has pursued a series of legal challenges in numerous states, but he has not managed to prevail in any of them.
Last week, the US Supreme Court rejected a long-shot lawsuit by Texas and backed by Trump and a number of other states seeking to throw out voting results in four states, dealing what is seen as the fatal blow in his quest to undo his election loss.
Trump has refused to concede the election and waited until late November before allowing the Biden transition team to access funds and other resources it needs to prepare for the peaceful transfer of power.
Last week, it was reported that Barr knew earlier this year of an investigation in Hunter Biden's taxes. Trump shared a tweet about that news with the caption: "A big disappointment!"
In February, Barr told ABC that Trump's constant tweeting made it "impossible" for him to do his job.
"To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about our people in the department, our men and women, about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job," he said.
Newshub / Reuters.
