Trump insiders say ex-president was “detached from reality” on election fraud claims

Trump insiders say ex-president was “detached from reality” on election fraud claims

In this image from video released by the House Select Committee, former Attorney General William Barr speaks during a video deposition to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, that was shown as an exhibit at the hearing Monday, June 13, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (House Select Committee via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s closest campaign advisers, top government officials — and even his family — were dismissive of his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of Jan. 6. But the committee investigating the insurrection says the defeated president was “detached from reality” as he clung to elaborate but unproven theories in a vain effort to stay in office. With testimony from within Trump’s inner-circle, the panel yesterday bolstered its claim that Trump ignored his own team’s data as one state after another flipped to Joe Biden. Instead of admitting defeat, he instead latched onto court cases, conspiracy theories and his own repeated declarations of victory. Among those whose testimony was heard yesterday was former Attorney General William Barr, who called the voting fraud claims “bull——,” “bogus” and “idiotic” — and eventually resigned because he “didn’t want to be a part of it.”

Photo: In this image from video released by the House Select Committee, former Attorney General William Barr speaks during a video deposition to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, that was shown as an exhibit at the hearing Monday, June 13, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (House Select Committee via AP)