Attorney General William Barr resigns, effective Dec. 23

Attorney General William Barr, the head of the Department of Justice, will leave office before Christmas, President Donald Trump said Monday.

The widely anticipated announcement of Barr’s departure came just moments after President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump was formalized by the Electoral College. The shake-up, in the twilight of Trump’s tenure in the White House, also followed weeks of public clashes between Barr and the president.

But Barr’s resignation letter, shared on Twitter by Trump as he made the announcement, elaborately praised the president and said he felt “proud to have played a role in the many successes and unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people.”