The Kremlin on Monday again denied Moscow's interference in the 2016 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declares-complete-exoneration-after-mueller-report-finds-no-collusion-205408">US presidential election after Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report</a> found there no conclusive evidence of Russian meddling.&nbsp;

It also said that it is ready to improve ties with the United States but it's up to Washington to make the first move.&nbsp;

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists he had not seen the report but Russsias's "principled position on this matter is well known; our country has not interfered in the domestic affairs of other countries, including the United States," news agency AFP reported.

Peskov insisted "the accusations of interference... that are still being made against Russia, we as before consider to be baseless."

In Russia, pro-Kremlin lawmakers hailed the report as vindicating both Russia and Trump.

The report's findings "are a disgrace for the US and its political elite," Senator Alexei Pushkov wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

"There's a chance to start a lot again from zero in our relations, but whether Trump will take the risk is still under question. We, of course, are ready," Konstantin Kosachev, foreign affairs committee chair in the upper house of parliament, wrote on Facebook.

In a letter sent to Congress summarising Mueller report, Barr quoted&nbsp; Special Counsel saying,&nbsp;"While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."&nbsp;

Barr said the investigation did not recommend any further indictments and does not have any further sealed indictments outstanding.

In his own review of Mueller's findings on obstruction -- one of the most explosive allegations against Trump -- Barr said, "the evidence... is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence."

Barr's letter marked the conclusion of the 22-month investigation by Mueller, a former FBI director, into allegations that Trump's election campaign coordinated and colluded with Russians to skew the 2016 vote so the billionaire real estate magnate would win.

But it marked the beginning of a new phase, the determination of Democrats in Congress to further investigate Trump, using the evidence from the Mueller probe.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump declared that he had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-found-no-trump-campaign-collusion-with-russia-justice-department-205400">been completely exonerated</a>.

"There was no collusion with Russia. There was no obstruction. It was a complete and total exoneration," Trump said on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1109918388133023744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"It's a shame that the country had to go through this," he added. "This was an illegal takedown that failed."

(With inputs from agencies)

The Kremlin on Monday again denied Moscow's interference in the 2016 US presidential election after Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report found there no conclusive evidence of Russian meddling.

The Kremlin on Monday again denied Moscow's interference in the 2016 US presidential election after Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report found there no conclusive evidence of Russian meddling. It also said that it is ready to improve ties with the United States but it's up to Washington to make the first move. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists he had not seen the report but Russsias's "principled position on this matter is well known; our country has not interfered in the domestic affairs of other countries, including the United States," news agency AFP reported. Peskov insisted "the accusations of interference... that are still being made against Russia, we as before consider to be baseless." In Russia, pro-Kremlin lawmakers hailed the report as vindicating both Russia and Trump. The report's findings "are a disgrace for the US and its political elite," Senator Alexei Pushkov wrote on Twitter. "There's a chance to start a lot again from zero in our relations, but whether Trump will take the risk is still under question. We, of course, are ready," Konstantin Kosachev, foreign affairs committee chair in the upper house of parliament, wrote on Facebook. In a letter sent to Congress summarising Mueller report, Barr quoted Special Counsel saying, "While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." Barr said the investigation did not recommend any further indictments and does not have any further sealed indictments outstanding. In his own review of Mueller's findings on obstruction -- one of the most explosive allegations against Trump -- Barr said, "the evidence... is not sufficient to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence." Barr's letter marked the conclusion of the 22-month investigation by Mueller, a former FBI director, into allegations that Trump's election campaign coordinated and colluded with Russians to skew the 2016 vote so the billionaire real estate magnate would win. But it marked the beginning of a new phase, the determination of Democrats in Congress to further investigate Trump, using the evidence from the Mueller probe. Meanwhile, Donald Trump declared that he had been completely exonerated. "There was no collusion with Russia. There was no obstruction. It was a complete and total exoneration," Trump said on Twitter. No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2019 × "It's a shame that the country had to go through this," he added. "This was an illegal takedown that failed." (With inputs from agencies)

Russia again denies meddling in 2016 US presidential election, says ready to improve ties

Republican and Democratic lawmakers clashed sharply on Sunday over the meaning of the newly completed report on Russian meddling, even as they waited to be briefed on its scope and contents.

President Donald Trump has yet to receive or be briefed on the findings of the Robert Mueller probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, a spokesman said from the Florida resort where Trump was spending the weekend.

The president was continuing a rare silence on Twitter about the matter.

Sunday marked his third day with no public comment on the investigation that he has blasted dozens of times as a "witch hunt."&nbsp;

Attorney General William Barr, who received the secret report on Friday, is expected to brief key members of Congress sometime Sunday, though no announcement has been made.

Trump aides and supporters have seized on word from the Justice Department that the report will recommend no indictments -- news that brought relief to some in Trump's closest circle.

Republicans suggested on Sunday that it was time for Democratic lawmakers to drop their own investigations and move on.

Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, repeated Trump's frequent insistence that "there was no collusion." He told "Fox News Sunday" that once the report comes out, "We can hopefully begin to move on."

'Hardly vindication'

But Adam Schiff, the Democrat who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said on ABC that even if Mueller is recommending no new indictments, "that hardly looks like vindication to me."

"We know there was collusion," said another key Democrat, Jerry Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, speaking on CNN. "Why there's been no indictments, we don't know."

The two were part of a chorus of Democratic voices demanding the release of the full Mueller report, not just a summary from Barr, a Trump appointee.

Schiff said Congress would first simply request the full release, but was prepared to use its subpoena powers or "prosecute in court, as necessary, to get the information."&nbsp;

He added, "We'll win that litigation."

Separately, Nadler agreed, saying "it won't be months."&nbsp;

Many Democrats hoped the report would provide evidence to support a presidential impeachment and have pressed hard for its full public release.&nbsp;

But Schiff and Nadler insisted on Sunday that they needed to see the full report before considering impeachment.

Nadler noted that Mueller's inquiry was "limited in scope and limited to crimes. What Congress has to do is look at a broader picture."

A vow of transparency

While the department has said that a sitting president cannot be indicted, the Mueller report could outline criminal behaviour by Trump that might be the basis for an impeachment effort.

As Washington and the rest of the country nervously awaited word of exactly what Mueller's team had turned up, Barr vowed to congressional leaders that he was "committed to as much transparency as possible."

Neal Katyal, the former Justice Department official who drafted the rules for special counsels, said Barr had no excuse for keeping Mueller's report secret.&nbsp;

"Absolutely nothing in the law or the regulations prevent the report from becoming public," he said in a Washington Post opinion piece.

While pursuing no new indictments, Mueller indicted 34 individuals during the probe, among them six Trump associates, including his former national security advisor Mike Flynn, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, and campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Five of the six have pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Court filings in those cases painted a broad picture of a cohesive Russian effort via hacking and social media manipulation to swing the election in Trump's favor against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Mueller, a 74-year-old veteran criminal prosecutor and former FBI chief, investigated not only possible collusion but also whether actions by Trump, including the May 2017 firing of FBI director James Comey, amounted to criminal obstruction of justice.

The investigation has revealed scores of contacts between the campaign and Russians, with members of the team readily talking to the Russians about obtaining dirt on Clinton.

Trump's son Donald Jr. and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had appeared to be possibly vulnerable, particularly because of a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers clashed sharply on Sunday over the meaning of the newly completed report on Russian meddling, even as they waited to be briefed on its scope and contents.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers clashed sharply on Sunday over the meaning of the newly completed report on Russian meddling, even as they waited to be briefed on its scope and contents. President Donald Trump has yet to receive or be briefed on the findings of the Robert Mueller probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, a spokesman said from the Florida resort where Trump was spending the weekend. The president was continuing a rare silence on Twitter about the matter. Sunday marked his third day with no public comment on the investigation that he has blasted dozens of times as a "witch hunt." Attorney General William Barr, who received the secret report on Friday, is expected to brief key members of Congress sometime Sunday, though no announcement has been made. Trump aides and supporters have seized on word from the Justice Department that the report will recommend no indictments -- news that brought relief to some in Trump's closest circle. Republicans suggested on Sunday that it was time for Democratic lawmakers to drop their own investigations and move on. Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, repeated Trump's frequent insistence that "there was no collusion." He told "Fox News Sunday" that once the report comes out, "We can hopefully begin to move on." 'Hardly vindication' But Adam Schiff, the Democrat who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said on ABC that even if Mueller is recommending no new indictments, "that hardly looks like vindication to me." "We know there was collusion," said another key Democrat, Jerry Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, speaking on CNN. "Why there's been no indictments, we don't know." The two were part of a chorus of Democratic voices demanding the release of the full Mueller report, not just a summary from Barr, a Trump appointee. Schiff said Congress would first simply request the full release, but was prepared to use its subpoena powers or "prosecute in court, as necessary, to get the information." He added, "We'll win that litigation." Separately, Nadler agreed, saying "it won't be months." Many Democrats hoped the report would provide evidence to support a presidential impeachment and have pressed hard for its full public release. But Schiff and Nadler insisted on Sunday that they needed to see the full report before considering impeachment. Nadler noted that Mueller's inquiry was "limited in scope and limited to crimes. What Congress has to do is look at a broader picture." A vow of transparency While the department has said that a sitting president cannot be indicted, the Mueller report could outline criminal behaviour by Trump that might be the basis for an impeachment effort. As Washington and the rest of the country nervously awaited word of exactly what Mueller's team had turned up, Barr vowed to congressional leaders that he was "committed to as much transparency as possible." Neal Katyal, the former Justice Department official who drafted the rules for special counsels, said Barr had no excuse for keeping Mueller's report secret. "Absolutely nothing in the law or the regulations prevent the report from becoming public," he said in a Washington Post opinion piece. While pursuing no new indictments, Mueller indicted 34 individuals during the probe, among them six Trump associates, including his former national security advisor Mike Flynn, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, and campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Five of the six have pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Court filings in those cases painted a broad picture of a cohesive Russian effort via hacking and social media manipulation to swing the election in Trump's favor against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Mueller, a 74-year-old veteran criminal prosecutor and former FBI chief, investigated not only possible collusion but also whether actions by Trump, including the May 2017 firing of FBI director James Comey, amounted to criminal obstruction of justice. The investigation has revealed scores of contacts between the campaign and Russians, with members of the team readily talking to the Russians about obtaining dirt on Clinton. Trump's son Donald Jr. and his son-in-law Jared Kushner had appeared to be possibly vulnerable, particularly because of a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer.

Mueller's report on Trump-Russia probe: US attorney general to brief key members of Congress

The main findings could be released as early as Saturday of a 22-month<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/could-witch-hunt-mueller-report-turn-into-trump-victory-204986"> investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller </a>into Russia's role in the 2016 US election and any potential wrongdoing by President Donald Trump, whose legal woes go beyond the end of the inquiry.

US Attorney General William Barr, who received a report on Friday from Mueller, told lawmakers in a letter that he may be able to inform them of Mueller's "principal conclusions as soon as this weekend."

Under Department of Justice regulations, Barr is empowered to decide how much to disclose publicly and he said in the letter that he is "committed to as much transparency as possible."

Barr arrived at the department building in Washington shortly before 10 am (1400 GMT) on Saturday. He was reviewing the report, a Justice Department official said.

Democrats on the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee scheduled a 2 pm (1800 GMT) conference call to talk about next steps and messaging, congressional aides said. The 235 members of the Democratic caucus in the House have scheduled a 3 pm (1900 GMT) call, a senior Democratic aide said.

Trump, who is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, has not commented to reporters or taken to Twitter, one of his favourite ways of communicating, on the completion of the investigation that has cast a shadow over the Republican's two years in the White House.

Trump had no public events scheduled on Saturday and was at his golf course in the morning. A large pro-Trump float pulled on a flatbed truck parked at the golf course about an hour after he arrived, adorned with American flags and "Trump 2020" signs. Political analysts expect the Mueller report to have an impact on how Democrats campaign to prevent Republican Trump being reelected.

The big question is whether the report contains allegations of wrongdoing by Trump or exonerates him. Mueller investigated whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow to try to influence the election and whether the Republican president later unlawfully tried to obstruct his investigation.

Mueller did not recommend any further indictments, a senior Justice Department official said, signalling there might be no more criminal charges against Trump associates arising from the investigation. Mueller brought charges against 34 people and three companies over the course of his investigation, with prison sentences for some of Trump's former aides.

Trump's convicted former personal lawyer Michael Cohen implicated the president in his guilty plea on campaign finance violations in a separate prosecution brought by federal prosecutors in New York.

Barr, who took office in February, was appointed by Trump after the president fired his predecessor Jeff Sessions in November. The White House has not received or been briefed on the report, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Friday, adding that "we look forward to the process taking its course."

Civil liberties privacy group the Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a Freedom of Information Request lawsuit against the Justice Department to obtain the report.

By handing over the long-awaited report to Barr, Mueller marked the end of his work, with his spokesman saying the 74-year-old former FBI director would conclude his service in the coming days.

Trump has denied collusion and obstruction. Russia has denied election interference. Trump has sought to discredit the investigation, calling it a "witch hunt" and accusing Mueller of conflicts of interest. But he said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report.

Trump aides, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, national security adviser Michael Flynn and personal lawyer Cohen, have already either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mueller.

None of those charges, however, directly related to the question of collusion between the campaign and Moscow. The Justice Department has a policy that sitting presidents cannot face criminal charges.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, the two top Democrats in Congress, said it was "imperative" the full report be made public, that Barr not give Trump and his team a "sneak preview" of the findings, and that the White House not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts are made public.

They said the investigation focused on questions that "go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation."

'Openness and transparency'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Congress, said, "The attorney general has said he intends to provide as much information as possible. As I have said previously, I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible."

Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican and a strong ally of the president, expressed confidence the report would not find collusion with Russia.

"The reports that there will be no new indictments confirm what we've known all along: there was never any collusion with Russia. The only collusion was between Democrats and many in the media who peddled this lie because they continue to refuse to accept the results of the 2016 election," Scalise said.

Even if the Mueller report exonerates Trump, that may not spell the end to his legal troubles. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to campaign finance violations in a case overseen by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who said in court filings that Cohen carried out the crimes at the direction of Trump.

The US Attorney's Office in Manhattan is also looking at the spending of Trump's inaugural committee and business practices at the Trump Organization, the family's company.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow meddled in the election with a campaign of email hacking and online propaganda aimed at sowing discord in the United States, hurting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and helping Trump.

A small number of House Democrats have pushed for Congress to impeach Trump and remove him from office but the party's leadership including Pelosi has urged caution. No president has ever been removed from office via impeachment.

Several House committees in the meantime are conducting aggressive investigations of Trump and people around him.

The main findings could be released as early as Saturday of a 22-month investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's role in the 2016 US election and any potential wrongdoing by President Donald Trump, whose legal woes go beyond the end of the inquiry.

The main findings could be released as early as Saturday of a 22-month investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's role in the 2016 US election and any potential wrongdoing by President Donald Trump, whose legal woes go beyond the end of the inquiry. US Attorney General William Barr, who received a report on Friday from Mueller, told lawmakers in a letter that he may be able to inform them of Mueller's "principal conclusions as soon as this weekend." Under Department of Justice regulations, Barr is empowered to decide how much to disclose publicly and he said in the letter that he is "committed to as much transparency as possible." Barr arrived at the department building in Washington shortly before 10 am (1400 GMT) on Saturday. He was reviewing the report, a Justice Department official said. Democrats on the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee scheduled a 2 pm (1800 GMT) conference call to talk about next steps and messaging, congressional aides said. The 235 members of the Democratic caucus in the House have scheduled a 3 pm (1900 GMT) call, a senior Democratic aide said. Trump, who is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, has not commented to reporters or taken to Twitter, one of his favourite ways of communicating, on the completion of the investigation that has cast a shadow over the Republican's two years in the White House. Trump had no public events scheduled on Saturday and was at his golf course in the morning. A large pro-Trump float pulled on a flatbed truck parked at the golf course about an hour after he arrived, adorned with American flags and "Trump 2020" signs. Political analysts expect the Mueller report to have an impact on how Democrats campaign to prevent Republican Trump being reelected. The big question is whether the report contains allegations of wrongdoing by Trump or exonerates him. Mueller investigated whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow to try to influence the election and whether the Republican president later unlawfully tried to obstruct his investigation. Mueller did not recommend any further indictments, a senior Justice Department official said, signalling there might be no more criminal charges against Trump associates arising from the investigation. Mueller brought charges against 34 people and three companies over the course of his investigation, with prison sentences for some of Trump's former aides. Trump's convicted former personal lawyer Michael Cohen implicated the president in his guilty plea on campaign finance violations in a separate prosecution brought by federal prosecutors in New York. Barr, who took office in February, was appointed by Trump after the president fired his predecessor Jeff Sessions in November. The White House has not received or been briefed on the report, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Friday, adding that "we look forward to the process taking its course." Civil liberties privacy group the Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a Freedom of Information Request lawsuit against the Justice Department to obtain the report. By handing over the long-awaited report to Barr, Mueller marked the end of his work, with his spokesman saying the 74-year-old former FBI director would conclude his service in the coming days. Trump has denied collusion and obstruction. Russia has denied election interference. Trump has sought to discredit the investigation, calling it a "witch hunt" and accusing Mueller of conflicts of interest. But he said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report. Trump aides, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, national security adviser Michael Flynn and personal lawyer Cohen, have already either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mueller. None of those charges, however, directly related to the question of collusion between the campaign and Moscow. The Justice Department has a policy that sitting presidents cannot face criminal charges. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, the two top Democrats in Congress, said it was "imperative" the full report be made public, that Barr not give Trump and his team a "sneak preview" of the findings, and that the White House not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts are made public. They said the investigation focused on questions that "go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation." 'Openness and transparency' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Congress, said, "The attorney general has said he intends to provide as much information as possible. As I have said previously, I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible." Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican and a strong ally of the president, expressed confidence the report would not find collusion with Russia. "The reports that there will be no new indictments confirm what we've known all along: there was never any collusion with Russia. The only collusion was between Democrats and many in the media who peddled this lie because they continue to refuse to accept the results of the 2016 election," Scalise said. Even if the Mueller report exonerates Trump, that may not spell the end to his legal troubles. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to campaign finance violations in a case overseen by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who said in court filings that Cohen carried out the crimes at the direction of Trump. The US Attorney's Office in Manhattan is also looking at the spending of Trump's inaugural committee and business practices at the Trump Organization, the family's company. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow meddled in the election with a campaign of email hacking and online propaganda aimed at sowing discord in the United States, hurting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and helping Trump. A small number of House Democrats have pushed for Congress to impeach Trump and remove him from office but the party's leadership including Pelosi has urged caution. No president has ever been removed from office via impeachment. Several House committees in the meantime are conducting aggressive investigations of Trump and people around him.

