Barr has repeatedly and stridently attacked the Russia investigation — saying that what happened to Trump was “one of the greatest travesties in American history” — while hinting vaguely that he is “troubled” by what he knows Durham has found. That has drawn accusations from Democrats and legal analysts that he is inappropriately talking about an ongoing case and prejudging its outcome.

“There’s a real danger, in fact an urgent threat, that anything the Department of Justice does will be timed to aid the president,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D- Conn.) said in an interview, adding, “Barr has proven ready, willing and able to distort, distract and deceive.”…

Donald Ayer, who worked as deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, said that even if there was no explicit policy, Barr had a duty to take steps to avoid the appearance of political interference.

“You have to bring some common sense, and an attitude that says, ‘I’m actually trying to make the public think we’re being fair,’ ” Ayer said. “The problem with Barr is he’s not trying to do that.”