Federal probe into Russia broadened to include Manafort, may expand to Sessions: Report

Washington Examiner ^ | June 2, 2017; 6:42 PM | Daniel Chaitin

[Red Steel]

The federal investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election has been expanded to include the case regarding former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and may extend further to encompass Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to a report late Friday.

Led by a special prosecutor, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, the federal probe will now take under its wing the Justice Department's criminal investigation into whether Manafort worked to undermine anti-Russian opposition groups in Eastern Europe a decade ago, people familiar with the case told the Associated Press. He has not been charged with a crime in that case.

Manafort was let go by the Trump campaign back in August amid controversy over years-old business activity in Ukraine.

Separately, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told the AP that the case could be broadened to include Sessions' and his own participation in the decision-making process behind Trump firing former FBI Director James Comey last month. Comey had been leading his agency's probe into Russians' involvement in the election and possible collusion between the Trump camp and the Kremlin.

If Mueller's probe does expand to include Sessions and Manafort, Rosenstein told the AP, he has spoken with Mueller and would recuse himself from any oversight of Mueller. Sessions, formerly a senator from Alabama, recused himself from the Russian investigation back in March over concerns about his leaving out during the Senate confirmation process information about his meetings with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 campaign.

The Justice Department had appointed Mueller to be special prosecutor back in mid-May. The AP report says it is up to Rosenstein to authorize the expansion of Mueller's investigation.

[Red Steel]

Meuller maybe on the verge of being out of control.

[sargon]

More fake news which provides absolutely no useful information whatsoever...

[Blue Highway]

So is Mueller the fox in the hen house? Who the hell thought this was a good idea hiring a RINO like him to investigate Trump’s admin.?

[Principled]

We need a special counsel probing them too.

Can’t be one sided.

[luvbach1]

Deep sea fishing!

[Herodes]

Every one take a deep breath. Classic Fake News. Mueller is not, and will not share with anyone where, if anywhere, the investigation is going.

[Truth29]

So Mueller would report to and be accountable to no one. He would be a law unto himself. There have been numerous reports describing his close relationship with Comey over the years. Mueller and Comey unbound could say and find anything they want including finding criminality against anyone they chose. This is a way to overthrow the government in a soft coup.

[butlerweave]

Meuller maybe on the verge of being out of control.

Some Democrat is leaving post-it notes on his desk ,LOL

[fluorescence]

How has HR Clinton managed to avoid being a person of interest in this “investigation”? The Clintons have documented, recent ties to, and actual cash payments from, Russia.

[A_Former_Democrat]

A DECADE ago??

Well gee, lets re open Whiewater and cattle futures to go with the Foundation, Benghazi and email

[upchuck]

The truth will set you free:

The federal investigation into unproven Russian interference during the 2016 election has been expanded to include the case regarding former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and may extend further to encompass Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to a report late Friday.

I'm very interested in how one investigates something that hasn't been proved.

[Pravious]

Uh, oh! Something that may happen based on (gasp!) a “report”?!

Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!

[DoughtyOne]

FReepers, it's time to get serious about retiring this FReep-a-thon.


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Just $104.00 to 68.00%

[upchuck]

If you keep shooting at something with a shotgun, eventually you’ll hit something. Worthless.

[DoughtyOne]

Not one investigation into Clinton crimes.

NOT ONE ongoing.

In her own had, she admitted to four or five or more felonies.

And yet we spend our time the on fantasy criminal justice league.

[Red Steel]

That’s what it says Rosenstein would recuse himself, but he would have to approve of Mueller’s expansion to investigate Sessions. Who would give oversight of Mueller? There was a women AG, third in charge, I suppose would take over and who went through Senate confirmation with Rosenstein. If this happens that some stink’n smell.

[Enchante]

Mueller is the one who needs to recuse himself, from the entire investigation. He is a close friend and former colleague of Comey who has been described (long before present times) as Comey’s mentor. No way he doesn’t have a personal interest in seeing Comey’s views and actions vindicated. Mueller is compromised.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

I know we need to be “aware” ... but frankly, I wish we could stop posting this kind of stuff on FR. It’s starting to look like the Drudge Report here ... both are going a little “dark”.

[Enchante]

So now Mueller is “investigating” vague and irrelevant allegations about Manafort from a DECADE ago.

This is an obvious fishing expedition, the ‘Rats and RINOs led by Mueller desperately want to find anything, anything at all that they can use to embarrass President Trump or anyone ever associated with him. Doesn’t even have to be a criminal charge, although ofc they prefer that, but they will be happy to dig for and leak ANYTHING that the Mediascum can use.

And, ofc, they try to create wholly new “process crimes” along the way, ala Patrick Fitzgerald with Scooter Libby.

[lodi90]

If Manafort’s dealings in UKRAINE are fair game then certainly a sitting secretary of state receiving MILLIONS from Putinist Russia should be too. But of course we know Mueller will only “investigate” Trump’s circle.