Where investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him
What’s this all about?
Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Mr. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. They say Mr. Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush-money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign.
What do i need to know right now?
So far, Mr. Mueller has charged 34 people, including several close to the president. But he has yet to accuse anyone close to the Trump campaign of conspiring with the Kremlin to hurt Democrat Hillary Clinton and help Mr. Trump win the election.
Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser and confidant, was the latest in Trump’s circle to face charges. The political operative is accused of lying to lawmakers, engaging in witness tampering and obstructing a congressional investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump’s campaign. He pleaded not guilty this week.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson cautioned Mr. Stone not to treat the charges against him like a public relations campaign or book tour, and said she may issue a gag order in the case.
So ... did the Trump campaign collude with Russia?
There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the communication.
There is also evidence that some people in the president’s orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. American intelligence agencies and Mr. Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Hillary Clinton’s presidential effort.
Other questions to consider-
That about obstruction of justice? That is another unresolved question that Mr. Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey and his fury over the recusal from the investigation by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
What does Trump have to say about all this? Mr. Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a “witch hunt” and insisted there was “NO COLLUSION” with Russia. He also says his former lawyer, Cohen, lied to get a lighter sentence in New York.
WHEN WILL IT ALL WRAP UP? It’s unclear. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker says the probe is “close to being completed” the first official sign that Mueller’s investigation may be wrapping up. But he gave no specific timetable.
