The new Russia probe: Who is prosecutor John Durham

Attorney General William Barr announced he has appointed Connecticut's top prosecutor, John Durham, to look into how the investigation into Russian election meddling started, and whether evidence gathering leading up to the 2016 presidential election was lawful.

There's probably a good chance you've never heard of John Durham before, even though he's taken part in many high-profile cases as a federal prosecutor.

One of the most notable was when Durham investigated accusations that the FBI and Boston Police had ties to the mafia and crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger.

His work helped secure the conviction of retired FBI agent John Connolly in 2002, and send Bulger on the run for decades.

In 2011, The New Republic summed up the paradox of Durham's powerful work, and low-key reputation: They listed him among Washington's most powerful, least famous people.

Most recently, in 2017, President Trump nominated Durham to serve as U.S. attorney in Connecticut.