Trump-Russia report main findings awaited, US lawmakers seek quick public release

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-submits-trump-russia-report-clamour-grows-for-its-quick-release-204966">Mueller submits Trump-Russia report, clamour grows for its quick release</a>

Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by US President Donald Trump, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-national-day-pm-modi-writes-letter-to-pak-pm-as-part-of-customary-practice-calls-for-terror-free-south-asia-204995">Pakistan national day: PM Modi writes </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-national-day-pm-modi-writes-letter-to-pak-pm-as-part-of-customary-practice-calls-for-terror-free-south-asia-204995">letter</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-national-day-pm-modi-writes-letter-to-pak-pm-as-part-of-customary-practice-calls-for-terror-free-south-asia-204995"> to Pak PM as part of customary practice; calls for terror-free South Asia</a>

India has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written a letter to Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of the diplomatic practice of writing to the Heads of state/Govt on their respective National Days. The letter is sent to all countries with whom India shares diplomatic relations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-asks-un-council-to-uphold-resolutions-on-golan-heights-204971">Syria asks UN council to uphold resolutions on Golan Heights</a>

Syria on Friday asked the UN Security Council to uphold resolutions declaring that Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights after President Donald Trump said the United States would recognize Israel's annexation of the territory.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/muslims-return-to-christchurch-mosque-as-new-zealand-works-to-move-on-204991">Muslims return to Christchurch mosque as New Zealand works to move on</a>

Muslims returned to Christchurch's main mosque on Saturday for the first time since a white supremacist massacred worshippers there, as New Zealand sought to return to normality after the tragedy.

The Al Noor mosque was taken over by police for investigations and security reasons after alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant attacked Muslims gathered there and at a smaller mosque for Friday prayers, killing 50 people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-bjp-releases-list-of-36-candidates-sambit-patra-to-contest-from-puri-204967">Lok Sabha polls: BJP releases list of 36 candidates, Sambit Patra to contest from Puri</a>

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released a list of 36 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra and Odisha ahead of the general elections.

The party has fielded Girish Bapat from Pune (Maharashtra), its national spokesperson Sambit Patra from Puri (Odisha), Dilip Kumar Kilaru from Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Bharati Pawar from Dindori (Maharashtra) and Sanbor Shullai from Shillong (Meghalaya).

Mueller submits Trump-Russia report, clamour grows for its quick release Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by US President Donald Trump, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release.

Mueller submits Trump-Russia report, clamour grows for its quick release Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by US President Donald Trump, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release. Pakistan national day: PM Modi writes letter to Pak PM as part of customary practice; calls for terror-free South Asia India has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written a letter to Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of the diplomatic practice of writing to the Heads of state/Govt on their respective National Days. The letter is sent to all countries with whom India shares diplomatic relations. Syria asks UN council to uphold resolutions on Golan Heights Syria on Friday asked the UN Security Council to uphold resolutions declaring that Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights after President Donald Trump said the United States would recognize Israel's annexation of the territory. Muslims return to Christchurch mosque as New Zealand works to move on Muslims returned to Christchurch's main mosque on Saturday for the first time since a white supremacist massacred worshippers there, as New Zealand sought to return to normality after the tragedy. The Al Noor mosque was taken over by police for investigations and security reasons after alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant attacked Muslims gathered there and at a smaller mosque for Friday prayers, killing 50 people. Lok Sabha polls: BJP releases list of 36 candidates, Sambit Patra to contest from Puri The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released a list of 36 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra and Odisha ahead of the general elections. The party has fielded Girish Bapat from Pune (Maharashtra), its national spokesperson Sambit Patra from Puri (Odisha), Dilip Kumar Kilaru from Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Bharati Pawar from Dindori (Maharashtra) and Sanbor Shullai from Shillong (Meghalaya).

News brief: Big stories of the day

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-submits-trump-russia-report-clamour-grows-for-its-quick-release-204966">Donald Trump says Robert Mueller</a> ran a "witch hunt." But what if the special prosecutor turned out to be a fairy godmother sprinkling magic dust on the president's 2020 reelection bid?

With Mueller's long-awaited report into Trump's Russia links only delivered late Friday to Attorney General William Barr, there are still few clues as to the contents.

The stakes, though, are crystal clear.

Mueller's brief was to probe extraordinary allegations that Trump and his 2016 election campaign were in league with Russian agents and that Trump sought to obstruct the investigation.

Democrats, who control the lower house of Congress, had already begun talking of impeachment.

But while a damning report could, in theory, signal Trump's political death knell, a report that fails to land serious new blows could instead supercharge an angry presidential reelection campaign.

And the very first signal coming out Friday pointed to the second scenario.

This was the fact that in handing over his report, Mueller indicated that he did not want any more indictments.

Over the course of the last two years, Mueller had already charged 34 individuals, including six former Trump associates.

But speculation had been rife that he might go deeper into the president's circle, snaring even son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. Now it appears they will be able to enjoy their weekend.

Certainly, the White House's first reaction, minutes after the report dropped, sounded calm.

Down at Trump's Florida golf resort Mar-a-Lago, where he flew earlier Friday, officials said the president would have no more events open to journalists, reversing an earlier indication of possible movements.

"The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr and we look forward to the process taking its course," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Battle over message 
&nbsp;

Barr says that he could send Congress a summary, or "principal conclusions," as early as this weekend.

The real battle will be over demands from Congress -- and from the wider public -- to be given both the entire report, as well as the underlying legal documents.

This is because even though Mueller may not have landed a killer blow, through lack of evidence, Democrats believe his findings will fuel their own more politicized probes.

Adam Schiff, the intelligence committee chairman in the House, said on CNN that he still intends to pursue "whether the president and others around him were acting as agents of a foreign power."

Democrats are especially keen that legislators be allowed to peruse the report before the White House.

They know that as soon as Trump gets hold of a copy he will use his formidable online presence to shape public perceptions of what the report says.

Trump has boasted several times this week about having more than 100 million followers on various platforms, principally on Twitter, and throughout the Mueller drama he has used that bullhorn to paint himself as victim of a political vendetta.

"Witch hunt," "hoax," he says constantly.

"Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better," he tweeted when one associate was arrested.

And even if the Mueller report is damning, even if it leads to further peril, Trump will likely interpret the lack of an actual smoking gun as total vindication.

That would be just the gift he needed to rally his right-wing base, saying that he'd been right all along.

Donald Trump says Robert Mueller ran a "witch hunt." But what if the special prosecutor turned out to be a fairy godmother sprinkling magic dust on the president's 2020 reelection bid?

Donald Trump says Robert Mueller ran a "witch hunt." But what if the special prosecutor turned out to be a fairy godmother sprinkling magic dust on the president's 2020 reelection bid? With Mueller's long-awaited report into Trump's Russia links only delivered late Friday to Attorney General William Barr, there are still few clues as to the contents. The stakes, though, are crystal clear. Mueller's brief was to probe extraordinary allegations that Trump and his 2016 election campaign were in league with Russian agents and that Trump sought to obstruct the investigation. Democrats, who control the lower house of Congress, had already begun talking of impeachment. But while a damning report could, in theory, signal Trump's political death knell, a report that fails to land serious new blows could instead supercharge an angry presidential reelection campaign. And the very first signal coming out Friday pointed to the second scenario. This was the fact that in handing over his report, Mueller indicated that he did not want any more indictments. Over the course of the last two years, Mueller had already charged 34 individuals, including six former Trump associates. But speculation had been rife that he might go deeper into the president's circle, snaring even son-in-law Jared Kushner and son Donald Trump Jr. Now it appears they will be able to enjoy their weekend. Certainly, the White House's first reaction, minutes after the report dropped, sounded calm. Down at Trump's Florida golf resort Mar-a-Lago, where he flew earlier Friday, officials said the president would have no more events open to journalists, reversing an earlier indication of possible movements. "The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr and we look forward to the process taking its course," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Battle over message Barr says that he could send Congress a summary, or "principal conclusions," as early as this weekend. The real battle will be over demands from Congress -- and from the wider public -- to be given both the entire report, as well as the underlying legal documents. This is because even though Mueller may not have landed a killer blow, through lack of evidence, Democrats believe his findings will fuel their own more politicized probes. Adam Schiff, the intelligence committee chairman in the House, said on CNN that he still intends to pursue "whether the president and others around him were acting as agents of a foreign power." Democrats are especially keen that legislators be allowed to peruse the report before the White House. They know that as soon as Trump gets hold of a copy he will use his formidable online presence to shape public perceptions of what the report says. Trump has boasted several times this week about having more than 100 million followers on various platforms, principally on Twitter, and throughout the Mueller drama he has used that bullhorn to paint himself as victim of a political vendetta. "Witch hunt," "hoax," he says constantly. "Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers are treated better," he tweeted when one associate was arrested. And even if the Mueller report is damning, even if it leads to further peril, Trump will likely interpret the lack of an actual smoking gun as total vindication. That would be just the gift he needed to rally his right-wing base, saying that he'd been right all along.

Could 'witch hunt' Mueller report turn into Trump victory

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-2020-battleground-state-looming-robert-muellers-report-could-hold-dangers-for-democrats-201110">Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a> on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blasts-mueller-probe-at-cpac-says-opponents-trying-to-take-me-out-200813">US President Donald Trump</a>, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release.

Marking the end of his nearly two-year investigation that ensnared former Trump aides and Russian intelligence officers and cast a cloud over the Republican businessman's presidency, Mueller submitted the report to Attorney General William Barr, the Justice Department said.

It was not known if Mueller found criminal conduct by Trump or his campaign, beyond the charges already levelled against several aides. In all, Mueller brought charges against 34 people and three companies.

Mueller, a former FBI director, had been examining since May 2017 whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow to try to influence the election and whether the Republican president later unlawfully tried to obstruct his investigation.

Trump has denied collusion and obstruction. Russia has denied election interference. Trump has sought to discredit the investigation, calling it a "witch hunt" and accusing Mueller of conflicts of interest. But he said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report.

Mueller did not recommend any further indictments, a senior Justice Department official said, in a sign that there might be no more criminal charges against Trump associates arising from the investigation. But it was not immediately clear whether the special counsel had any sealed indictments that could later be disclosed.

The report was not immediately made public. Barr, the top US law enforcement officer and a Trump appointee, will have to decide how much of it to disclose. Barr told lawmakers in a letter he may be able to provide the "principal conclusions" of Mueller's findings to Congress as soon as this weekend and added that he was "committed to as much transparency as possible."

Under regulations governing special counsel investigations, the attorney general must share an outline of Mueller's report with Democratic and Republican leaders of the judiciary committees in Congress but it is largely up to him what to make public.

THE TRUMP QUESTION

The big question now is whether the report contains allegations of wrongdoing by Trump himself.

Key aides of Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, national security adviser Michael Flynn and personal lawyer Michael Cohen, have already either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mueller.

Lawmakers from both parties called for prompt release of the report to key congressional committees and to the public.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer - the two top Democrats in Congress - said it was "imperative" the full report be made public, that Barr not give Trump and his team a "sneak preview" of the findings and that the White House not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts are made public.

They said the investigation focussed on questions that "go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Congress, said, "The attorney general has said he intends to provide as much information as possible. As I have said previously, I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible."

The White House has not received or been briefed on the report, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

"The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course," Sanders added.

When the Justice Department announced the arrival of the report, Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he met on Friday with a group of Caribbean leaders.

Staff members at the private club were setting up for a Lincoln Day dinner fundraiser for a local branch of the Republican Party. Programs for the event featured an image of a $5 bill with 19th century President Abraham Lincoln sporting a red Trump campaign hat with the slogan "Keep America Great" on it.

Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, posted a picture on Twitter of his family on a fishing trip. "Great day on the water with my little men for their spring break," he wrote.

Even if the Mueller report exonerates Trump, that may not spell the end to his legal troubles. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to campaign finance violations in a case overseen by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who said in court filings that Cohen carried out the crimes at the direction of Trump.

The US&nbsp;Attorney's Office in Manhattan is also looking at the spending of Trump's inaugural committee and business practices at the Trump Organization, the family's company.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow meddled in the election with a campaign of email hacking and online propaganda aimed at sowing discord in the United States, hurting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and helping Trump.

Mueller's investigators have looked into a large number of contacts between people associated with Trump's campaign and Russia such as a meeting in New York's Trump Tower between members of the president's inner circle including his eldest son and a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer five months before the election.

Mueller sought to determine whether the campaign coordinated with Moscow, though it was not immediately clear whether the special counsel found evidence of a conspiracy.

QUESTIONS ABOUT OBSTRUCTION

Mueller also examined whether Trump committed obstruction of justice by trying to hinder the investigation, looking into acts such as urging FBI Director James Comey to drop a probe of Flynn's contacts with Russia, the subsequent firing of Comey, his attacks on the special counsel, dangling of pardons for former aides and the ouster of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Mueller's team already has signalled the direction of the investigation through indictments and hundreds of related court filings that have offered extensive details about Russian interference in the election.

Trump fired Flynn in February 2017 after it emerged he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI about his dealings with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. In May 2017, he ousted Comey, whose agency had been leading the Russia investigation. Comey's firing led the Justice Department to appoint Mueller to take over the probe.

Congressional Democrats, who took over control of the US House of Representatives in January, have said they plan to push for a release of the full Mueller report and said they would subpoena it and file suit if necessary.

A small number of House Democrats have pushed for Congress to impeach Trump and remove him from office but the party's leadership including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged caution. No president has every been removed from office via impeachment.

Several House committees in the meantime are conducting aggressive investigations of Trump and people around him.

The last president to be impeached by the House, Democrat Bill Clinton, was acquitted by the Senate in 1999 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, meaning he was not removed from office.

In prosecuting Manafort, Mueller showed how the former campaign chairman made millions of dollars working for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, while also exposing his ties to a consultant who the special counsel said was connected to Russian intelligence. Manafort in the two cases prosecuted by Mueller's team was sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison.

The special counsel's case against Cohen revealed that Trump was negotiating to build a skyscraper in Moscow late into the 2016 campaign, contradicting statements from Trump at the time that he had nothing to do with the Russians.

