Washington | Attorney-General William Barr acknowledged on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) that the Justice Department had uncovered no voting fraud "on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election", a striking repudiation of President Donald Trump's groundless claims that he was defrauded.

The statement from Mr Barr affirming Joe Biden's win served as a particularly harsh blow to Mr Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the election. Mr Barr has advanced the President's political agenda perhaps more than any other cabinet member, bringing the Justice Department as close to the White House as it has been since Watergate.