SCOOP: While his Justice Department finalized a plan with Australian officials for the U.S. to help free two Australian bloggers from a Tehran prison, AG Barr had another request: help investigate the origins of the Mueller inquiry. W/ @LachCartwright https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-barr-pressed-australia-for-help-on-mueller-review-as-doj-worked-to-free-its-hostages

Talks between the U.S. and Australia culminated during the Australian state visit in Sept. The U.S. would help facilitate the bloggers' release in part by pulling back on pursuing het extradition of an Iranian scientist. https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-barr-pressed-australia-for-help-on-mueller-review-as-doj-worked-to-free-its-hostages

Just before the state visit Trump had asked Morrison for his gov. to help Barr with his inquiry. Less than two weeks after the meetings, the bloggers and the Iranian scientist were released. https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-barr-pressed-australia-for-help-on-mueller-review-as-doj-worked-to-free-its-hostages