The special counsel also indicted longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone, a Republican operative and a self-proclaimed political "dirty trickster." Stone is accused of telling members of Trump's campaign that he knew in advance of plans by the WikiLeaks website to release emails damaging to Clinton that were stolen by Russia.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by US President Donald Trump, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Friday handed in a confidential report on his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election and any potential wrongdoing by US President Donald Trump, setting off a clamour from lawmakers in both parties for the document's quick release. Marking the end of his nearly two-year investigation that ensnared former Trump aides and Russian intelligence officers and cast a cloud over the Republican businessman's presidency, Mueller submitted the report to Attorney General William Barr, the Justice Department said. It was not known if Mueller found criminal conduct by Trump or his campaign, beyond the charges already levelled against several aides. In all, Mueller brought charges against 34 people and three companies. Mueller, a former FBI director, had been examining since May 2017 whether Trump's campaign conspired with Moscow to try to influence the election and whether the Republican president later unlawfully tried to obstruct his investigation. Trump has denied collusion and obstruction. Russia has denied election interference. Trump has sought to discredit the investigation, calling it a "witch hunt" and accusing Mueller of conflicts of interest. But he said on Wednesday he does not mind if the public is allowed to see the report. Mueller did not recommend any further indictments, a senior Justice Department official said, in a sign that there might be no more criminal charges against Trump associates arising from the investigation. But it was not immediately clear whether the special counsel had any sealed indictments that could later be disclosed. The report was not immediately made public. Barr, the top US law enforcement officer and a Trump appointee, will have to decide how much of it to disclose. Barr told lawmakers in a letter he may be able to provide the "principal conclusions" of Mueller's findings to Congress as soon as this weekend and added that he was "committed to as much transparency as possible." Under regulations governing special counsel investigations, the attorney general must share an outline of Mueller's report with Democratic and Republican leaders of the judiciary committees in Congress but it is largely up to him what to make public. THE TRUMP QUESTION The big question now is whether the report contains allegations of wrongdoing by Trump himself. Key aides of Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, national security adviser Michael Flynn and personal lawyer Michael Cohen, have already either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges brought by Mueller. Lawmakers from both parties called for prompt release of the report to key congressional committees and to the public. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer - the two top Democrats in Congress - said it was "imperative" the full report be made public, that Barr not give Trump and his team a "sneak preview" of the findings and that the White House not be allowed to interfere in decisions about what parts are made public. They said the investigation focussed on questions that "go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Congress, said, "The attorney general has said he intends to provide as much information as possible. As I have said previously, I sincerely hope he will do so as soon as he can, and with as much openness and transparency as possible." The White House has not received or been briefed on the report, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course," Sanders added. When the Justice Department announced the arrival of the report, Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he met on Friday with a group of Caribbean leaders. Staff members at the private club were setting up for a Lincoln Day dinner fundraiser for a local branch of the Republican Party. Programs for the event featured an image of a $5 bill with 19th century President Abraham Lincoln sporting a red Trump campaign hat with the slogan "Keep America Great" on it. Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, posted a picture on Twitter of his family on a fishing trip. "Great day on the water with my little men for their spring break," he wrote. Even if the Mueller report exonerates Trump, that may not spell the end to his legal troubles. Cohen pleaded guilty in August to campaign finance violations in a case overseen by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who said in court filings that Cohen carried out the crimes at the direction of Trump. The US Attorney's Office in Manhattan is also looking at the spending of Trump's inaugural committee and business practices at the Trump Organization, the family's company. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow meddled in the election with a campaign of email hacking and online propaganda aimed at sowing discord in the United States, hurting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and helping Trump. Mueller's investigators have looked into a large number of contacts between people associated with Trump's campaign and Russia such as a meeting in New York's Trump Tower between members of the president's inner circle including his eldest son and a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer five months before the election. Mueller sought to determine whether the campaign coordinated with Moscow, though it was not immediately clear whether the special counsel found evidence of a conspiracy. QUESTIONS ABOUT OBSTRUCTION Mueller also examined whether Trump committed obstruction of justice by trying to hinder the investigation, looking into acts such as urging FBI Director James Comey to drop a probe of Flynn's contacts with Russia, the subsequent firing of Comey, his attacks on the special counsel, dangling of pardons for former aides and the ouster of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Mueller's team already has signalled the direction of the investigation through indictments and hundreds of related court filings that have offered extensive details about Russian interference in the election. Trump fired Flynn in February 2017 after it emerged he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI about his dealings with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. In May 2017, he ousted Comey, whose agency had been leading the Russia investigation. Comey's firing led the Justice Department to appoint Mueller to take over the probe. Congressional Democrats, who took over control of the US House of Representatives in January, have said they plan to push for a release of the full Mueller report and said they would subpoena it and file suit if necessary. A small number of House Democrats have pushed for Congress to impeach Trump and remove him from office but the party's leadership including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged caution. No president has every been removed from office via impeachment. Several House committees in the meantime are conducting aggressive investigations of Trump and people around him. The last president to be impeached by the House, Democrat Bill Clinton, was acquitted by the Senate in 1999 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, meaning he was not removed from office. In prosecuting Manafort, Mueller showed how the former campaign chairman made millions of dollars working for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, while also exposing his ties to a consultant who the special counsel said was connected to Russian intelligence. Manafort in the two cases prosecuted by Mueller's team was sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison. The special counsel's case against Cohen revealed that Trump was negotiating to build a skyscraper in Moscow late into the 2016 campaign, contradicting statements from Trump at the time that he had nothing to do with the Russians. The special counsel also indicted longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone, a Republican operative and a self-proclaimed political "dirty trickster." Stone is accused of telling members of Trump's campaign that he knew in advance of plans by the WikiLeaks website to release emails damaging to Clinton that were stolen by Russia.

Mueller submits Trump-Russia report, clamour grows for its quick release

US investigators sought warrants to read<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-ex-lawyer-cohen-says-testimony-could-have-been-clearer-lawyer-203200"> Michael Cohen's emails </a>in July 2017, nine months before the FBI raided the home and office of President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, according to documents made public on Tuesday.

The requests were made six months into Trump's presidency. Emails were sought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office as well as by the FBI, dating back as far as June 2015, according to the documents.

Mueller is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 US election and possible coordination with Trump campaign members.

The nearly 900 pages of documents released by a federal judge in New York provide more detailed accounts of Cohen's financial relationships than previously known.

Cohen had been Trump's personal lawyer and self-described fixer for more than a decade, but began cooperating with federal investigators soon after the April 2018 raids on his home, office and hotel room.

He later pleaded guilty in separate prosecutions to lying to Congress, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. The latter included paying hush money to silence two women who said they had sexual encounters with Trump.

Cohen is scheduled to begin a three-year prison term on May 6.

Trump has denied having had sexual relationships with the two women: Stormy Daniels, the porn actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Much of the discussion about campaign finance issues in the released documents was redacted.

They were released after US District Judge William Pauley on Monday ordered prosecutors to make redacted versions public, in response to requests by news media organizations.

Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, said in a statement on Monday night that the document release "only furthers his interest in continuing to cooperate and providing information and the truth about Donald Trump and the Trump organization to law enforcement and Congress."

Since pleading guilty, Cohen has publicly turned on Trump, telling the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Feb. 27 that his former boss was a "racist," "con man" and "cheat."

In his congressional testimony, Cohen said he was "ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty, of the things I did for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him."

Cohen began working for Trump in 2007. The Republican president in December called his former lawyer "a rat" and in January said Cohen was "lying to reduce his jail time."

Moscow has denied meddling in the 2016 election, though US intelligence agencies have concluded that it interfered to help Trump win.

Trump has denied that his campaign colluded with Russia, and described the Mueller probe as a political witch hunt.

The newly released documents showed how the FBI made extensive use of its access to Cohen's Apple iCloud account, which allowed him to coordinate his work across such devices as an iPhone, iPad Mini and laptop.

FBI agents said they located a hotel room in New York's Loews Regency Hotel where Cohen was staying by using a device known as a Triggerfish that mimics cell phone towers to find a specific device.

The bank fraud case stemmed from Cohen dealings unrelated to Trump, and suggest that his financial situation was dire.

According to the documents, Cohen was in default by December 2017 on more than $20 million in loans backed by New York taxicab medallions he owned.

The FBI believed Cohen misrepresented his finances to banks he owed money to.

According to the documents, Cohen concealed fees being paid to Essential Consultants, a firm he controlled, for political consulting, including from international clients with issues pending before the Trump administration.

Among the payments Cohen was believed to have received was $600,000 from AT&amp;T Inc for consulting about "political issues, including net neutrality, the merger between AT&amp;T and Time Warner and tax reform."

Another $583,333 came from an investment firm controlled by Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg, the documents showed.

Republicans in Congress have criticized Cohen's consulting work, arguing he should have made his contracts public through disclosures. The warrant does not appear to detail any violations to lobbying disclosure laws.

Cohen also used Essential Consultants to pay hush money to Daniels.

US investigators sought warrants to read Michael Cohen's emails in July 2017, nine months before the FBI raided the home and office of President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, according to documents made public on Tuesday.

US investigators sought warrants to read Michael Cohen's emails in July 2017, nine months before the FBI raided the home and office of President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, according to documents made public on Tuesday. The requests were made six months into Trump's presidency. Emails were sought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office as well as by the FBI, dating back as far as June 2015, according to the documents. Mueller is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 US election and possible coordination with Trump campaign members. The nearly 900 pages of documents released by a federal judge in New York provide more detailed accounts of Cohen's financial relationships than previously known. Cohen had been Trump's personal lawyer and self-described fixer for more than a decade, but began cooperating with federal investigators soon after the April 2018 raids on his home, office and hotel room. He later pleaded guilty in separate prosecutions to lying to Congress, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. The latter included paying hush money to silence two women who said they had sexual encounters with Trump. Cohen is scheduled to begin a three-year prison term on May 6. Trump has denied having had sexual relationships with the two women: Stormy Daniels, the porn actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Much of the discussion about campaign finance issues in the released documents was redacted. They were released after US District Judge William Pauley on Monday ordered prosecutors to make redacted versions public, in response to requests by news media organizations. Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, said in a statement on Monday night that the document release "only furthers his interest in continuing to cooperate and providing information and the truth about Donald Trump and the Trump organization to law enforcement and Congress." Since pleading guilty, Cohen has publicly turned on Trump, telling the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Feb. 27 that his former boss was a "racist," "con man" and "cheat." In his congressional testimony, Cohen said he was "ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty, of the things I did for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him." Cohen began working for Trump in 2007. The Republican president in December called his former lawyer "a rat" and in January said Cohen was "lying to reduce his jail time." Moscow has denied meddling in the 2016 election, though US intelligence agencies have concluded that it interfered to help Trump win. Trump has denied that his campaign colluded with Russia, and described the Mueller probe as a political witch hunt. The newly released documents showed how the FBI made extensive use of its access to Cohen's Apple iCloud account, which allowed him to coordinate his work across such devices as an iPhone, iPad Mini and laptop. FBI agents said they located a hotel room in New York's Loews Regency Hotel where Cohen was staying by using a device known as a Triggerfish that mimics cell phone towers to find a specific device. The bank fraud case stemmed from Cohen dealings unrelated to Trump, and suggest that his financial situation was dire. According to the documents, Cohen was in default by December 2017 on more than $20 million in loans backed by New York taxicab medallions he owned. The FBI believed Cohen misrepresented his finances to banks he owed money to. According to the documents, Cohen concealed fees being paid to Essential Consultants, a firm he controlled, for political consulting, including from international clients with issues pending before the Trump administration. Among the payments Cohen was believed to have received was $600,000 from AT&T Inc for consulting about "political issues, including net neutrality, the merger between AT&T and Time Warner and tax reform." Another $583,333 came from an investment firm controlled by Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg, the documents showed. Republicans in Congress have criticized Cohen's consulting work, arguing he should have made his contracts public through disclosures. The warrant does not appear to detail any violations to lobbying disclosure laws. Cohen also used Essential Consultants to pay hush money to Daniels.

US investigators sought ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's emails months before raids

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, sued the Trump Organisation, saying it reneged on its obligation to reimburse him for millions of dollars of legal fees and costs related to his work.

In a complaint filed in the New York state supreme court in Manhattan, Cohen said the Trump Organisation stopped paying him last May after it became clear he would <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/my-loyalty-to-donald-trump-has-cost-me-everything-says-former-lawyer-michael-cohen-in-congressional-testimony-200137">cooperate with various probes into his work</a>.

These include Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 US presidential election, as well as multiple congressional probes.

Cohen said the Trump Organisation owes him at least $3.8 million, and its failure to pay breached a reimbursement agreement that predated his cooperation.

The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment.

Rudolph Giuliani, an adviser to Trump and former New York City mayor, suggested in an interview that Cohen was owed nothing.

"You’re getting in trouble because you work for me, you're getting reimbursed," Giuliani said. "You're getting in trouble for your own stuff, I can't reimburse you."

Thursday's lawsuit marks a further break for Cohen, Trump's longtime "fixer," from his former boss.

It came as Cohen, 52, prepares this spring to begin a three-year prison term, following his guilty plea to campaign finance violations.

These included "hush money" payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both said they had sexual encounters with Trump.

The president has denied their claims. He has also said his campaign did not collude with Moscow.

According to the complaint, Cohen and the Trump Organisation entered the July 2017 reimbursement agreement when they were pursuing a "joint defense" to various investigations.

The organisation reaffirmed its payment obligations in December 2017 after Cohen complained to Trump's adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, who both worked there, about "repeated delays," according to the complaint.

Cohen said he has employed at least seven law firms in the last year on matters related to Trump.

He said these include two lawsuits by Daniels, the New York attorney general's lawsuit concerning Trump's namesake charity, the Mueller and congressional probes, and his criminal case.

The alleged missed reimbursements include $1.9 million for legal fees and costs, plus another $1.9 million that Cohen owes in his criminal case.

Cohen this week completed meetings with congressional investigators looking into Trump's activities.

Testifying on Feb. 27 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Cohen called Trump a "con man" and "cheat," but offered no direct evidence that Trump or his campaign colluded with Moscow in the 2016 election.

The case is Cohen v Trump Organization LLC, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 651377/2019.

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, sued the Trump Organisation, saying it reneged on its obligation to reimburse him for millions of dollars of legal fees and costs related to his work.

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, sued the Trump Organisation, saying it reneged on its obligation to reimburse him for millions of dollars of legal fees and costs related to his work. In a complaint filed in the New York state supreme court in Manhattan, Cohen said the Trump Organisation stopped paying him last May after it became clear he would cooperate with various probes into his work. These include Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 US presidential election, as well as multiple congressional probes. Cohen said the Trump Organisation owes him at least $3.8 million, and its failure to pay breached a reimbursement agreement that predated his cooperation. The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment. Rudolph Giuliani, an adviser to Trump and former New York City mayor, suggested in an interview that Cohen was owed nothing. "You’re getting in trouble because you work for me, you're getting reimbursed," Giuliani said. "You're getting in trouble for your own stuff, I can't reimburse you." Thursday's lawsuit marks a further break for Cohen, Trump's longtime "fixer," from his former boss. It came as Cohen, 52, prepares this spring to begin a three-year prison term, following his guilty plea to campaign finance violations. These included "hush money" payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both said they had sexual encounters with Trump. The president has denied their claims. He has also said his campaign did not collude with Moscow. According to the complaint, Cohen and the Trump Organisation entered the July 2017 reimbursement agreement when they were pursuing a "joint defense" to various investigations. The organisation reaffirmed its payment obligations in December 2017 after Cohen complained to Trump's adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, who both worked there, about "repeated delays," according to the complaint. Cohen said he has employed at least seven law firms in the last year on matters related to Trump. He said these include two lawsuits by Daniels, the New York attorney general's lawsuit concerning Trump's namesake charity, the Mueller and congressional probes, and his criminal case. The alleged missed reimbursements include $1.9 million for legal fees and costs, plus another $1.9 million that Cohen owes in his criminal case. Cohen this week completed meetings with congressional investigators looking into Trump's activities. Testifying on Feb. 27 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Cohen called Trump a "con man" and "cheat," but offered no direct evidence that Trump or his campaign colluded with Moscow in the 2016 election. The case is Cohen v Trump Organization LLC, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 651377/2019.

Michael Cohen sues Trump Organisation for unpaid legal fees

US President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison Thursday for tax crimes and bank fraud.

It was the stiffest sentence yet given to an associate of the president in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling -- but significantly lighter than many expected for the 69-year-old political consultant.

In a rebuff to Mueller's call for stiff punishment, the judge called the official guidelines for a prison sentence of 19 to 24 years "excessive."

But Manafort still faces sentencing in a second case in Washington next week, where the maximum penalty is 10 years and the judge has appeared more sympathetic to prosecutors.&nbsp;

The charges involved Manafort's work for 10 years on behalf of Moscow-allied politicians in Ukraine, and nothing related to the 2016 election -- a<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyers-for-former-trump-campaign-chief-paul-manafort-argue-for-leniency-200653">n issue he argued in asking the court for leniency</a>.

Prosecutors alleged that Manafort used offshore bank accounts in Cyprus to hide more than $55 million from Ukrainian politicians from the tax authorities.

He is one of six top advisors and associates of Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign to be charged in the Mueller investigation.

During Manafort's trial, much of the damaging testimony against him was provided by his former deputy Rick Gates, who is awaiting sentencing after reaching a plea agreement with the Special Counsel's office.

Besides Manafort and Gates, four other former Trump associates face charges or have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the Mueller investigation.

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials and is awaiting sentencing.

Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen is to begin serving a three-year prison sentence on May 6 for fraud, tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and lying to Congress.

George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and was sentenced to two weeks in prison.

Another Trump advisor, Roger Stone, awaits trial.

US President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison Thursday for tax crimes and bank fraud. It was the stiffest sentence yet given to an associate of the president in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling -- but significantly lighter than many expected for the 69-year-old political consultant.

