The Pennsylvania attorney, who made headlines in September for announcing an investigation into “discarded” banknotes, announced his resignation on Tuesday.
“Over the past three years, I have been fortunate to work with highly qualified lawyers and staff in the Central District of Pennsylvania,” Attorney General Daniel Freed said in a statement on Tuesday. “It is a blessed office with experienced and dedicated leaders and colleagues who truly understand the importance of working together for the benefit of their fellow citizens.”
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Freed’s resignation takes effect on January 1, 2021.
The prosecutor made headlines in September after announcing that he was initiating an investigation into nine military ballots that were improperly opened and “discarded”. This announcement launched the allegations of Trump’s election fraud campaign.
Although ballots could be counted in the general election after the votes were verified, the revelation that at least seven of the ballots were for Trump fueled the president’s accusations.
Freed’s announcement about the investigation, which involved the FBI, was considered unusual while the case was underway.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that there would be widespread electoral fraud with the expansion of postal voting – a practice that produced record voter turnout in the 2020 general election in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar later called the incident a “serious error” and indicated that it was not “intentional fraud”.
Freed did not give a reason for his resignation, but said: “I did my best to be considerate and consistent and to provide justice to my fellow citizens in a fair, effective and efficient manner.”
After winning the Republican Party’s nomination as state attorney general in 2012, he lost the general election. However, five years later, he was appointed U.S. Attorney by President Trump and was confirmed by the Senate in November 2017.
Freed noted that he was “grateful to President Trump”, as well as Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey and his Republican counterpart, Senator Pat Toomey, “for the opportunity to serve.” Freed also thanked “former Attorneys General Sessions and Barr for their leadership in the Department”.
Freed’s investigation was the tip of the iceberg when it came to an alleged or suspected electoral fraud in the November 3 presidential election.
Trump and his campaign launched more than 50 lawsuits after states declared victory for Democratic challenger President-elect Joe Biden, the vast majority of whom were rejected for lack of evidence, NBC News reported.
But although Attorney General William Barr announced earlier this month that the Justice Department found no evidence to support widespread electoral fraud, Trump said “millions” of votes were cast “illegally” by correspondence and believes the election was stolen from him.
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“You can imagine if Republicans stole a Democratic presidential election – hell would break out. Republican leadership just wants the path of least resistance,” Trump said on Tuesday. “Our leaders (not me, of course!) Are pathetic.”
Brittany De Lea contributed to this report.