Accused fraudster claims Bill Barr framed Trump in 'flimsiest' conspiracy yet: columnist

Bulwark reporter and columnist Will Sommer revealed one of the "flimsiest" conspiracies he's seen out of MAGA so far.

Writing on Thursday, Sommer explained that the new outlandish conspiracy theory gaining traction is about former Attorney General Bill Barr somehow framing President Donald Trump for voter fraud in 2020.

At the center of the conspiracy is Patricia Lélis, a Brazilian fugitive with a well-documented history of fraud, fabrications, and notoriety in Brazil. Project Veritas, known for its questionable “whistleblower” claims, elevated Lélis’s story after she alleged Barr hatched a plan with Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis and conservative commentator Armstrong Williams to orchestrate the legal cases against Trump and his alleged co-conspirators.

Lélis, who is wanted by the FBI, was indicted for wire fraud and accused of multiple cons in both Brazil and the U.S. She purports to be a Washington insider who was privy to meetings between Barr, Willis and others. She has her own "enemies list" with far-fetched details that include gold bars and burner phones. But her top source for the conspiracy is from her own handwritten notes and documents allegedly forged.

Project Veritas and several right-wing influencers have promoted three videos of Lélis, who is said to be hiding out in Mexico.

Sommer questioned their credibility around the matter, as basic internet searches easily debunk the claims.

"Why would Project Veritas, though not exactly known for its stringent editorial standards, rely on her?" he asked. The outfit responded to questions saying Lélis is only being questioned because every whistleblower is attacked the way she is.

“We’ve also independently reviewed Patricia’s psychological profiles, consulted her legal team, and obtained documents from others familiar with her case,” the group told Sommer.

Lélis' long list of purported shams Sommer cited includes fabricated lawsuits, stolen identities, and public allegations that fall apart if fact-checked.

According to Lélis' claims, there's also an infamous "enemies list" that Barr has with names of far-right activists on it, such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

According to Sommer's report, Lélis' accusations against Armstrong Williams have their own forgeries, saying that while she worked for him in Virginia, she learned of the scheme with Barr.

The problem, Sommer wrote, "Merrick Garland, not Bill Barr, was attorney general at the time." She also claims Barr secretly met with former special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack and his theft of government documents. It was that coordination that resulted in Willis' racketeering case against Trump and many other alleged co-conspirators. She also said that Barr was aware of the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.

Read the full report here.