US President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort was sentenced to 47 months in prison Thursday for tax crimes and bank fraud. It was the stiffest sentence yet given to an associate of the president in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling -- but significantly lighter than many expected for the 69-year-old political consultant. In a rebuff to Mueller's call for stiff punishment, the judge called the official guidelines for a prison sentence of 19 to 24 years "excessive." But Manafort still faces sentencing in a second case in Washington next week, where the maximum penalty is 10 years and the judge has appeared more sympathetic to prosecutors. The charges involved Manafort's work for 10 years on behalf of Moscow-allied politicians in Ukraine, and nothing related to the 2016 election -- an issue he argued in asking the court for leniency. Prosecutors alleged that Manafort used offshore bank accounts in Cyprus to hide more than $55 million from Ukrainian politicians from the tax authorities. He is one of six top advisors and associates of Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign to be charged in the Mueller investigation. During Manafort's trial, much of the damaging testimony against him was provided by his former deputy Rick Gates, who is awaiting sentencing after reaching a plea agreement with the Special Counsel's office. Besides Manafort and Gates, four other former Trump associates face charges or have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the Mueller investigation. Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials and is awaiting sentencing. Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen is to begin serving a three-year prison sentence on May 6 for fraud, tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and lying to Congress. George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and was sentenced to two weeks in prison. Another Trump advisor, Roger Stone, awaits trial.

Trump ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort sentenced to 47 months in prison for tax crimes, bank fraud

Inside the Touchdown Tavern in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin, voter Aric Nowicki worries over how the impending release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation could affect the 2020 election for president.

Nowicki is not concerned about potential harm to President Donald Trump if Mueller accuses the Republican's campaign of working with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Instead, the heating and air-conditioning business owner fears the report could prove a political landmine for overzealous Democrats trying to take down a president they despise.

“They absolutely run the risk of overhyping it and overblowing it," Nowicki, 41, who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, said in Reedsburg, in southwest Wisconson. "If they take the report and spin it too far, they could end up helping Trump."

At first glance, the long-awaited Mueller report might seem a political gift for Democrats aiming to reclaim the White House next year.

If Mueller finds Trump played a role in a conspiracy with Moscow to boost his chances of winning the election or committed obstruction of justice to try to impede the probe - allegations Trump denies - the Democratic-led US&nbsp;House of Representatives could launch impeachment proceedings against the president.

But dealing with the probe's conclusions will be a delicate dance for Democrats, said a half-dozen Republican, Democratic and independent strategists and analysts.

The top US Democrat, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has tried to temper talk about impeaching Trump, noting the process is "divisive."

Mueller is widely expected to finish the investigation in the coming weeks. Strategists said candidates who focus too intently on the findings run the risk of appearing shrill and partisan. That could alienate general election voters in key battlegrounds including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which went for Democratic former President Barack Obama in 2012 but for Trump in 2016.

Yet delivering a reaction that is too muted or measured might lose votes during the party’s nominating battle, where the Russia investigation and attacking Trump animate the base.

"There is a case to prosecute against Trump with regard to his record in office. That is where I would focus," said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist not affiliated with any presidential campaign.

Finney, who worked inside the Bill Clinton White House during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, said Democrats should bear in mind how Republicans overplayed their hand 20 years ago. Their impeachment of Clinton and focus on the scandal backfired with voters, allowing Clinton to regain the political momentum and costing Republicans congressional seats.

Strategists in both major parties said Democratic candidates should be wary about talk of impeaching Trump or putting too much emphasis on the report in general.

“We should not be gambling our future prospects of winning back the White House on what is in the Mueller report," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton and Obama’s presidential campaigns. “Voters want candidates to focus on issues important to them, such as healthcare and good-paying jobs.”

Strategists interviewed by Reuters said Trump likely would not suffer badly even if Mueller finds evidence damaging to him. His supporters, who are fiercely loyal, will probably see claims of wrongdoing as proof there is an FBI conspiracy against Trump, energizing them further.

According to a January Reuters/Ipsos poll, more than two-thirds of Republicans believe the FBI and Department of Justice “are working to delegitimize President Trump through politically motivated investigations."

'SO SICK OF IT'

The complexities and ramifications of the Russia investigation, while an obsession in Washington, barely registered for many voters who spoke to Reuters in the past week in snowy southwest Wisconsin.

The area known for its dairy farms, meat production and small breweries will be heavily targeted by presidential campaigns after Trump's narrow win in Wisconsin in 2016 helped deliver him the White House.

Obama easily won seven of the region's counties in 2012, but Trump won them all in 2016. Democrats hope to win them back in 2020.

Democratic presidential candidates so far have not focused on the investigation on the campaign trail.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement last week that she would not pardon anyone prosecuted as part of Mueller's investigation should she be elected. Several other Democratic presidential candidates did not respond to email requests asking them about the report.

In interviews with two dozen people in the small towns and villages south and west of Wisconsin's state capital, Madison, the upcoming report was met with frustration and exasperation, illustrating the dangers Democrats face with swing voters if they go too far on the issue.

Thadd Ernstmeyer, 52, a plumber who voted twice for Obama and then for Trump, said people wanted the Democrats to stop badgering Trump and instead tackle issues such as medical bills and jobs.

"The whole thing’s ridiculous," Ernstmeyer said. Democrats "don’t like Trump and they are trying every angle to take him out.”

In a bar in Reedsburg, diehard Trump supporter Gary Steinke, 72, predicted Democrats would be relentless in making an issue of the report's findings. His partner, Susan Bottoms, 64, shared his concerns - even though she is a Democrat.

“Oh my God yes, of course, the Democrats will overreact and overhype this," she said. "People are so sick of it."

Bartender Mary Schlough, 53, a Democrat who does not like Trump, said she believed most Democrats also wanted the report done with.

“But we see it totally different than Republicans," she said. "If he’s guilty, we don’t want him in office.”

Inside the Touchdown Tavern in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin, voter Aric Nowicki worries over how the impending release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation could affect the 2020 election for president.

Inside the Touchdown Tavern in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin, voter Aric Nowicki worries over how the impending release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation could affect the 2020 election for president. Nowicki is not concerned about potential harm to President Donald Trump if Mueller accuses the Republican's campaign of working with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Instead, the heating and air-conditioning business owner fears the report could prove a political landmine for overzealous Democrats trying to take down a president they despise. “They absolutely run the risk of overhyping it and overblowing it," Nowicki, 41, who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, said in Reedsburg, in southwest Wisconson. "If they take the report and spin it too far, they could end up helping Trump." At first glance, the long-awaited Mueller report might seem a political gift for Democrats aiming to reclaim the White House next year. If Mueller finds Trump played a role in a conspiracy with Moscow to boost his chances of winning the election or committed obstruction of justice to try to impede the probe - allegations Trump denies - the Democratic-led US House of Representatives could launch impeachment proceedings against the president. But dealing with the probe's conclusions will be a delicate dance for Democrats, said a half-dozen Republican, Democratic and independent strategists and analysts. The top US Democrat, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has tried to temper talk about impeaching Trump, noting the process is "divisive." Mueller is widely expected to finish the investigation in the coming weeks. Strategists said candidates who focus too intently on the findings run the risk of appearing shrill and partisan. That could alienate general election voters in key battlegrounds including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which went for Democratic former President Barack Obama in 2012 but for Trump in 2016. Yet delivering a reaction that is too muted or measured might lose votes during the party’s nominating battle, where the Russia investigation and attacking Trump animate the base. "There is a case to prosecute against Trump with regard to his record in office. That is where I would focus," said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist not affiliated with any presidential campaign. Finney, who worked inside the Bill Clinton White House during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, said Democrats should bear in mind how Republicans overplayed their hand 20 years ago. Their impeachment of Clinton and focus on the scandal backfired with voters, allowing Clinton to regain the political momentum and costing Republicans congressional seats. Strategists in both major parties said Democratic candidates should be wary about talk of impeaching Trump or putting too much emphasis on the report in general. “We should not be gambling our future prospects of winning back the White House on what is in the Mueller report," said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton and Obama’s presidential campaigns. “Voters want candidates to focus on issues important to them, such as healthcare and good-paying jobs.” Strategists interviewed by Reuters said Trump likely would not suffer badly even if Mueller finds evidence damaging to him. His supporters, who are fiercely loyal, will probably see claims of wrongdoing as proof there is an FBI conspiracy against Trump, energizing them further. According to a January Reuters/Ipsos poll, more than two-thirds of Republicans believe the FBI and Department of Justice “are working to delegitimize President Trump through politically motivated investigations." 'SO SICK OF IT' The complexities and ramifications of the Russia investigation, while an obsession in Washington, barely registered for many voters who spoke to Reuters in the past week in snowy southwest Wisconsin. The area known for its dairy farms, meat production and small breweries will be heavily targeted by presidential campaigns after Trump's narrow win in Wisconsin in 2016 helped deliver him the White House. Obama easily won seven of the region's counties in 2012, but Trump won them all in 2016. Democrats hope to win them back in 2020. Democratic presidential candidates so far have not focused on the investigation on the campaign trail. US Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement last week that she would not pardon anyone prosecuted as part of Mueller's investigation should she be elected. Several other Democratic presidential candidates did not respond to email requests asking them about the report. In interviews with two dozen people in the small towns and villages south and west of Wisconsin's state capital, Madison, the upcoming report was met with frustration and exasperation, illustrating the dangers Democrats face with swing voters if they go too far on the issue. Thadd Ernstmeyer, 52, a plumber who voted twice for Obama and then for Trump, said people wanted the Democrats to stop badgering Trump and instead tackle issues such as medical bills and jobs. "The whole thing’s ridiculous," Ernstmeyer said. Democrats "don’t like Trump and they are trying every angle to take him out.” In a bar in Reedsburg, diehard Trump supporter Gary Steinke, 72, predicted Democrats would be relentless in making an issue of the report's findings. His partner, Susan Bottoms, 64, shared his concerns - even though she is a Democrat. “Oh my God yes, of course, the Democrats will overreact and overhype this," she said. "People are so sick of it." Bartender Mary Schlough, 53, a Democrat who does not like Trump, said she believed most Democrats also wanted the report done with. “But we see it totally different than Republicans," she said. "If he’s guilty, we don’t want him in office.”

In 2020 battleground state, looming Robert Mueller's report could hold dangers for Democrats

The head of the US House Judiciary Committee said on Sunday the panel would seek documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of a probe into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-conservatives-against-socialist-nightmare-200863">President Donald Trump</a>.

Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told ABC's "This Week" the panel wanted to get documents from the Department of Justice, the president's son Donald Trump Jr and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, among others.

"We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption ... and into obstruction of justice," Nadler said. "It's our job to protect the rule of law."

"It’s very clear that the president obstructed justice," Nadler said. He said it was too soon to consider whether impeachment should be pursued, however.

"Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen," he said.&nbsp;

As evidence of obstruction, Nadler cited Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, who at the time was leading an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow.

That investigation was subsequently taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is expected to deliver his findings to the US attorney general within weeks.

Nadler also cited what he called Trump's attempts to intimidate witnesses in the investigation.

The White House, the Justice Department and the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Nadler said the committee on Monday would release the list of people and organizations it would be requesting documents from.

The head of the US House Judiciary Committee said on Sunday the panel would seek documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of a probe into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by President Donald Trump.

The head of the US House Judiciary Committee said on Sunday the panel would seek documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of a probe into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by President Donald Trump. Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told ABC's "This Week" the panel wanted to get documents from the Department of Justice, the president's son Donald Trump Jr and Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, among others. "We are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption ... and into obstruction of justice," Nadler said. "It's our job to protect the rule of law." "It’s very clear that the president obstructed justice," Nadler said. He said it was too soon to consider whether impeachment should be pursued, however. "Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen," he said. As evidence of obstruction, Nadler cited Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, who at the time was leading an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow. That investigation was subsequently taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is expected to deliver his findings to the US attorney general within weeks. Nadler also cited what he called Trump's attempts to intimidate witnesses in the investigation. The White House, the Justice Department and the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nadler said the committee on Monday would release the list of people and organizations it would be requesting documents from.

US House of Representatives panel launches probe into obstruction of justice by Trump

President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 2) attacked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-former-trump-campaign-manager-broke-law-repeatedly-and-brazenly-199293">US Special Counsel Robert Mueller ahead of his report </a>on alleged Russia collusion by the Trump campaign in 2016 and said his political opponents were "trying to take me out with bu****it."

"We're waiting for a report by people who weren't elected," Trump said of the Mueller report, which is said to be days away from being handed over to Attorney General William Barr.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-will-subpoena-muellers-russia-report-if-needed-lawmaker-199561">Democrats will subpoena Mueller's Russia report if needed, says US lawmaker</a>

Trump said Comey, who the president fired in 2017, was Mueller's "best friend," and appeared to complain that Comey should have been fired before Trump took office.

"Unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there and all of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bu****it, okay?" Trump said.

"Now Robert Mueller never received a vote and neither did the person who appointed him," he added.

Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller in May 2017 to take over the Russia investigation after Trump fired Comey, whose agency had led the probe initially. Rosenstein is expected to step down by mid-March.

Trump mocked the Southern accent of Sessions and criticised him for recusing himself from the Russia probe. In November, Trump fired Sessions, a former US senator from Alabama who was among the first Republican lawmakers to back Trump's presidential bid.

Trump also said he would soon sign an executive order requiring American universities and colleges to maintain "free speech" on campuses and threatened that schools not complying could lose federal research funds.

Trump made his remarks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference after bringing to the stage Hayden Williams, a conservative activist who was punched at the University of California, Berkeley, last month while recruiting students for a conservative group.

"Today, I am proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research funds," Trump said.

President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 2) attacked US Special Counsel Robert Mueller ahead of his report on alleged Russia collusion by the Trump campaign in 2016 and said his political opponents were "trying to take me out with bu****it.

President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 2) attacked US Special Counsel Robert Mueller ahead of his report on alleged Russia collusion by the Trump campaign in 2016 and said his political opponents were "trying to take me out with bu****it." "We're waiting for a report by people who weren't elected," Trump said of the Mueller report, which is said to be days away from being handed over to Attorney General William Barr. Also read: Democrats will subpoena Mueller's Russia report if needed, says US lawmaker Trump said Comey, who the president fired in 2017, was Mueller's "best friend," and appeared to complain that Comey should have been fired before Trump took office. "Unfortunately, you put the wrong people in a couple of positions and they leave people for a long time that shouldn't be there and all of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bu****it, okay?" Trump said. "Now Robert Mueller never received a vote and neither did the person who appointed him," he added. Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller in May 2017 to take over the Russia investigation after Trump fired Comey, whose agency had led the probe initially. Rosenstein is expected to step down by mid-March. Trump mocked the Southern accent of Sessions and criticised him for recusing himself from the Russia probe. In November, Trump fired Sessions, a former US senator from Alabama who was among the first Republican lawmakers to back Trump's presidential bid. Trump also said he would soon sign an executive order requiring American universities and colleges to maintain "free speech" on campuses and threatened that schools not complying could lose federal research funds. Trump made his remarks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference after bringing to the stage Hayden Williams, a conservative activist who was punched at the University of California, Berkeley, last month while recruiting students for a conservative group. "Today, I am proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research funds," Trump said.

Trump blasts Mueller probe at CPAC, says opponents 'trying to take me out'

Lawyers for President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort urged a judge on Friday to impose a sentence "substantially below" the potential 19 to 24 years in prison he is facing for tax crimes and bank fraud.

Manafort, 69, is to be sentenced on March 7 by Judge TS&nbsp;Ellis of the Eastern District of Virginia after being convicted of five counts of filing false income tax returns, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to report a foreign bank account.

Manafort's attorneys, in a filing with the judge, said the sentencing guidelines -- which call for a prison term of 235 to 293 months -- are "clearly disproportionate to the offence conduct for which Mr Manafort was convicted."

"Mr Manafort acknowledges that he received a fair trial before this Court, he accepts the jury's verdict, and is truly remorseful for his conduct," they said.

His attorneys suggested a "sentence substantially below the range," arguing that Manafort is a first-time offender and is in poor health after spending the past nine months in prison.

Manafort is one of seven former Trump associates and senior aides who have been charged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, which is believed to be nearing the end of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Mueller's office said in their own sentencing memo that Manafort was a "bold" criminal who "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law but did not recommend a specific sentence.

Mueller's office said that Manafort violated the law for years and his sentence "must take into account the gravity of this conduct," to deter both Manafort and anyone else who would commit similar crimes.

"His criminal actions were bold," Mueller's office said, and included attempting to tamper with witnesses and lying to the FBI, government agencies and even his own lawyers.

Manafort's attorneys took issue with that characterization.

"The Special Counsel's attempt to vilify Mr Manafort as a lifelong and irredeemable felon is beyond the pale and grossly overstates the facts before this Court," they said.

"The cases that Special Counsel have brought against Mr Manafort have devastated him personally, professionally and financially," they said.

The charges against Manafort were not connected to his role in the Trump campaign but were for work he did for Russian-backed political parties in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014.

Manafort was also charged in Washington with money laundering, witness tampering and other offences and faces separate sentencing in that case.

Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Moscow and denounced the probe by Mueller, a former FBI director, as a "political witch hunt."

Lawyers for President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort urged a judge on Friday to impose a sentence "substantially below" the potential 19 to 24 years in prison he is facing for tax crimes and bank fraud.

