Durham is investigating the department's counterintelligence operation against the Trump campaign and associates, which was riddled with errors and malfeasance.
Noting that a confidential report on what the investigation found will be produced as required by law, Durham "to the maximum extent possible and consistent with the law and policies and practices of the Department of Justice, shall submit to the Attorney General a final report, and such interim reports as he deems appropriate, in a form that will permit public dissemination," Barr wrote in an October 2020 order.
In response, Joe Gaeta, deputy assistant attorney general, defended the hiring of Hennessey and that she is not involved with the probe, given that Durham is utilizing his own staff.
Gaeta declined to comment on the investigation's status but said the department does back the portion of Barr's order regarding public dissemination of the final report and any interim reports.
"The Department agrees with this statement," he wrote.
Gaeta's letter was sent on July 13 and made public on Friday.
Durham was a U.S. attorney for many years but was replaced along with every other U.S. attorney by President Joe Biden earlier this year.
The only exception was U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who is investigating Biden's son Hunter Biden.
