White House pushed for top federal prosecutor’s resignation in Atlanta: report

Officials at the White House reportedly lobbied the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pressure the former top federal prosecutor in Atlanta to resign out of frustration he would not investigate claims of voter fraud.

A top Justice Department official, at the request of the White House, called former U.S. Attorney Byung Pak on Jan. 3 and told him President Trump was furious at a lack of investigation into voter fraud allegations, The Wall Street Journal reported. The DOJ official reportedly told him that Trump wanted to fire Pak. 

Pak, a Trump appointee, announced his resignation the following day, writing to colleagues that he was proud of “working very closely with our law enforcement partners in keeping our communities safe.” 

It is not unusual for a federal prosecutor to leave his post ahead of a new presidential administration being inaugurated, but Pak’s departure comes just weeks after the release of audio of a call between Trump and the Republican Georgia secretary of state in which the president is heard pressuring Brad Raffensperger to “find” him enough votes to win the November presidential election. 

Critics have said the call could be evidence of a potential crime.  

In a separate internal memo, Pak said his departure had been the result of “unforeseen circumstances,” Talking Points Memo first reported. Trump named Bobby Christine as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia on Jan. 5. 

Trump has consistently attacked elections and law enforcement officials in Georgia since his loss in the November presidential election, claiming they are ignoring unproven claims of widespread fraud that tipped the election into Biden’s favor. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.