Lawyers for President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort urged a judge on Friday to impose a sentence "substantially below" the potential 19 to 24 years in prison he is facing for tax crimes and bank fraud. Manafort, 69, is to be sentenced on March 7 by Judge TS Ellis of the Eastern District of Virginia after being convicted of five counts of filing false income tax returns, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to report a foreign bank account. Manafort's attorneys, in a filing with the judge, said the sentencing guidelines -- which call for a prison term of 235 to 293 months -- are "clearly disproportionate to the offence conduct for which Mr Manafort was convicted." "Mr Manafort acknowledges that he received a fair trial before this Court, he accepts the jury's verdict, and is truly remorseful for his conduct," they said. His attorneys suggested a "sentence substantially below the range," arguing that Manafort is a first-time offender and is in poor health after spending the past nine months in prison. Manafort is one of seven former Trump associates and senior aides who have been charged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, which is believed to be nearing the end of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Mueller's office said in their own sentencing memo that Manafort was a "bold" criminal who "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law but did not recommend a specific sentence. Mueller's office said that Manafort violated the law for years and his sentence "must take into account the gravity of this conduct," to deter both Manafort and anyone else who would commit similar crimes. "His criminal actions were bold," Mueller's office said, and included attempting to tamper with witnesses and lying to the FBI, government agencies and even his own lawyers. Manafort's attorneys took issue with that characterization. "The Special Counsel's attempt to vilify Mr Manafort as a lifelong and irredeemable felon is beyond the pale and grossly overstates the facts before this Court," they said. "The cases that Special Counsel have brought against Mr Manafort have devastated him personally, professionally and financially," they said. The charges against Manafort were not connected to his role in the Trump campaign but were for work he did for Russian-backed political parties in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014. Manafort was also charged in Washington with money laundering, witness tampering and other offences and faces separate sentencing in that case. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Moscow and denounced the probe by Mueller, a former FBI director, as a "political witch hunt."

Lawyers for former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort, argue for leniency

Democrats will subpoena <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/robert-mueller-former-trump-campaign-manager-broke-law-repeatedly-and-brazenly-199293">Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a>'s final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday.

Schiff, a Democrat who chairs the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will also sue the government and call on Mueller to testify to Congress if necessary.

"We will obviously subpoena the report. We will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress; we will take it to court if necessary. And in the end, I think the (Justice) Department understands they're going to have to make this public,” Schiff said in an appearance on ABC's "This Week."

Amid reports that Mueller could be near concluding a 21-month investigation into whether Trump's campaign team colluded with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, Democrats are pushing for it to be made public.

When Mueller completes his report, he will hand it into Trump's attorney general, William Barr.

But Barr indicated during his confirmation hearings that he could draft his own report to Congress and not turn Mueller's report over in its entirety.

Trump, a Republican, has denied any collusion took place between his campaign team and Moscow. Russia denies the claims of US intelligence agencies that it meddled in the 2016 elections.

Trump refers to the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and on Sunday wrote on Twitter that the only collusion with the Russians was committed by Hillary Clinton, his rival in the 2016 election, and the Democratic National Committee.

Democrats hope to use the Mueller report as the basis for any further investigations into Trump, including whether they would initiate impeachment proceedings.

Schiff said he would be willing to take the administration to court if it does not turn over the Mueller report.

"We are going to get to the bottom of this," Schiff said. "We are going to share this information with the public and if the president is serious about all of his claims of exoneration, then he should welcome the publication of this report."

Democrats will subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday.

Democrats will subpoena Special Counsel Robert Mueller's final report on his investigation into links between US President Donald Trump's 2016 election team and Russia if it is not given to Congress, senior lawmaker Adam Schiff said on Sunday. Schiff, a Democrat who chairs the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Democrats will also sue the government and call on Mueller to testify to Congress if necessary. "We will obviously subpoena the report. We will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress; we will take it to court if necessary. And in the end, I think the (Justice) Department understands they're going to have to make this public,” Schiff said in an appearance on ABC's "This Week." Amid reports that Mueller could be near concluding a 21-month investigation into whether Trump's campaign team colluded with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, Democrats are pushing for it to be made public. When Mueller completes his report, he will hand it into Trump's attorney general, William Barr. But Barr indicated during his confirmation hearings that he could draft his own report to Congress and not turn Mueller's report over in its entirety. Trump, a Republican, has denied any collusion took place between his campaign team and Moscow. Russia denies the claims of US intelligence agencies that it meddled in the 2016 elections. Trump refers to the Mueller probe as a "witch hunt" and on Sunday wrote on Twitter that the only collusion with the Russians was committed by Hillary Clinton, his rival in the 2016 election, and the Democratic National Committee. Democrats hope to use the Mueller report as the basis for any further investigations into Trump, including whether they would initiate impeachment proceedings. Schiff said he would be willing to take the administration to court if it does not turn over the Mueller report. "We are going to get to the bottom of this," Schiff said. "We are going to share this information with the public and if the president is serious about all of his claims of exoneration, then he should welcome the publication of this report."

Democrats will subpoena Mueller's Russia report if needed: US lawmaker

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office said in a sentencing memo released Saturday that President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/paul-manafort-allegedly-lied-about-giving-polling-data-to-russian-report-189113">Donald Trump's former campaign director Paul Manafort was a "bold" criminal</a> who "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law.&nbsp;

Manafort, 69, who pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges, faces sentencing on March 13. The memo addressed to the judge in charge of his case did not recommend a specific sentence -- but outlined the gravity of his crimes.

It said he violated the law for years and his sentence "must take into account the gravity of this conduct," to deter both Manafort and anyone who would commit similar crimes.

Manafort is one of six former Trump associates and senior aides who have been charged by Mueller's team, which is believed to be nearing the end of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

"Manafort committed an array of felonies for over a decade, up through the fall of 2018," the memo said, naming crimes including tax fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, bank fraud and violating a law related to lobbying.

"His criminal actions were bold," it continued, pointing out that they continued after he was charged, including attempting to tamper with witnesses, and lying to the FBI, government agencies and even his own lawyer.

Mueller's office last week said it agreed with a Justice Department calculation that Manafort should face up to 24 years in prison, after he was found to have violated a plea deal which agreed to a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Earlier this month, District Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed with prosecutors that Manafort had "intentionally" lied to investigators about his contacts with a suspected Russian operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, in 2016 and 2017 -- despite having pledged to cooperate as part of his September plea agreement.&nbsp;

Jackson also ruled that Manafort had lied about a secretive payment he made to a law firm, and lied on another occasion when investigators queried him about a separate, still secret investigation related to the Mueller probe.

Dated Friday, the memo was expected to be made public on Friday evening -- but was not released until Saturday, with several passages redacted.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office said in a sentencing memo released Saturday that President Donald Trump's former campaign director Paul Manafort was a "bold" criminal who "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office said in a sentencing memo released Saturday that President Donald Trump's former campaign director Paul Manafort was a "bold" criminal who "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law. Manafort, 69, who pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges, faces sentencing on March 13. The memo addressed to the judge in charge of his case did not recommend a specific sentence -- but outlined the gravity of his crimes. It said he violated the law for years and his sentence "must take into account the gravity of this conduct," to deter both Manafort and anyone who would commit similar crimes. Manafort is one of six former Trump associates and senior aides who have been charged by Mueller's team, which is believed to be nearing the end of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. "Manafort committed an array of felonies for over a decade, up through the fall of 2018," the memo said, naming crimes including tax fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, bank fraud and violating a law related to lobbying. "His criminal actions were bold," it continued, pointing out that they continued after he was charged, including attempting to tamper with witnesses, and lying to the FBI, government agencies and even his own lawyer. Mueller's office last week said it agreed with a Justice Department calculation that Manafort should face up to 24 years in prison, after he was found to have violated a plea deal which agreed to a maximum sentence of 10 years. Earlier this month, District Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed with prosecutors that Manafort had "intentionally" lied to investigators about his contacts with a suspected Russian operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, in 2016 and 2017 -- despite having pledged to cooperate as part of his September plea agreement. Jackson also ruled that Manafort had lied about a secretive payment he made to a law firm, and lied on another occasion when investigators queried him about a separate, still secret investigation related to the Mueller probe. Dated Friday, the memo was expected to be made public on Friday evening -- but was not released until Saturday, with several passages redacted.

Robert Mueller: Former Trump campaign manager broke law 'repeatedly and brazenly'

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was nominating a successor to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-deputy-attorney-rod-rosenstein-overseeing-russia-probe-to-leave-reports-189256">a move that confirms the departure of the Justice Department official</a> who until recently oversaw the Russia probe.

Rosenstein will be replaced by Jeffrey Rosen, the current deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation, President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. The decision is subject to confirmation in the Senate.

US media had previously reported Rosenstein planned to resign mid-March. His departure was widely expected following the confirmation of new Attorney General Bill Barr last week.

Rosenstein was responsible for the May 2017 naming of Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations that Russia interfered in the last presidential election and that the Trump campaign colluded in that effort.&nbsp;

Mueller was appointed after Trump abruptly fired FBI director James Comey that same month.

Rosenstein's then boss, Jeff Sessions, who was fired last November, had recused himself from the probe because of his role in Trump's campaign team.&nbsp;

Rosenstein was frequently attacked by Trump on Twitter, while congressional Republicans had also sought his removal.

In an explosive interview aired Sunday, the FBI's former acting director Andrew McCabe said Rosenstein discussed invoking an article of the constitution to remove Trump on the grounds that he was incapable of performing his job.

Rosenstein has dismissed reports that he ever considered such a move -- and that he even pondered wearing a wire to secretly record his conversations with the president -- as a "joke," if indeed he made the comments.&nbsp;

His successor Rosen is a Northwestern University and Harvard Law School graduate and "a distinguished lawyer who has served at the highest levels of government and the private sector," Barr said.

Rosen has worked in both the public and private sector, including as senior partner for the international law firm Kirkland &amp; Ellis.&nbsp;

He previously served in the administration of Republican president George W Bush, first as general counsel for the Department of Transportation and later for the Office of Management and Budget.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was nominating a successor to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, a move that confirms the departure of the Justice Department official who until recently oversaw the Russia probe.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was nominating a successor to deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, a move that confirms the departure of the Justice Department official who until recently oversaw the Russia probe. Rosenstein will be replaced by Jeffrey Rosen, the current deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation, President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. The decision is subject to confirmation in the Senate. US media had previously reported Rosenstein planned to resign mid-March. His departure was widely expected following the confirmation of new Attorney General Bill Barr last week. Rosenstein was responsible for the May 2017 naming of Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations that Russia interfered in the last presidential election and that the Trump campaign colluded in that effort. Mueller was appointed after Trump abruptly fired FBI director James Comey that same month. Rosenstein's then boss, Jeff Sessions, who was fired last November, had recused himself from the probe because of his role in Trump's campaign team. Rosenstein was frequently attacked by Trump on Twitter, while congressional Republicans had also sought his removal. In an explosive interview aired Sunday, the FBI's former acting director Andrew McCabe said Rosenstein discussed invoking an article of the constitution to remove Trump on the grounds that he was incapable of performing his job. Rosenstein has dismissed reports that he ever considered such a move -- and that he even pondered wearing a wire to secretly record his conversations with the president -- as a "joke," if indeed he made the comments. His successor Rosen is a Northwestern University and Harvard Law School graduate and "a distinguished lawyer who has served at the highest levels of government and the private sector," Barr said. Rosen has worked in both the public and private sector, including as senior partner for the international law firm Kirkland & Ellis. He previously served in the administration of Republican president George W Bush, first as general counsel for the Department of Transportation and later for the Office of Management and Budget.

Trump nominates successor to one-time head of Russia collusion probe

Prosecutors for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mueller-probe-close-to-being-completed-acting-us-attorney-general-193552">Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a> urged a federal judge in Virginia on Friday to impose a strict prison sentence for President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, after a jury last year convicted him on eight counts of bank and tax fraud.

In their sentencing memo filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, prosecutors said Manafort, who is 69, deserves between 19.6 and 24.4 years in prison and a fine of between $50,000 and $24 million.

Friday's court filing in Virginia came just days after a federal judge in Washington, DC, ruled that Manafort had breached his plea agreement in a parallel case by lying to investigators despite a pledge to cooperate.

That finding earlier this week by Judge Amy Berman Jackson in US District Court for the District of Columbia could have a direct impact on how Manafort is sentenced in the Virginia case.

Judge TS Ellis in Alexandria, Virginia, had planned to sentence Manafort on February 8, but he later postponed that until after Jackson's ruling, saying it "may have some effect on the sentencing decision in this case."

Manafort was one of the first people in Trump's orbit to face criminal charges as part of Mueller's investigation into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to tilt the 2016 presidential election in his favour.

Trump has denied colluding and called the probe a witch hunt, while Russia has denied meddling in the election.

None of the charges Manafort faced related directly to Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

In the Virginia case, prosecutors accused Manafort of hiding from US tax authorities $16 million he earned as a political consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, money he used to fund an opulent lifestyle.

Later, when his lobbying work started to dry up following the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, prosecutors said Manafort began lying to banks to secure $20 million in loans to keep his lifestyle afloat.

After almost four days of deliberations, a 12-member jury found Manafort guilty on two counts of bank fraud, five counts of tax fraud and one charge of failing to disclose foreign bank accounts.

Prosecutors for Special Counsel Robert Mueller urged a federal judge in Virginia on Friday to impose a strict prison sentence for President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, after a jury last year convicted him on eight counts of bank and tax fraud.

Prosecutors for Special Counsel Robert Mueller urged a federal judge in Virginia on Friday to impose a strict prison sentence for President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, after a jury last year convicted him on eight counts of bank and tax fraud. In their sentencing memo filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, prosecutors said Manafort, who is 69, deserves between 19.6 and 24.4 years in prison and a fine of between $50,000 and $24 million. Friday's court filing in Virginia came just days after a federal judge in Washington, DC, ruled that Manafort had breached his plea agreement in a parallel case by lying to investigators despite a pledge to cooperate. That finding earlier this week by Judge Amy Berman Jackson in US District Court for the District of Columbia could have a direct impact on how Manafort is sentenced in the Virginia case. Judge TS Ellis in Alexandria, Virginia, had planned to sentence Manafort on February 8, but he later postponed that until after Jackson's ruling, saying it "may have some effect on the sentencing decision in this case." Manafort was one of the first people in Trump's orbit to face criminal charges as part of Mueller's investigation into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to tilt the 2016 presidential election in his favour. Trump has denied colluding and called the probe a witch hunt, while Russia has denied meddling in the election. None of the charges Manafort faced related directly to Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. In the Virginia case, prosecutors accused Manafort of hiding from US tax authorities $16 million he earned as a political consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, money he used to fund an opulent lifestyle. Later, when his lobbying work started to dry up following the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, prosecutors said Manafort began lying to banks to secure $20 million in loans to keep his lifestyle afloat. After almost four days of deliberations, a 12-member jury found Manafort guilty on two counts of bank fraud, five counts of tax fraud and one charge of failing to disclose foreign bank accounts.

Special Counsel Mueller seeks tough sentence for ex-Trump campaign chairman Manafort

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/muellers-office-disputes-report-that-trump-told-cohen-to-lie-to-congress-191342">Russian meddling in the 2016 US&nbsp;election</a> is close to wrapping up, Acting US&nbsp;Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday.

"I've been fully briefed on the investigation and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report," he said at a press conference on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/americas/united-states-formally-charges-chinas-huawei-with-bank-fraud-stealing-trade-secrets-193545">US&nbsp;charges against China's Huawei Technologies</a> Co Ltd.

"Right now the investigation is I think close to being completed and I hope that we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as possible."

Whitaker's comments mark the first time a top government official with knowledge of the investigation has publicly confirmed the probe is in its final stages.

Media outlets have reported that Mueller's office could be close to issuing a final report on his investigation.

But Mueller has been tight-lipped about when the months of closed-door grand jury sessions and criminal charges will conclude, leaving questions over how far into the White House his probe will reach and what will happen to his findings.

Mueller's investigation most recently ensnared a long-time confidant of President Donald Trump, political operative Roger Stone.

Others in Trump's orbit have also been charged in the probe, including Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, his former campaign deputy, Richard Gates, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump's nominee to fill the attorney general post permanently, William Barr, recently pledged to make public as much of the report as possible, saying Mueller is required to file it confidentially.

But Barr has declined to pledge to release Mueller's report in its entirety, saying that some portions might need to remain confidential, such as decisions not to charge certain individuals.

Russia denies any wrongdoing in the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly said he was not involved in any collusion with Russia and has often referred to the probe as a "witch hunt."

Whitaker's comments about the Mueller investigation are likely to trigger further inquiries from Democrats who have accused him of being illegally appointed and failing to heed ethics advice suggesting he should recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation.

He is due to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on February 8, where he is expected to be peppered with questions over his role in the Mueller probe and whether he has taken steps to narrow it or limit what Mueller can investigate.

Whitaker was installed as acting attorney general in November, after Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Prior to joining the Justice Department as Sessions’ chief of staff in 2017, Whitaker served as a conservative media pundit and made multiple comments raising scepticism about Mueller’s investigation.

Those comments, coupled with Whitaker’s friendship with Trump’s 2016 election co-chair, Sam Clovis, have raised questions about whether Whitaker should recuse himself.

