Former Attorney General William Barr on Friday ripped Donald Trump s reprehensible behavior after the 2020 election, while also brushing off criticisms of the Justice Departments recent indictment against the former president.

In an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins earlier this week, Barr had argued that the department has a legitimate case as Trump faces four felony counts tied to efforts to undermine the election.

When Martha MacCallum later asked Barr to explain his argument on Fox News , he pointed to an onslaught of attacks claiming that the case amounts to weaponization or a crime against humanity.

I think thats overkill, said Barr, who also knocked claims that the indictment violates Trumps First Amendment rights.

I think its a legitimate case from a legal standpoint, responding to a very grave misconduct.

The former attorney general went on to bash additional criticism of the case.

I dont like all of these overkill attacks that this was somehow reprehensible to bring it. What was reprehensible was the conduct after the election, Barr said.

Its perfectly to be expected that the Department of Justice would approach it the way it would approach something like this, which is under the laws against defrauding the United States and obstructing proceedings.

Barr also declared that indictment does not amount to interference in the 2024 election, but added that there are some considerations here that I wouldve seriously considered not bringing the case.

Multiple Republicans have claimed that the felony charges leveled against Trump are a way to distract Americans from President Joe Biden s son, who is separately facing gun and tax charges.

Im not saying its improper to pursue the Trump case, Barr said. But Im saying its an aggressive move versus very lenient treatment of Hunter Biden, and I think that that is very divisive in the country.

(H/T Mediaite )