DOJ says it will negotiate with Democrats on full Mueller report if Barr contempt vote is called off

The Department of Justice says it's willing to recommence negotiations with the House Judiciary Committee over the release of the unredacted Mueller report if Congress does not hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt, Axios reports.

The DOJ in a letter on Tuesday said that the House Judiciary Committee's vote in favor of holding Barr in contempt was "premature and unnecessary," also saying it's "disappointed" that the full House of Representatives is set to vote on holding Barr in contempt next week.

The letter goes on to say that the committee's latest offer for Mueller report materials is "more reasonable," and so the department is "prepared to resume negotiations." However, this is provided that the committee moots its May 8 contempt vote and removes "any threat of an imminent vote by the House of Representatives to hold the attorney general in contempt."

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The House Judiciary Committee had previously voted to hold Barr in contempt for not complying with a subpoena for the unredacted Mueller report and underlying materials, but the DOJ says in this letter "it would hardly make sense" to hold Barr in contempt for rebuffing a subpoena that the department says "even the committee now appears to acknowledge was overbroad." For now, the vote to hold Barr in contempt is expected to take place on June 11.