DOJ inspector general to investigate possibility of efforts to overturn election

Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The Justice Department's Inspector General's Office announced Monday it is opening an investigation into whether any current or former department officials tried to change the results of the presidential election.

The statement comes after reports that former President Donald Trump considered a plan to replace the acting attorney general during his final weeks in office with one more willing to look into his baseless claims of voter fraud. The plan wasn't carried out. Several top Justice Department officials threatened to resign over it.

Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz said in the two-paragraph statement the investigation will include "whether any former or current DOJ official engaged in an improper attempt to have DOJ seek to alter the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election."

Horowitz said the investigation would cover "all relevant allegations" in his jurisdiction.

William Barr resigned as attorney general with about a month left in Trump's presidency, leaving Jeffrey Rosen as acting attorney general. Trump continued to push claims of election fraud though the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Barr had pushed back on Trump's allegations before resigning, saying he had not seen any evidence of widespread fraud in the presidential election.

According to Horowitz's statement, the investigation won't include allegations against Trump.

"The OIG has jurisdiction to investigate allegations concerning the conduct of former and current DOJ employees," Horowitz said. "The OIG's jurisdiction does not extend to allegations against other government officials."