Attorney General Bill Barr will not recuse himself from overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, the Justice Department announced Monday.
"Following General Barr's confirmation, senior career ethics officials advised that General Barr should not recuse himself from the Special Counsel's investigation. Consistent with that advice, General Barr has decided not to recuse," according to Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec.
Prior to his confirmation, Democrats had raised concerns about a 19-page memo Barr authored in June 2018 detailing why he believed President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey should not constitute obstruction of justice. Barr vowed to consult with ethics officials but did not make any pledge to recuse himself from the Russia probe.
