A portion of a memo cited as a reason not to pursue obstruction of justice charges against former President Donald Trump was released Monday night, but the Justice Department said it is appealing a judge's order to release the rest of it.

William Barr, then the attorney general, cited the memo, written by the department's Office of Legal Counsel, as one reason he did not intend to pursue obstruction charges after he received the report of special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated interference in the 2016 presidential election and other matters.

A page and a half of the 2019 memo was released in a subsequent filing Monday night. The Justice Department is appealing a judge's order over the rest of it.