Page:CTRL0000034600 - Transcribed Interview of Richard Peter Donoghue, (Oct. 1, 2021).pdf/39

39 We had talked before, Mr. Donoghue, about the December 1st public reporting of his statement, no evidence of systemic fraud. Did he ever tell you that he had provided that kind of information directly to the President in face-to-face meetings—he, again, Attorney General Barr?

I don't remember specifically hearing that from him, but it was my impression that he was relaying that to the President.

That he was relaying, "Hey, there's no evidence of fraud; we're looking at it, and we're not finding anything," was it your impression that he was conveying that generally to the President over the course of the time between the election and his resignation?

Yes, it was.

Okay.

So, after you had this conversation with Attorney General Barr about "think about whether you want to be Attorney General," did you hear from the President directly?

I did. I went back to my office immediately after that. I called my wife. I told her what was going on. And, you know, she said, well, what are you going to do? And I said, I can't even think about it right now, there's too much going on, and I'll think about it tonight, we'll talk tonight. And I hung up.

A few minutes later, the phone rang, my—I believe it was my government cell phone rang. I answered it. It said, "This is the White House operator. Please hold for the President." And then the President came on the line and we had a brief discussion.

Tell us about the discussion.

As I recollect, the President said, "Have you heard that Bill is leaving?"

I said, "Yes, sir. I saw him when he returned to the building. I heard that you had a good meeting."