At Monday's press conference, Whitaker publicly addressed questions about his past statements on the Mueller probe, saying he made those comments as a private citizen who had access only to publicly available information.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election is close to wrapping up, Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election is close to wrapping up, Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker told reporters on Monday. "I've been fully briefed on the investigation and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report," he said at a press conference on US charges against China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. "Right now the investigation is I think close to being completed and I hope that we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as possible." Whitaker's comments mark the first time a top government official with knowledge of the investigation has publicly confirmed the probe is in its final stages. Media outlets have reported that Mueller's office could be close to issuing a final report on his investigation. But Mueller has been tight-lipped about when the months of closed-door grand jury sessions and criminal charges will conclude, leaving questions over how far into the White House his probe will reach and what will happen to his findings. Mueller's investigation most recently ensnared a long-time confidant of President Donald Trump, political operative Roger Stone. Others in Trump's orbit have also been charged in the probe, including Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, his former campaign deputy, Richard Gates, and his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Trump's nominee to fill the attorney general post permanently, William Barr, recently pledged to make public as much of the report as possible, saying Mueller is required to file it confidentially. But Barr has declined to pledge to release Mueller's report in its entirety, saying that some portions might need to remain confidential, such as decisions not to charge certain individuals. Russia denies any wrongdoing in the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly said he was not involved in any collusion with Russia and has often referred to the probe as a "witch hunt." Whitaker's comments about the Mueller investigation are likely to trigger further inquiries from Democrats who have accused him of being illegally appointed and failing to heed ethics advice suggesting he should recuse himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation. He is due to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on February 8, where he is expected to be peppered with questions over his role in the Mueller probe and whether he has taken steps to narrow it or limit what Mueller can investigate. Whitaker was installed as acting attorney general in November, after Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Prior to joining the Justice Department as Sessions’ chief of staff in 2017, Whitaker served as a conservative media pundit and made multiple comments raising scepticism about Mueller’s investigation. Those comments, coupled with Whitaker’s friendship with Trump’s 2016 election co-chair, Sam Clovis, have raised questions about whether Whitaker should recuse himself. At Monday's press conference, Whitaker publicly addressed questions about his past statements on the Mueller probe, saying he made those comments as a private citizen who had access only to publicly available information.

Mueller probe 'close to being completed': Acting US attorney general

US President Donald Trump's former advisor, Roger Stone got arrested by police on Friday under an indictment issued by<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/muellers-office-disputes-report-that-trump-told-cohen-to-lie-to-congress-191342"> special counsel Robert Mueller</a>;&nbsp;, according to a grand jury indictment made public by US&nbsp;Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office.

According to the report, he&nbsp;was arrested in Florida after being indicted on Thursday.&nbsp;

Stone has been charged with seven counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, making false statements and witness tampering.

Stone will now appear in a court in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thanks-special-counsel-robert-mueller-for-statement-about-buzzfeed-article-191502">Trump thanks special counsel Robert Mueller for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thanks-special-counsel-robert-mueller-for-statement-about-buzzfeed-article-191502">statement</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thanks-special-counsel-robert-mueller-for-statement-about-buzzfeed-article-191502"> about BuzzFeed article</a>

Stone has faced scrutiny for his support for Trump during the 2016 presidential election campaign, when Stone implied that he had inside knowledge of data obtained by hackers that could embarrass Democrats, including Trump's rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton.

According to a Reuters' report, US&nbsp;prosecutors, in the indictment, said Stone had "sent and received numerous emails and text messages during the 2016 campaign in which he discussed Organisation 1, its head, and its possession of hacked emails."

Stone also spoke to senior Trump Campaign officials about the organisation "and information it might have had that would be damaging to the Clinton Campaign," the indictment said. He was also "contacted by senior Trump Campaign officials to inquire about future releases" by the group, it added.

Robert Mueller&nbsp;is investigating possible Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign which has led to dozens of indictments for federal crimes and several guilty pleas or convictions.

In August 2018, Paul Manafort, Trump's Presidential campaign chairman, was found guilty on eight felony counts of financial crimes in a district court, a month later, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing justice, in a plea bargain for his full cooperation with prosecutors.

The investigation also led to former national security advisor Michale Flynn pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI and, as part of a December 2017 plea deal, he is required to be a cooperating witness in the investigations.&nbsp;

Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen is also scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.

Mueller further secured guilty pleas from Manafort's business partner, Rick Gates, Dutch attorney Alex van der Zwaan, Trump's former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, lobbyist W Samuel Patten, and Richard Pinedo; all, except Van der Zwaan, have become cooperating witnesses for investigators.

In February 2018, Mueller indicted 13 Russian citizens and three Russian entities, most notably the Internet Research Agency and, in June 2018, added an indictment of Konstantin Kilimnik, Manafort's business partner. In July 2018, 12 members of the Russian GRU cyber espionage group known as Fancy Bear, responsible for the 2016 DNC email hacking, were indicted.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump's former advisor, Roger Stone got arrested by police on Friday under an indictment issued by special counsel Robert Mueller; , according to a grand jury indictment made public by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office.

US President Donald Trump's former advisor, Roger Stone got arrested by police on Friday under an indictment issued by special counsel Robert Mueller; , according to a grand jury indictment made public by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office. According to the report, he was arrested in Florida after being indicted on Thursday. Stone has been charged with seven counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, making false statements and witness tampering. Stone will now appear in a court in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Also read: Trump thanks special counsel Robert Mueller for statement about BuzzFeed article Stone has faced scrutiny for his support for Trump during the 2016 presidential election campaign, when Stone implied that he had inside knowledge of data obtained by hackers that could embarrass Democrats, including Trump's rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton. According to a Reuters' report, US prosecutors, in the indictment, said Stone had "sent and received numerous emails and text messages during the 2016 campaign in which he discussed Organisation 1, its head, and its possession of hacked emails." Stone also spoke to senior Trump Campaign officials about the organisation "and information it might have had that would be damaging to the Clinton Campaign," the indictment said. He was also "contacted by senior Trump Campaign officials to inquire about future releases" by the group, it added. Robert Mueller is investigating possible Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign which has led to dozens of indictments for federal crimes and several guilty pleas or convictions. In August 2018, Paul Manafort, Trump's Presidential campaign chairman, was found guilty on eight felony counts of financial crimes in a district court, a month later, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing justice, in a plea bargain for his full cooperation with prosecutors. The investigation also led to former national security advisor Michale Flynn pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI and, as part of a December 2017 plea deal, he is required to be a cooperating witness in the investigations. Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen is also scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress. Mueller further secured guilty pleas from Manafort's business partner, Rick Gates, Dutch attorney Alex van der Zwaan, Trump's former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, lobbyist W Samuel Patten, and Richard Pinedo; all, except Van der Zwaan, have become cooperating witnesses for investigators. In February 2018, Mueller indicted 13 Russian citizens and three Russian entities, most notably the Internet Research Agency and, in June 2018, added an indictment of Konstantin Kilimnik, Manafort's business partner. In July 2018, 12 members of the Russian GRU cyber espionage group known as Fancy Bear, responsible for the 2016 DNC email hacking, were indicted. (With inputs from agencies)

Former Trump adviser Roger Stone arrested after indictment by Robert Mueller

Democrats in the US House of Representatives have quietly tweaked a rule on taking secret depositions that is likely to give a boost to their investigations of President Donald Trump, his personal finances and his administration.

The little-noticed change, made since the Democrats took over majority control of the House earlier this month, will let staffers of House investigative committees take testimony from subpoenaed witnesses without a lawmaker being present.

By eliminating complications with lawmakers' schedules, the change will let staffers work faster and range more widely said former staffers and sources inside the committees that are launching several inquiries into Trump and his presidency.

The importance of this was underscored, legal experts said when attorney general nominee William Barr indicated last week that he was unlikely to release the final report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lawmakers in its original format.

Mueller has been probing for many months Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, any collusion between Moscow and Trump's campaign, and obstruction of justice. If Barr is confirmed and holds back on Mueller's report, the rule change may help House investigators rapidly replicate Mueller's work.

"Dropping the member requirement will give much more power to staff investigators in different committees, which will lead to increasingly dispersed and now unsupervised authority for investigations," said Kristina Moore, a managing director at FTI Consulting and a former investigator for the House Oversight Committee when it was chaired by Republican Darrell Issa.

"This change to the House rules represents a further expansion of the majority's oversight and investigations targets, for which everyone in the private sector needs to prepare," Moore said.

The government shutdown caused by a standoff between Trump and Democrats over his proposed US-Mexico border wall has been centre-stage in Washington for weeks, but Democrats have been moving ahead on plans to probe Trump and his administration.

On February 7, former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen is scheduled to testify to the House Oversight Committee, now chaired by Democrat Elijah Cummings. On the next day, acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker is slated to testify to the House Judiciary Committee.

Change from Republican rule

When the Republicans controlled the House, up until early January, a lawmaker from the committee that issued the subpoena had to be present for a witness deposition. That sometimes presented challenges, said current and former aides.

For example, when witnesses in New York were being interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee over the past two years, lawmakers had to travel with staff to conduct the questioning, one aide said.

Getting lawmakers to sit through long interviews of low-profile witnesses, even ones with valuable information could also be difficult, the aide said.

The rule change was requested by the House Oversight Committee, said several congressional aides said. But it will also affect the work of other investigative panels, such as the Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

Andy Wright, former associate counsel to President Barack Obama, said the heads of the House investigative committees will be able to subpoena all the witnesses who gave grand jury testimony for Mueller.

"So now a subpoena for deposition can be conducted by staff," he said. "More depositions in a shorter time and fewer steps between request and contempt."

Democrats in the US House of Representatives have quietly tweaked a rule on taking secret depositions that is likely to give a boost to their investigations of President Donald Trump, his personal finances and his administration.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives have quietly tweaked a rule on taking secret depositions that is likely to give a boost to their investigations of President Donald Trump, his personal finances and his administration. The little-noticed change, made since the Democrats took over majority control of the House earlier this month, will let staffers of House investigative committees take testimony from subpoenaed witnesses without a lawmaker being present. By eliminating complications with lawmakers' schedules, the change will let staffers work faster and range more widely said former staffers and sources inside the committees that are launching several inquiries into Trump and his presidency. The importance of this was underscored, legal experts said when attorney general nominee William Barr indicated last week that he was unlikely to release the final report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lawmakers in its original format. Mueller has been probing for many months Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, any collusion between Moscow and Trump's campaign, and obstruction of justice. If Barr is confirmed and holds back on Mueller's report, the rule change may help House investigators rapidly replicate Mueller's work. "Dropping the member requirement will give much more power to staff investigators in different committees, which will lead to increasingly dispersed and now unsupervised authority for investigations," said Kristina Moore, a managing director at FTI Consulting and a former investigator for the House Oversight Committee when it was chaired by Republican Darrell Issa. "This change to the House rules represents a further expansion of the majority's oversight and investigations targets, for which everyone in the private sector needs to prepare," Moore said. The government shutdown caused by a standoff between Trump and Democrats over his proposed US-Mexico border wall has been centre-stage in Washington for weeks, but Democrats have been moving ahead on plans to probe Trump and his administration. On February 7, former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen is scheduled to testify to the House Oversight Committee, now chaired by Democrat Elijah Cummings. On the next day, acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker is slated to testify to the House Judiciary Committee. Change from Republican rule When the Republicans controlled the House, up until early January, a lawmaker from the committee that issued the subpoena had to be present for a witness deposition. That sometimes presented challenges, said current and former aides. For example, when witnesses in New York were being interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee over the past two years, lawmakers had to travel with staff to conduct the questioning, one aide said. Getting lawmakers to sit through long interviews of low-profile witnesses, even ones with valuable information could also be difficult, the aide said. The rule change was requested by the House Oversight Committee, said several congressional aides said. But it will also affect the work of other investigative panels, such as the Intelligence and Judiciary committees. Andy Wright, former associate counsel to President Barack Obama, said the heads of the House investigative committees will be able to subpoena all the witnesses who gave grand jury testimony for Mueller. "So now a subpoena for deposition can be conducted by staff," he said. "More depositions in a shorter time and fewer steps between request and contempt."

US House Democrats tweaks rule of taking secret depositions to boost Trump probes

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US&nbsp;news coverage for the past 24 hours.

BuzzFeed News reported late on Thursday that Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer who is slated to go to prison for lying to Congress and other crimes, told investigators working for Mueller that Trump had instructed him to lie about efforts to build a skyscraper in Moscow while he was running for president.

"BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate," Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, said in the special counsel's first comment on a media report since its probe started 20 months ago.

While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump.

Citing information from two federal law enforcement officials, BuzzFeed said Cohen told the special counsel that after the 2016 presidential election Trump instructed him to tell Congress that negotiations over the Moscow project had ended earlier than they had in order to obscure Trump's involvement.

Carr's statement also appeared to dispute BuzzFeed's assertion that the special counsel learned about Trump's directive from interviews with employees of the Trump Organization, emails, text messages and other documents.

BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing."

After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US&nbsp;Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president.

Earlier on Friday, the White House said the story was false. "Look, that's absolutely ridiculous," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, said Mueller's decision to comment highlighted the significance of the allegations made in the BuzzFeed article and the attention it was getting in the media and among lawmakers.

"They are making a public comment to tell everyone to calm down," Weinstein said. "He doesn’t want people to think his silence is confirming the truthfulness of the report."

Trump said on Twitter that Cohen was lying to get less prison time. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement that any suggestion that Trump told Cohen to lie is "categorically false."

Representatives for the Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment on the BuzzFeed report.

Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.

If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter.

"Directing a subordinate to lie to Congress is a federal crime," Nadler said on Twitter.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said the allegation that Trump may have directed Cohen to lie under oath "is among the most serious to date."

"We will do what's necessary to find out if it's true," Schiff, also a Democrat, said on Twitter.

Some Senate Intelligence Committee investigators hope to ask Cohen about the BuzzFeed report when he testifies behind closed doors in February, a committee source told Reuters. He also will face questions about it in testimony before the House Oversight Committee on February&nbsp;7.

Yet Mueller's move to push back on the BuzzFeed report could give some lawmakers pause, while also giving ammunition to allies of Trump in their efforts to criticize the media and in their calls for Mueller to complete his probe.

"Today's development only underscores the need for the special counsel to wrap this investigation up immediately," Republican Representative Mark Meadows said on Twittter. "The constant secrecy and breathless speculation helps no one."

"Seismic event"

Legal experts said the allegation, if true, exposed Trump to a new level of risk in an investigation that has already resulted in convictions of or guilty pleas from four former campaign aides, including ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

If true, "it's a seismic event," Andy Wright, an associate White House counsel under former Democratic President Barack Obama, told Reuters.

Cohen, his left arm in a sling, did not comment as he entered his apartment building in New York on Friday. His adviser, Lanny Davis, also declined to comment to Reuters, and his lawyer, Guy Petrillo, did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump denounced Cohen as a "rat" after he began cooperating with investigators while Cohen, whose duties included making payoffs to two women who said they had affairs with Trump, said on Thursday he regretted giving "my blind loyalty to a man who doesn't deserve it."

Directing or encouraging someone to lie under oath is a crime known as subornation of perjury. The report also raises questions about obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

William Barr, Trump's nominee to be attorney general, said at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that a president would be committing obstruction if he directed a subordinate to lie under oath. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

While the Justice Department has previously concluded that a sitting president cannot be charged while in office, such an allegation, if found true, could fuel impeachment proceedings in Congress.

Trump repeatedly has denied collusion with Russia and slammed Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt." Russia also has rejected US&nbsp;intelligence findings that Moscow interfered in US&nbsp;politics in the 2016 election in an effort to boost Trump.

Trump said during the presidential campaign that he had no ties or business dealings with Russia.

Democrats, who took over the US&nbsp;House of Representatives this month, have generally been cautious regarding any talk of impeachment to remove Trump from office although some rank-and-file members have pushed for such a resolution.

Impeachment proceedings would face an uphill battle in the Senate, where Trump's fellow Republicans have a majority.

BuzzFeed also reported that Cohen regularly updated Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his daughter Ivanka Trump, who is now a top White House adviser, about the Moscow project.

A spokesman for Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Ivanka Trump, said she was minimally involved in the development. Trump Jr., who has also testified previously before Congress, in a Twitter post called&nbsp;the BuzzFeed report "fake news."

