The Crime Report (https://thecrimereport.org/tag/russia-probe/)
Maria Butina, a Russian student whose political activities in the U.S. came under FBI scrutiny amid an investigation of 2016 election interference, was released from a Florida prison Friday while serving an 18-month sentence for not reporting her activities to the Justice Department.
Attorney General William Barr’s expanding review of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe has turned into into a criminal investigation, giving a federal prosecutor who is leading the inquiry the ability to subpoena witnesses and use a grand jury.
The House Judiciary Committee also asked a court to expedite a ruling on whether Donald F. McGahn II, the former White House counsel, must testify, pushing forward in its expansive inquiry into whether to impeach Trump.
Attorney General William Barr says his review of the origins of the Russia investigation could lead to rule changes for counterintelligence investigations of political campaigns by the FBI and other domestic agencies.
Not even three months into his term as attorney general, William Barr is the focal point of a struggle between the two branches of government that is described as “emotionally charged as any in decades.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused him of lying to Congress.
The Justice Department called House Democrats’ demands that Attorney General William Barr be questioned by staff lawyers as well as lawmakers “unprecedented and unnecessary.” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler warned he would have ‘no choice’ but to hold him in contempt if DOJ fails to “negotiate in good faith.”
President Donald Trump’s fear that leaks and press speculation were “undermining” his presidency did not prevent him from cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russians, Attorney General William Barr told a press conference Thursday.
The controversial lobbyist and political strategist was charged in connection with his communications with WikiLeaks, the organization behind the release of thousands of stolen Democratic emails during the 2016 campaign.
William Barr, President Trump’s nominee for attorney general, will tell senators Tuesday it is “vitally important” that special counsel Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his Russia investigation.
President Trump lashed out after the New York Times reported that the FBI opened an inquiry into the commander in chief after he fired FBI director James Comey that centered on whether Trump was a national security threat to his own country.