Bill Barr responds to Democrats' fear that Trump won't leave office: 'I’ve never heard of that crap'

President’s hand-picked AG says United States on verge of being ruled by a ‘mob’ even though GOP holds two branches

Attorney General William Barr, in politically white hot comments, called Democrats’ concerns Donald Trump would refuse to leave office if he loses the election in November “crap.”

Mr Barr lambasted the opposition party, which he dubbed a “mob,” echoing the president’s rhetoric, over everything from Covid-era mail-in ballots to allegations they are purposefully trying to sow seeds of doubt about the election’s validity – just hours before Mr Trump returned to Twitter and appeared to do just that.

Some Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans have voiced concerns that the president is attempting to stay in office for months or years beyond his term, which expires on 20 January, if former Vice President Joe Biden is declared the winner of a close election. Since many states decided to alleviate voters’ polling station-related health concerns amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Mr Trump and his surrogates, including his attorney general, have said mailed-in ballots would automatically bring fraud.

Experts counter that with data showing states that already have gone to such a system have reported very little fraud.

But Mr Barr, speaking to a Chicago Tribune reporter on Monday, seemed just as agitated by Democrats’ alleging Mr Trump, whose businesses all evidence suggests are being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York’s southern district, intends to refuse to vacate the White House on the day (20 January) his successor would be sworn in.

“You know liberals project,” said Mr Barr, whom the Chicago newspaper described as “salty” during the interview. “You know the president is going to stay in office and seize power and all that s**t? I’ve never heard of that crap. I mean, I’m the attorney general. I would think I would have heard about it.”

Mr Barr grew agitated recently during an early prime time interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, as well.

With the Chicago newspaper, he warned the United States is closing in on being “ruled by the mob,” even though Republicans control the White House and executive branch, the Senate, a majority of conservative Supreme Court justices, and has packed federal benches with right-leaning judges for three years.

“Increasingly, the message of the Democrats appears to be ‘Biden or no peace’,” he said.

The Democratic nominee has condemned violent protesting, and groups that allegedly perpetrate it, like Antifa.

Attorneys general have typically followed tradition by trying to avoid political debates. Not Mr Barr.

“As an attorney general, I’m not supposed to get into politics,” Barr told the newspaper. “But…I think we are getting into a position where we’re going to find ourselves irrevocably committed to a socialist path. And I think if Trump loses this election – that will be the case.”