After Mueller's statement disputing the report, Trump Jr. called out the media and Schiff in a series of Twitter posts. "Hey Adam, turns out it was Full of Schiff!" he wrote.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past 24 hours.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past 24 hours. BuzzFeed News reported late on Thursday that Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer who is slated to go to prison for lying to Congress and other crimes, told investigators working for Mueller that Trump had instructed him to lie about efforts to build a skyscraper in Moscow while he was running for president. "BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate," Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, said in the special counsel's first comment on a media report since its probe started 20 months ago. While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump. Citing information from two federal law enforcement officials, BuzzFeed said Cohen told the special counsel that after the 2016 presidential election Trump instructed him to tell Congress that negotiations over the Moscow project had ended earlier than they had in order to obscure Trump's involvement. Carr's statement also appeared to dispute BuzzFeed's assertion that the special counsel learned about Trump's directive from interviews with employees of the Trump Organization, emails, text messages and other documents. BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing." After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president. Earlier on Friday, the White House said the story was false. "Look, that's absolutely ridiculous," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, said Mueller's decision to comment highlighted the significance of the allegations made in the BuzzFeed article and the attention it was getting in the media and among lawmakers. "They are making a public comment to tell everyone to calm down," Weinstein said. "He doesn’t want people to think his silence is confirming the truthfulness of the report." Trump said on Twitter that Cohen was lying to get less prison time. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement that any suggestion that Trump told Cohen to lie is "categorically false." Representatives for the Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment on the BuzzFeed report. Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress. If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter. "Directing a subordinate to lie to Congress is a federal crime," Nadler said on Twitter. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said the allegation that Trump may have directed Cohen to lie under oath "is among the most serious to date." "We will do what's necessary to find out if it's true," Schiff, also a Democrat, said on Twitter. Some Senate Intelligence Committee investigators hope to ask Cohen about the BuzzFeed report when he testifies behind closed doors in February, a committee source told Reuters. He also will face questions about it in testimony before the House Oversight Committee on February 7. Yet Mueller's move to push back on the BuzzFeed report could give some lawmakers pause, while also giving ammunition to allies of Trump in their efforts to criticize the media and in their calls for Mueller to complete his probe. "Today's development only underscores the need for the special counsel to wrap this investigation up immediately," Republican Representative Mark Meadows said on Twittter. "The constant secrecy and breathless speculation helps no one." "Seismic event" Legal experts said the allegation, if true, exposed Trump to a new level of risk in an investigation that has already resulted in convictions of or guilty pleas from four former campaign aides, including ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort. If true, "it's a seismic event," Andy Wright, an associate White House counsel under former Democratic President Barack Obama, told Reuters. Cohen, his left arm in a sling, did not comment as he entered his apartment building in New York on Friday. His adviser, Lanny Davis, also declined to comment to Reuters, and his lawyer, Guy Petrillo, did not respond to a request for comment. Trump denounced Cohen as a "rat" after he began cooperating with investigators while Cohen, whose duties included making payoffs to two women who said they had affairs with Trump, said on Thursday he regretted giving "my blind loyalty to a man who doesn't deserve it." Directing or encouraging someone to lie under oath is a crime known as subornation of perjury. The report also raises questions about obstruction of justice and conspiracy. William Barr, Trump's nominee to be attorney general, said at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that a president would be committing obstruction if he directed a subordinate to lie under oath. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment. While the Justice Department has previously concluded that a sitting president cannot be charged while in office, such an allegation, if found true, could fuel impeachment proceedings in Congress. Trump repeatedly has denied collusion with Russia and slammed Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt." Russia also has rejected US intelligence findings that Moscow interfered in US politics in the 2016 election in an effort to boost Trump. Trump said during the presidential campaign that he had no ties or business dealings with Russia. Democrats, who took over the US House of Representatives this month, have generally been cautious regarding any talk of impeachment to remove Trump from office although some rank-and-file members have pushed for such a resolution. Impeachment proceedings would face an uphill battle in the Senate, where Trump's fellow Republicans have a majority. BuzzFeed also reported that Cohen regularly updated Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his daughter Ivanka Trump, who is now a top White House adviser, about the Moscow project. A spokesman for Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Ivanka Trump, said she was minimally involved in the development. Trump Jr., who has also testified previously before Congress, in a Twitter post called the BuzzFeed report "fake news." After Mueller's statement disputing the report, Trump Jr. called out the media and Schiff in a series of Twitter posts. "Hey Adam, turns out it was Full of Schiff!" he wrote.

Mueller's office disputes report that Trump told Cohen to lie to Congress

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal.

"I appreciate the special counsel coming out with a statement last night. I think it was very appropriate that they did so," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think that the BuzzFeed piece was a disgrace to our country. It was a disgrace to journalism."

Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US&nbsp;news coverage for the past two days.

&nbsp;Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US&nbsp;news coverage for the past 24 hours.

While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump.

Meanwhile, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing."

After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US&nbsp;Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president.

Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.

If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal. "I appreciate the special counsel coming out with a statement last night. I think it was very appropriate that they did so," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think that the BuzzFeed piece was a disgrace to our country. It was a disgrace to journalism." Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past two days. Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past 24 hours. While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing." After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president. Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress. If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter.

Trump thanks special counsel Robert Mueller for statement about BuzzFeed article

Donald Trump's nominee for US attorney general said Tuesday he does not believe the investigation into possible election collusion with Russia is a "witch hunt," contradicting the president.

"I don't believe Mr&nbsp;Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt," Bill Barr said, referring to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the probe.

Barr made the comment <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-justice-nominee-faces-questions-over-russia-probe-189944">under questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee</a> on the first day of hearings into his nomination by Trump to lead the Justice Department.

Barr was under pressure to guarantee he would protect the 20-month-old Mueller investigation from interference by Trump, a possible target of the probe.

Democrats suggested the Trump has recruited Barr, who was previously attorney general from 1991-1993, to protect him from the investigation, which focuses on whether Trump's 2016 election campaign colluded with Russians and whether Trump obstructed the probe.

Before his nomination in December, Barr had written a memo to the Justice Department and the White House, including to Trump's private lawyers, arguing that the president's May 2017 firing of FBI director James Comey over the Russia probe did not constitute obstruction of justice.

"Your memo also shows a large sweeping view of presidential authority and a determined effort, I thought, to undermine Bob Mueller," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

"The attorney general must be willing to resist political pressure and be committed to protecting this investigation," she said.

Barr's confirmation by the majority Republican committee is expected. But Democrats were using the occasion to extract pledges from him to defend Mueller from White House interference and to make public whatever conclusions the investigation comes up with.

But Republican committee Chairman Lindsey Graham opened the hearing with a strong criticism of individuals in the Justice Department and the FBI who were involved in launching the Russia investigation, echoing Trump's accusation that they were "corrupt."

"We're relying upon you to clean this place up," Graham said.

Donald Trump's nominee for US attorney general said Tuesday he does not believe the investigation into possible election collusion with Russia is a "witch hunt," contradicting the president.

Donald Trump's nominee for US attorney general said Tuesday he does not believe the investigation into possible election collusion with Russia is a "witch hunt," contradicting the president. "I don't believe Mr Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt," Bill Barr said, referring to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the probe. Barr made the comment under questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee on the first day of hearings into his nomination by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Barr was under pressure to guarantee he would protect the 20-month-old Mueller investigation from interference by Trump, a possible target of the probe. Democrats suggested the Trump has recruited Barr, who was previously attorney general from 1991-1993, to protect him from the investigation, which focuses on whether Trump's 2016 election campaign colluded with Russians and whether Trump obstructed the probe. Before his nomination in December, Barr had written a memo to the Justice Department and the White House, including to Trump's private lawyers, arguing that the president's May 2017 firing of FBI director James Comey over the Russia probe did not constitute obstruction of justice. "Your memo also shows a large sweeping view of presidential authority and a determined effort, I thought, to undermine Bob Mueller," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "The attorney general must be willing to resist political pressure and be committed to protecting this investigation," she said. Barr's confirmation by the majority Republican committee is expected. But Democrats were using the occasion to extract pledges from him to defend Mueller from White House interference and to make public whatever conclusions the investigation comes up with. But Republican committee Chairman Lindsey Graham opened the hearing with a strong criticism of individuals in the Justice Department and the FBI who were involved in launching the Russia investigation, echoing Trump's accusation that they were "corrupt." "We're relying upon you to clean this place up," Graham said.

Trump nominee for attorney general says Mueller probe is no 'witch hunt'

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee William Barr will pledge at his confirmation hearing to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe and stress his independence from the White House, according to prepared testimony released on Monday.

"On my watch, Bob will be allowed to complete his work," Barr said in the prepared remarks ahead of two days of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee starting on Tuesday morning.

Mueller is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election, possible collusion between the Kremlin and Republican Trump's campaign, and potential obstruction of justice.

Barr, a former attorney general under President George HW&nbsp;Bush, also a Republican, will address his prior criticism of Mueller's probe, telling members of the committee that a memo he sent last year that called the investigation "fatally misconceived" only outlined his concerns that Mueller might be misinterpreting one aspect of the law.

"The memo did not address - or in any way question - the Special Counsel's core investigation," Barr will tell the panel.

Russia has denied US&nbsp;intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the election by spreading disinformation and hacking political party emails. Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt."

Trump said on Monday that he never worked for Russia, his first denial after a media report saying the FBI in 2017 investigated whether or not he acted on Moscow's behalf.

Promises independence

Barr has broad support from Republicans who control the Senate, but some Democrats have questioned whether he is the best choice to serve as the top law enforcement officer in the United States at a time when Trump faces several investigations.

Barr will emphasize his independence, telling lawmakers that he did not seek out the job. He said Trump did not ask him for a promise of loyalty and he did not offer one.

"As Attorney General, my allegiance will be to the rule of law, the Constitution, and the American people," he will say.

Former FBI Director James Comey has said Trump asked him to pledge loyalty before firing him in May 2017. Comey was overseeing a counter-intelligence probe on suspected election interference by Moscow and his dismissal led to the Department of Justice's appointment of Mueller, a former FBI director.

Mueller's investigation and other inquiries have clouded Trump's two years in office. Mueller has secured more than 30 indictments and guilty pleas and has spawned at least four federal investigations.

Democrats have worried that Trump may try to quash Mueller's findings when he concludes his work. Barr will tell lawmakers that he believes it is important that Congress and the public are informed of his results.

"My goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law," according to the prepared remarks.

Barr will say that he supports a new law that eases prison sentences for some criminals, despite his decades-long advocacy of long prison sentences and other aggressive crime-fighting tactics.

Barr also will pledge aggressive enforcement of hate crimes and immigration laws, a Trump priority.

He said he also will prioritize voting rights and efforts to ensure that foreign powers do not interfere with U.S. elections.

Barr has taken steps to address concerns about possible conflicts of interest arising from his decades of work in the private sector, where he amassed $37 million in assets.

Government ethics forms released publicly on Monday show that if confirmed, Barr will resign from the board of Dominion Energy Inc., and will sell off financial interests in other companies, including AT&amp;T Inc, Bristol Myers Squib Co, J.P. Morgan Co, Bank of America Corp, Altria Group Inc, Merck &amp; Co Inc, and Pfizer Inc, among others.

Barr told Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar last week that he would recuse himself from the Justice Department's efforts to block the merger of AT&amp;T and Time Warner Inc. Barr served on the Time Warner board from 2009 to June 2018.

US President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee William Barr will pledge at his confirmation hearing to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe and stress his independence from the White House, according to prepared testimony released on Monday.

US President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee William Barr will pledge at his confirmation hearing to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe and stress his independence from the White House, according to prepared testimony released on Monday. "On my watch, Bob will be allowed to complete his work," Barr said in the prepared remarks ahead of two days of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee starting on Tuesday morning. Mueller is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election, possible collusion between the Kremlin and Republican Trump's campaign, and potential obstruction of justice. Barr, a former attorney general under President George HW Bush, also a Republican, will address his prior criticism of Mueller's probe, telling members of the committee that a memo he sent last year that called the investigation "fatally misconceived" only outlined his concerns that Mueller might be misinterpreting one aspect of the law. "The memo did not address - or in any way question - the Special Counsel's core investigation," Barr will tell the panel. Russia has denied US intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the election by spreading disinformation and hacking political party emails. Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt." Trump said on Monday that he never worked for Russia, his first denial after a media report saying the FBI in 2017 investigated whether or not he acted on Moscow's behalf. Promises independence Barr has broad support from Republicans who control the Senate, but some Democrats have questioned whether he is the best choice to serve as the top law enforcement officer in the United States at a time when Trump faces several investigations. Barr will emphasize his independence, telling lawmakers that he did not seek out the job. He said Trump did not ask him for a promise of loyalty and he did not offer one. "As Attorney General, my allegiance will be to the rule of law, the Constitution, and the American people," he will say. Former FBI Director James Comey has said Trump asked him to pledge loyalty before firing him in May 2017. Comey was overseeing a counter-intelligence probe on suspected election interference by Moscow and his dismissal led to the Department of Justice's appointment of Mueller, a former FBI director. Mueller's investigation and other inquiries have clouded Trump's two years in office. Mueller has secured more than 30 indictments and guilty pleas and has spawned at least four federal investigations. Democrats have worried that Trump may try to quash Mueller's findings when he concludes his work. Barr will tell lawmakers that he believes it is important that Congress and the public are informed of his results. "My goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law," according to the prepared remarks. Barr will say that he supports a new law that eases prison sentences for some criminals, despite his decades-long advocacy of long prison sentences and other aggressive crime-fighting tactics. Barr also will pledge aggressive enforcement of hate crimes and immigration laws, a Trump priority. He said he also will prioritize voting rights and efforts to ensure that foreign powers do not interfere with U.S. elections. Barr has taken steps to address concerns about possible conflicts of interest arising from his decades of work in the private sector, where he amassed $37 million in assets. Government ethics forms released publicly on Monday show that if confirmed, Barr will resign from the board of Dominion Energy Inc., and will sell off financial interests in other companies, including AT&T Inc, Bristol Myers Squib Co, J.P. Morgan Co, Bank of America Corp, Altria Group Inc, Merck & Co Inc, and Pfizer Inc, among others. Barr told Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar last week that he would recuse himself from the Justice Department's efforts to block the merger of AT&T and Time Warner Inc. Barr served on the Time Warner board from 2009 to June 2018.

Trump's Attorney General pick vows to shield Russia probe from politics

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/was-trump-working-for-russia-us-president-blasts-fbi-for-opening-probe-189894">President Donald Trump</a>'s nominee to lead the Department of Justice, Bill Barr, faces tough questions in the Senate next week on whether he intends to curb Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion investigation.

After the conservative lawyer criticized Mueller last year, opposition Democrats fear Barr as attorney general will protect Trump from the investigation and a possible impeachment effort arising from it.

Mueller has spent 20 months investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia, in a probe increasingly focused on Trump and his inner circle.

Mueller has issued indictments for 33 individuals, most of them Russians, and secured convictions of three former top Trump aides.

Barr, a longtime Republican ally who served as attorney general once before from 1991-93, will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee in confirmation hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Democrats want him to pledge publicly to protect the investigation.

Barr's approval is likely, given the Republican majority in the committee and the full Senate.

Senators who spoke to Barr in private meetings say he has indicated that he will not interfere with Mueller, but that he also supports Trump using his executive powers to defend himself.

"I think the main thing people want to know is, what's his view of the Mueller investigation?" said the Judiciary Committee's Republican Chairman Lindsey Graham, after meeting with Mueller on Wednesday.

"I can assure you, based on what I heard, that he has a high opinion of Mr Mueller."

He echoed Trump claims&nbsp;

Barr "has no reason for Mr Mueller to stop doing his job, and is committed to allowing Mr Mueller to finish," he added.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the committee, said Thursday that Barr had told her he would not disrupt the probe, according to media reports. But The Washington Times quoted her as saying: "I don't take to the bank anything unless it is in the public sector and everyone can hear, and it's on the record."

Trump nominated Barr in December, a month after sacking Jeff Sessions, who irked the president by recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller probe, which Trump labels a "witch hunt."

Barr has a record of endorsing strong executive powers, which could play into high-stakes legal battles on everything from immigration policy, to war powers, to whether the president can be required to provide testimony or release privileged documents in the Russia investigation.

He expressed support in May 2017 when Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey, which has led Mueller to allegations that Trump obstructed justice.

He has also echoed Trump's own claims that Mueller's team is packed with investigators allied with the Democratic Party.

Barr himself, though, is a strong Republican supporter. Over the past two decades he and his wife donated nearly $800,000 to Republican candidates and groups, according to The Washington Post.

Memo criticized Mueller probe&nbsp;

Last year, he submitted an unsolicited legal criticism of the Mueller probe to the Justice Department, and reportedly to the White House.

It argued that Trump's presidential prerogatives are protection against any obstruction allegation in the Comey firing.

The memo in particular has focused the opposition to Barr's nomination.

Barr is "fatally conflicted... when it comes to the special counsel," Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said, calling for Trump to withdraw the nomination.

The biggest concern is what Barr will do with the report Mueller is expected to prepare on his findings.

According to The Washington Post, the president's lawyers are already planning to use executive privilege to stifle material that could be damaging to Trump or support an impeachment effort by Democrats.

Graham said Barr indicated he would be "erring on the side of transparency."

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Justice, Bill Barr, faces tough questions in the Senate next week on whether he intends to curb Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion investigation.

