BREAKING: William Barr out as Attorney General

Trump announced on Twitter that "Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job! As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family...

"...Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all!"

Trump shared a letter from Barr. It read:

"I appreciate the opportunity to update you this afternoon on the Department's review of voter fraud in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued. At a time when the country is so deeply divided, it is incumbent on all levels of government and all agencies within their purview, to do all we can to assure the integrity of elections and promote public confidence in their outcome."

Barr wrote that he was "greatly honored" to have served in the Trump administration and to serve the American people as Attorney General, and that he was "proud to have played a role in the many successes and unprecedented achievements" that the administration has "delivered for the American people."

He praised Trumps' record as "histrionic," especially given the pushback he received, calling it "relentless, implacable resistance." He noted Trump's 2016 victory speech, saying that he "called out for working together for the benefit of the American people and was immediately met by a partisan onslaught."

"Few could have weathered these attacks," Barr wrote, "much less forge ahead with a positive program for the country." Barr praised the booming economy that Trump saw during his time in office, and the restoration of military strength. Historic peace deals in the Middle East, the Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, and the curbing of illegal immigration as top achievements during Trump's time in office.

Barr, who was confirmed as Attorney General in 2019, was recently reported to have been weighing whether or not to stay on through the end of Trump's term in office. Divisions arose between Barr and Trump in the wake of the 2020 general election, when the Trump campaign and many GOP lawmakers alleged that there was election fraud that cost Trump the election.

Barr said that while evidence of voter fraud was found, he did not believe that it was enough to have swayed the election. Barr was a stalwart ally, however, with regard to Trump's belief that the FBI was guilty of an abuse of power with regard to pursuing an investigation as to the alleged ties between Trump and Russia.

As one of his last, major acts at Attorney General, Barr appointed an independent counsel, John Durham, to investigate the investigation into Trump at the end of the Obama administration. Making Durham an independent counsel means that it will be much more difficult for the incoming Biden administration to squash that investigation.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.