In 2018, now-Attorney General Barr wrote a memo about why the president had not obstructed justice and shared it with President Trump, raising concerns that Barr would not be impartial in his dealings with the Mueller investigation. However, Barr maintained oversight of the Mueller investigation rather than recusing himself, as Attorney General Sessions had done.

Barr reportedly reached the decision after Department of Justice ethics officials advised him he should not recuse himself. CREW requested any ethics advice that Barr was given about whether or not he should recuse from the investigation.

The requested records will contribute to public understanding about the integrity and honesty of the nation’s top law enforcement officer. The public should know the extent to which the Attorney General’s decision not to recuse was based on a full consideration of all potential conflicts and issues that could be raised by his oversight of the Mueller investigation.

Read the request here.

Read More in FOIA Requests