Mueller report: Criminal Probe into Russia Inquiry Begins
The US
justice department has launched a criminal investigation into the origins of
the Mueller inquiry, US media report.
An
administrative review into the special counsel's investigation of 2016 election
interference began in May.
But the
switch to a criminal probe means investigators can now issue subpoenas for
testimony and documents.
President
Trump has long alleged Robert Mueller's probe of reports of collusion with
Russia was a "witch hunt".
The
investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election did not establish
any criminal conspiracy between Moscow and Donald Trump's campaign. But it did
not clear the president of obstructing justice.
Reports on
the criminal probe first appeared in the New York Times. It is unclear what
potential crime is under investigation, the newspaper said.
The
administrative review of the Mueller investigation began in May. It is being
overseen by the US Attorney-General William Barr and is run by US federal
prosecutor John Durham.
Mr Durham
was tasked with determining whether the collection of intelligence on the Trump
campaign in 2016 was lawful. He is widely respected and known for investigating
links between FBI agents and organised crime, and investigating the destruction
of CIA interrogation videos.
Last April,
Mr Barr told members of Congress that he believed "spying did occur"
on the Trump campaign in 2016, adding: "The question is whether it was
adequately predicated. And I'm not suggesting that it wasn't adequately
predicated. But I need to explore that."
Critics
accused Mr Barr of launching an administrative review more in the interests of
the president than the interests of justice.
In a joint
statement, the chairs of the House judiciary and intelligence committees said
reports of a criminal investigation "raise profound new concerns that the
Department of Justice under AG Barr has lost its independence and become a
vehicle for President Trump's political revenge".
The two
Democrats, Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, said the move could bring "new
and irreparable damage" to the rule of law.
The report
concluded that Russia had interfered in the election "in sweeping and
systematic fashion".
That
interference took the form of an extensive social media campaign and the
hacking of Democratic Party servers by Russian military intelligence, the
report said.
Timeline of key
events in Mueller inquiry
§
September 2016: House
Intelligence Committee members announce that Russia
is making "a serious and concerted effort to influence the US
election"
§
May 2017: US Deputy Attorney General appoints Robert Mueller as
special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and
any alleged coordination with the Trump campaign
§
December 2017: Ex-national
security adviser Michael Flynn admits
lying to the FBI about meetings with Russia's ambassador weeks
before Mr Trump became president
§
August 2018: Former
Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort is
found guilty of fraud. He agrees to co-operate with the Mueller inquiry
the following month
§
November 2018: President Trump submits written answers to
the special counsel's questions, days after firing
Attorney General Jeff Sessions
§
December 2018: Mr
Trump's former personal lawyer Michael
Cohen is sentenced to 36 months in prison for lying to Congress,
tax evasion and campaign finance violations
§
March 2019: Attorney
General William Barr receives the special counsel's report. He does not release
it immediately, but publishes a
summary Robert Mueller criticises as lacking "context"
§
May 2019: Robert
Mueller says in his first public remarks that his
report does not exonerate President Trump, and announces his resignation
§
July 2019: Mueller appears before Congress and
reaffirms that his report does not exonerate Mr Trump
No comments