Former special counsel John Durham’s deputy, Nora Dannehy, testified recently that the Trump Justice Department was deployed to protect Donald Trump’s electoral prospects. This controversial claim further confirms suspicions of bias within the Trump era DOJ.
The Republicans had spent a considerable amount of time accusing Merrick Garland, the current Attorney General, of weaponizing the Justice Department against conservatives and providing protection to Hunter Biden. Yet, amidst these accusations, Dannehy discloses counterclaims that reveal a different narrative.
Dannehy, the former US Attorney for Connecticut, has been selected for a seat at Connecticut’s Supreme Court. She was closely associated with Durham, who was nominated by Bill Barr in 2019 to scrutinize the origins of the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s connections with Russia. However, in September 2020, she abruptly resigned from the probe, leading to questions about potential irregularities in the inquiry.
“My conscience did not allow me to remain,” Dannehy expressed during her testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly. She then went on to critique the former US attorney general for incorrectly using the Durham probe to retaliate against Trump’s political opponents.
The bias suspicions were additionally flamed in early 2023, when the New York Times shared a syndicated story pointing to the Trump appointee’s investigation as being influenced by politics from the onset. Barr’s alleged pandemonium regarding the intelligence services and his instance on finding proof regarding their questionable actions further complicated the situation.
Dannehy, in her testimony, was particularly critical of Barr’s habitual meddling in the Russia investigation and the accompanying blatant political goals. This forced Dannehy to eventually leave her position in 2020. Furthermore, she stated she believed Barr had violated DOJ guidelines through his specific and public comments regarding the ongoing criminal investigation.
Years later, the Durham-led investigation closed inconclusively in May 2023, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. Dannehy’s nomination in Connecticut, however, was supported in the committee with a strong 30-4 vote.
For further reading:
Nora Dannehy says Barr meddled in Trump-Russia probe [CT Mirror]
How Barr’s Quest to Find Flaws in the Russia Inquiry Unraveled [NYT]
Former prosecutor who quit Trump-Russia probe says she left over concerns with Barr [Politico]