News AG Barr: DOJ had been drawn into ‘political maelstrom’; department used as ‘political weapon’ July 27, 2020 Kristine Phillips and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY Comments Off on AG Barr: DOJ had been drawn into ‘political maelstrom’; department used as ‘political weapon’ The hearing, billed as an oversight of the Justice Department, will touch on a long list of grievances, including federal deployments to Portland.