Mueller report re-released with fewer redactions after legal battle

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday removed a number of redactions from former special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerWhy a special counsel is guaranteed if Biden chooses Yates, Cuomo or Jones as AG Barr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel CNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump MORE’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election amid a court battle over information withheld from the report.

The DOJ submitted the re-processed report in a court filing, saying that the redactions in question are no longer necessary following the conclusion of the criminal case against Roger StoneRoger Jason StoneVice chair of Oregon Young Republicans group among those arrested at Capitol Trump supporters show up to DC for election protest DC mayor activates National Guard ahead of pro-Trump demonstrations MORE, the longtime GOP operative and former Trump campaign adviser.

The department said the redactions were originally made to protect the prosecution against Stone over charges of lying to Congress and witness tampering.

Stone was convicted of all seven charges against him and was sentenced earlier this year to more than three years in prison.

The new information from the report comes three months after a federal judge demanded that the DOJ hand over the unredacted report for his review and blasted Attorney General William BarrBill BarrActing attorney general condemns Capitol riots, warns 'no tolerance' for violence at Biden inauguration Barr, White House counsel told Trump not to self-pardon: report Trump condemns riots, says he will focus on transition in taped remarks MORE's handling of its publication.

"The inconsistencies between Attorney General Barr’s statements, made at a time when the public did not have access to the redacted version of the Mueller Report to assess the veracity of his statements, and portions of the redacted version of the Mueller Report that conflict with those statements cause the Court to seriously question whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favor of President TrumpDonald TrumpEx-Trump lawyer Cohen to pen forward for impeachment book Murkowski says it would be 'appropriate' to bar Trump from holding office again Man known as 'QAnon Shaman' asks Trump for pardon after storming Capitol MORE despite certain findings in the redacted version of the Mueller Report to the contrary," Judge Reggie B. Walton wrote in a decision from March.

The new version of the public report reveals a section in Volume I devoted to Stone's efforts to act as a liaison between the 2016 Trump presidential campaign and WikiLeaks, which at the time was releasing troves of hacked emails from Democratic Party officials and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonCan Biden encompass the opposition he embodied? Disney silent on Trump status in Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Biden has an opportunity to win over conservative Christians MORE's campaign.

Prosecutors charged that Stone lied to Congress about his efforts to communicate with WikiLeaks and its founder Julian AssangeJulian Paul AssangeGlenn Greenwald discusses UK judge's rejection of US extradition request for Assange Will a British court's decision take Assange off the hook permanently? Assange denied bail in UK MORE through a backchannel.

"Stone also had conversations about WikiLeaks with Steve BannonStephen (Steve) Kevin BannonTrump has sought Bannon's consultation to overturn election results: Bloomberg Facebook's 'stop the steal' ban misses 90 groups promoting election misinformation: analysis YouTube temporarily bars uploading of new content on Trump's channel MORE, both before and after Bannon took over as the chairman of the Trump Campaign," the report reads. "Bannon recalled that, before joining the Campaign on August 13, 2016, Stone told him that he had a connection to Assange."

Tal Axelrod contributed.

Updated: 7:41 p.m.