Barr Says Review of Origins of Russia Probe Could Lead to Rule Changes

Attorney General William Barr said his review of the origins of the Russia investigation is focused on U.S. intelligence gathering before the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened its formal inquiry in July 2016 and could lead to rule changes for counterintelligence investigations of political campaigns.

“Government power was used to spy on American citizens,” Mr. Barr told The Wall Street Journal, in his first interview since taking office in February. “I can’t imagine any world where we wouldn’t take a look and make sure that was done properly.”

He added: “Just like we need to ensure that foreign actors don’t influence the outcome of our elections, we need to ensure that the government doesn’t use its powers to put a thumb on the scale.”

Mr. Barr’s first few months on the job have been dominated by controversy surrounding his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report and its aftermath, including his vocal defense of President Trump, whose actions he determined didn’t constitute a crime. Mr. Barr began his own investigation into the early stages of the Russia probe, a move Democrats and some former law-enforcement officials said was a politically motivated attempt to appease Mr. Trump and his Republican allies. Mr. Barr denied that criticism.

In his Wednesday interview, he declined to elaborate or offer any details on what prompted his concerns about the genesis of the Russia probe.

Mr. Barr spoke to the Journal on board a government plane en route to El Salvador, where he is seeking ways to step up international cooperation against the street gang MS-13.

Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray have said in recent weeks they believed the investigation that was opened in July 2016 was appropriate or they had seen no evidence that any illegal activity had taken place. Mr. Wray has distanced himself from Mr. Barr’s use of the term “spying” for legally permissible FBI surveillance.