[Vision2020] 10-27-17 10:03 P.M. E.D.T "First Charges Filed in U.S. Special Counsel Mueller's Russia Probe-CNN"

[Ted Moffett]

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/10/27/world/europe/27reuters-usa-trump-russia-charges.htmlFirst
Charges Filed in U.S. Special Counsel Mueller's Russia Probe-CNN

By REUTERS OCT. 27, 2017, 10:03 P.M. E.D

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Washington on Friday approved the
first charges in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the
2016 U.S. presidential election, CNN reported, citing sources briefed on
the matter.

The charges are sealed under orders from a federal judge, and it was not
clear what the charges were, CNN said, adding that anyone facing charges
could be taken into custody as soon as Monday.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in
the election to try to help President Donald Trump defeat Democratic
candidate Hillary Clinton through a campaign of hacking and releasing
embarrassing emails, and disseminating propaganda via social media to
discredit her campaign.

Special counsel Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded
with those Russian efforts.
"If the Special Counsel finds it necessary and appropriate, the Special
Counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the
investigation of these matters," Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
said in a May 17 letter appointing Mueller.

Sources familiar with Mueller’s investigation said he has used that broad
authority to pursue financial dealings between some Trump aides and foreign
governments, including Russia and Turkey, as well as possible money
laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes.

Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment to Reuters about
the CNN report on Friday.

Trump, a Republican who was elected president last November, has denied
allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians and condemned
investigations into the matter as a witch hunt.

The Kremlin has denied the allegations.

Mueller was appointed by the Justice Department in May to lead the
investigation after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who was leading a
federal investigation into possible collusion with Russia.

In July, FBI agents raided the Virginia home of Trump's former campaign
manager Paul Manafort, whose financial and real estate dealings and prior
work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine are being investigated by
Mueller's team.

Mueller's probe also includes an effort to determine whether the president
or any of his aides tried to obstruct justice in the investigation.

Mueller's team has conducted extensive interviews with former White House
Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, former spokesman Sean Spicer and other
current and former White House officials.

Trump drew criticism when he fired Comey in May. He initially said he moved
against Comey because his leadership of the FBI was inadequate and hurt
morale, but in a later interview with NBC he cited "this Russia thing" as
his reason.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Beech; editing by Diane Craft and
Mary Milliken)

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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett




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