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Justice, Bill Barr, faces tough questions in the Senate next week on whether he intends to curb Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion investigation. After the conservative lawyer criticized Mueller last year, opposition Democrats fear Barr as attorney general will protect Trump from the investigation and a possible impeachment effort arising from it. Mueller has spent 20 months investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia, in a probe increasingly focused on Trump and his inner circle. Mueller has issued indictments for 33 individuals, most of them Russians, and secured convictions of three former top Trump aides. Barr, a longtime Republican ally who served as attorney general once before from 1991-93, will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee in confirmation hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Democrats want him to pledge publicly to protect the investigation. Barr's approval is likely, given the Republican majority in the committee and the full Senate. Senators who spoke to Barr in private meetings say he has indicated that he will not interfere with Mueller, but that he also supports Trump using his executive powers to defend himself. "I think the main thing people want to know is, what's his view of the Mueller investigation?" said the Judiciary Committee's Republican Chairman Lindsey Graham, after meeting with Mueller on Wednesday. "I can assure you, based on what I heard, that he has a high opinion of Mr Mueller." He echoed Trump claims Barr "has no reason for Mr Mueller to stop doing his job, and is committed to allowing Mr Mueller to finish," he added. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the committee, said Thursday that Barr had told her he would not disrupt the probe, according to media reports. But The Washington Times quoted her as saying: "I don't take to the bank anything unless it is in the public sector and everyone can hear, and it's on the record." Trump nominated Barr in December, a month after sacking Jeff Sessions, who irked the president by recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller probe, which Trump labels a "witch hunt." Barr has a record of endorsing strong executive powers, which could play into high-stakes legal battles on everything from immigration policy, to war powers, to whether the president can be required to provide testimony or release privileged documents in the Russia investigation. He expressed support in May 2017 when Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey, which has led Mueller to allegations that Trump obstructed justice. He has also echoed Trump's own claims that Mueller's team is packed with investigators allied with the Democratic Party. Barr himself, though, is a strong Republican supporter. Over the past two decades he and his wife donated nearly $800,000 to Republican candidates and groups, according to The Washington Post. Memo criticized Mueller probe Last year, he submitted an unsolicited legal criticism of the Mueller probe to the Justice Department, and reportedly to the White House. It argued that Trump's presidential prerogatives are protection against any obstruction allegation in the Comey firing. The memo in particular has focused the opposition to Barr's nomination. Barr is "fatally conflicted... when it comes to the special counsel," Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said, calling for Trump to withdraw the nomination. The biggest concern is what Barr will do with the report Mueller is expected to prepare on his findings. According to The Washington Post, the president's lawyers are already planning to use executive privilege to stifle material that could be damaging to Trump or support an impeachment effort by Democrats. Graham said Barr indicated he would be "erring on the side of transparency."

Trump's Justice nominee faces questions over Russia probe

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump have told special counsel Robert Mueller that he will not answer any more questions in the probe of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told on Wednesday.

Trump submitted written answers to questions from Mueller in late November. In an interview, Giuliani said Mueller raised the possibility of follow-up questions but that the president's outside legal team told the special counsel before Christmas that Trump would not respond.

Trump's lawyers and Mueller's team have had no contact since then, Giuliani said.

"As far as we're concerned, everything is over," Giuliani told. "We weren't convinced they had any questions they don't know the answer to."

Giuliani said the ball was now in the special counsel's court. "They could try to subpoena him if they want," he said. "But they know we could fight that like hell."

Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to try to help Trump win.

Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and Russia has said it did not meddle in the election.

Mueller was appointed in May 2017 to investigate the Russian interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. It is unclear when the probe, which has clouded Trump's first two years in office, will end.

Trump answered Mueller's campaign-related questions focused on Russia in November. However, Giuliani told Reuters at the time, he would not answer questions on whether he tried to obstruct the investigation once he won office, such as by firing former FBI Director James Comey.

In his latest interview, the president's lawyer said it was time for the special counsel to issue his report. "Put up or shut up," Giuliani said. "We challenge you to do it."

When Mueller ends his investigation, he will send a report on his findings to the Justice Department. It is unclear if the report will be made public.

Since at least last summer, Trump's legal team has been drafting a rebuttal in preparation for Mueller's report. Giuliani said the team also was ready to respond to legal issues raised by the hush money paid to an adult film star and a former Playboy playmate before the 2016 election.

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced last month to three years in prison for crimes including orchestrating the payments in violation of campaign finance laws. When he pleaded guilty, Cohen said he was directed by Trump.

"We have a memo from a number of campaign finance experts that paying what they call hush money since it has a personal purpose, is not considered a campaign contribution," Giuliani said. "Therefore it's not a violation of the campaign finance law."

Giuliani said it is unclear to the legal team whether acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is now in charge of the investigation.

Rosenstein, who is preparing to leave his job soon after attorney general nominee William Barr takes office, has overseen the Mueller probe since former Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself in 2017.

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump have told special counsel Robert Mueller that he will not answer any more questions in the probe of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told on Wednesday.

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump have told special counsel Robert Mueller that he will not answer any more questions in the probe of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told on Wednesday. Trump submitted written answers to questions from Mueller in late November. In an interview, Giuliani said Mueller raised the possibility of follow-up questions but that the president's outside legal team told the special counsel before Christmas that Trump would not respond. Trump's lawyers and Mueller's team have had no contact since then, Giuliani said. "As far as we're concerned, everything is over," Giuliani told. "We weren't convinced they had any questions they don't know the answer to." Giuliani said the ball was now in the special counsel's court. "They could try to subpoena him if they want," he said. "But they know we could fight that like hell." Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to try to help Trump win. Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and Russia has said it did not meddle in the election. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 to investigate the Russian interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. It is unclear when the probe, which has clouded Trump's first two years in office, will end. Trump answered Mueller's campaign-related questions focused on Russia in November. However, Giuliani told Reuters at the time, he would not answer questions on whether he tried to obstruct the investigation once he won office, such as by firing former FBI Director James Comey. In his latest interview, the president's lawyer said it was time for the special counsel to issue his report. "Put up or shut up," Giuliani said. "We challenge you to do it." When Mueller ends his investigation, he will send a report on his findings to the Justice Department. It is unclear if the report will be made public. Since at least last summer, Trump's legal team has been drafting a rebuttal in preparation for Mueller's report. Giuliani said the team also was ready to respond to legal issues raised by the hush money paid to an adult film star and a former Playboy playmate before the 2016 election. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced last month to three years in prison for crimes including orchestrating the payments in violation of campaign finance laws. When he pleaded guilty, Cohen said he was directed by Trump. "We have a memo from a number of campaign finance experts that paying what they call hush money since it has a personal purpose, is not considered a campaign contribution," Giuliani said. "Therefore it's not a violation of the campaign finance law." Giuliani said it is unclear to the legal team whether acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is now in charge of the investigation. Rosenstein, who is preparing to leave his job soon after attorney general nominee William Barr takes office, has overseen the Mueller probe since former Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself in 2017.

President will not answer any more questions from Mueller: Donald Trump's lawyer 

President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee, William Barr, has said he will allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller to finish the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday.

Graham told reporters Barr assured him the investigation would continue. "I can assure you he has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-deputy-attorney-rod-rosenstein-overseeing-russia-probe-to-leave-reports-189256">a very high opinion of Mr&nbsp;Mueller</a> and he is committed to letting Mr Mueller finish his job," Graham said. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee, William Barr, has said he will allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller to finish the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee, William Barr, has said he will allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller to finish the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday. Graham told reporters Barr assured him the investigation would continue. "I can assure you he has a very high opinion of Mr Mueller and he is committed to letting Mr Mueller finish his job," Graham said.

Trump's new attorney general will let Robert Mueller finish Russia probe: Senator

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

Users looked up the word 74 per cent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be "America's most trusted dictionary."

The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as "obstruction of justice," after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-central-bank-expected-to-raise-rates-tuesday-trump-lashes-out-at-it-184903">US President Donald Trump</a> tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement.

"It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement.

"When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide."

"Justice" joined Dictionary.com's "misinformation" and the Oxford English Dictionary's "toxic" as top words of the year.

Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were "nationalism," "pansexual," "lodestar," "epiphany," "feckless," "laurel," "pissant," "respect," "maverick" and "excelsior."

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018. Users looked up the word 74 per cent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be "America's most trusted dictionary." The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as "obstruction of justice," after US President Donald Trump tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement. "It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement. "When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide." "Justice" joined Dictionary.com's "misinformation" and the Oxford English Dictionary's "toxic" as top words of the year. Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were "nationalism," "pansexual," "lodestar," "epiphany," "feckless," "laurel," "pissant," "respect," "maverick" and "excelsior."

Webster names 'Justice' Word of the Year for 2018

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-flynns-former-business-partner-bijan-rafiekian-with-secret-lobbying-for-turkey-184910">security adviser Michael Flynn</a> should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-central-bank-expected-to-raise-rates-tuesday-trump-lashes-out-at-it-184903">President Donald Trump</a>’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election.

US District Judge Emmet Sullivan will sentence Flynn in Washington at 11 am ET.

Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference, has asked Sullivan not to imprison Flynn, a former general, because of his military service and because he provided "substantial" cooperation with the probe.

Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador in Washington at the time.

Flynn told investigators in January 2017 that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement.

Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Flynn's plea agreement states that he is eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months, however, and can ask the court not to impose a fine.

Flynn’s lawyers have asked the court for a probation term of no more than one year, with minimal conditions of supervision, and 200 hours of community service.

Flynn also deserves leniency because he was not warned before the meeting with FBI agents that it was a crime to lie to them, his lawyers said in a recent court filing.

They also said that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn that the "quickest way" to conduct the interview was without counsel present.

Critics of the Mueller probe argue that Flynn, who held the White House job for only 24 days, was set up.

Mueller last week countered in a court filing that Flynn had no cause to lie in the interviews and added that a "sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents."

Flynn is so far the only member of Trump’s administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered during Mueller's wide-ranging probe, which has so far ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian firms.

Trump denies there was any collusion and has labelled the investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also denies it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US&nbsp;intelligence agencies.

On Monday, Sullivan ordered the special counsel to release a redacted, five-page FBI account of Flynn’s January 2017 interview, saying it was relevant to his sentencing.

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election.

A judge will decide on Tuesday whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn should be sent to prison for lying to the FBI in a case stemming from the investigation into possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election. US District Judge Emmet Sullivan will sentence Flynn in Washington at 11 am ET. Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference, has asked Sullivan not to imprison Flynn, a former general, because of his military service and because he provided "substantial" cooperation with the probe. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to FBI agents about his conversations with Sergei Kislyak, Russia ambassador in Washington at the time. Flynn told investigators in January 2017 that he had not discussed US sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement. Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Flynn's plea agreement states that he is eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months, however, and can ask the court not to impose a fine. Flynn’s lawyers have asked the court for a probation term of no more than one year, with minimal conditions of supervision, and 200 hours of community service. Flynn also deserves leniency because he was not warned before the meeting with FBI agents that it was a crime to lie to them, his lawyers said in a recent court filing. They also said that then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had told Flynn that the "quickest way" to conduct the interview was without counsel present. Critics of the Mueller probe argue that Flynn, who held the White House job for only 24 days, was set up. Mueller last week countered in a court filing that Flynn had no cause to lie in the interviews and added that a "sitting National Security Adviser, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents." Flynn is so far the only member of Trump’s administration to plead guilty to a crime uncovered during Mueller's wide-ranging probe, which has so far ensnared 32 individuals and three Russian firms. Trump denies there was any collusion and has labelled the investigation a "witch hunt." Russia also denies it meddled in the election, contrary to the conclusion of US intelligence agencies. On Monday, Sullivan ordered the special counsel to release a redacted, five-page FBI account of Flynn’s January 2017 interview, saying it was relevant to his sentencing.

Trump's former adviser Michael Flynn to be sentenced for lying to FBI

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday.

Court filings on Friday in cases that stemmed from a federal probe into Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election pointed to potential problem areas for Trump, including whether he instructed six-figure payments to two women during the campaign to keep quiet about affairs.

Federal prosecutors sought prison time for longtime Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen for paying off an adult film star and a former Playboy model at Trump's behest, evading taxes and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow.

If the payments are proven to be felony campaign finance violations, Democratic US&nbsp;Representative Jerrold Nadler told CNN those would be grounds for impeachment.

"Well, they would be impeachable offences. Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question," said Nadler, who will lead the Judiciary Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January.

Under US&nbsp;law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. Such payments are also limited to $2,700 per person.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Friday that Cohen has lied repeatedly and that the filing was insignificant.

Friday's court filings also revealed new information about contacts between people working for Trump and Russians in the cases of Cohen, Trump's former longtime personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, Trump's short-lived campaign chairman who was convicted in August on tax and bank fraud charges.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Manafort lied to investigators about his interactions with a Russian tied to Russian intelligence services. Mueller's office said the lying prompted prosecutors last week to retract a plea agreement with Manafort on two separate conspiracy charges.

"I think what these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the centre of a massive fraud - several massive frauds - against the American people," Nadler told CNN.

Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to sway the election. Russia denies interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has denied any collusion occurred.

The investigation has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency, with its implication Moscow may have had a hand in his White House victory. The Republican president repeatedly has expressed his impatience with the probe that Mueller took over in March 2017, saying it was politically motivated.

PROSPECT OF JAIL TIME

Trump said the filings did not prove any collusion with Russia and called for an end to the investigation.

"Time for the Witch Hunt to END!" Trump said in a Twitter post on Saturday.

However, the end of the Mueller probe could be the beginning of bigger problems for Trump.

"There's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office the Justice Department may indict him, that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time," Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat who will lead the House Intelligence Committee next year, told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Legal experts are divided over whether a sitting president can be charged with a crime, as well as on whether a violation of campaign finance law would be an impeachable offence.

Republican Senator Rand Paul warned against over-criminalizing campaign finance violations, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that errors in disclosures should be punished with fines, not jail.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio told CNN he was waiting for the results of the Russia investigation and related federal probes. However, he cautioned that "no one should be above the law."

Rubio said it would be a "terrible mistake" if Trump pardoned Manafort, saying that "could trigger a debate about whether the pardon powers should be amended."

Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Manafort, praising him as a good man. In contrast, he has said Cohen, who has cooperated with federal prosecutors, should go to jail.

Schiff said Trump may end up needing to seek a pardon for himself from the next US&nbsp;president. House Democrats have promised an array of investigations into Trump's activities.

"What is clear also is that the Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president," Nadler said. "The new Congress will not try to shield the president."

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday. Court filings on Friday in cases that stemmed from a federal probe into Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election pointed to potential problem areas for Trump, including whether he instructed six-figure payments to two women during the campaign to keep quiet about affairs. Federal prosecutors sought prison time for longtime Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen for paying off an adult film star and a former Playboy model at Trump's behest, evading taxes and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow. If the payments are proven to be felony campaign finance violations, Democratic US Representative Jerrold Nadler told CNN those would be grounds for impeachment. "Well, they would be impeachable offences. Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question," said Nadler, who will lead the Judiciary Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January. Under US law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. Such payments are also limited to $2,700 per person. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Friday that Cohen has lied repeatedly and that the filing was insignificant. Friday's court filings also revealed new information about contacts between people working for Trump and Russians in the cases of Cohen, Trump's former longtime personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, Trump's short-lived campaign chairman who was convicted in August on tax and bank fraud charges. Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Manafort lied to investigators about his interactions with a Russian tied to Russian intelligence services. Mueller's office said the lying prompted prosecutors last week to retract a plea agreement with Manafort on two separate conspiracy charges. "I think what these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the centre of a massive fraud - several massive frauds - against the American people," Nadler told CNN. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to sway the election. Russia denies interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has denied any collusion occurred. The investigation has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency, with its implication Moscow may have had a hand in his White House victory. The Republican president repeatedly has expressed his impatience with the probe that Mueller took over in March 2017, saying it was politically motivated. PROSPECT OF JAIL TIME Trump said the filings did not prove any collusion with Russia and called for an end to the investigation. "Time for the Witch Hunt to END!" Trump said in a Twitter post on Saturday. However, the end of the Mueller probe could be the beginning of bigger problems for Trump. "There's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office the Justice Department may indict him, that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time," Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat who will lead the House Intelligence Committee next year, told CBS' "Face the Nation." Legal experts are divided over whether a sitting president can be charged with a crime, as well as on whether a violation of campaign finance law would be an impeachable offence. Republican Senator Rand Paul warned against over-criminalizing campaign finance violations, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that errors in disclosures should be punished with fines, not jail. Republican Senator Marco Rubio told CNN he was waiting for the results of the Russia investigation and related federal probes. However, he cautioned that "no one should be above the law." Rubio said it would be a "terrible mistake" if Trump pardoned Manafort, saying that "could trigger a debate about whether the pardon powers should be amended." Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Manafort, praising him as a good man. In contrast, he has said Cohen, who has cooperated with federal prosecutors, should go to jail. Schiff said Trump may end up needing to seek a pardon for himself from the next US president. House Democrats have promised an array of investigations into Trump's activities. "What is clear also is that the Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president," Nadler said. "The new Congress will not try to shield the president."

Top Democrats say Trump may face impeachment, jail over hush money

US President Donald Trump on Saturday again denied that his presidential campaign colluded with Russian operatives, but made no comment on claims that he directly organized hush payments to ward off a possible sex scandal during his White House run.

Trump took to Twitter, his favourite means of communication, to address the multiple court filings that dropped on Friday in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller's sweeping investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

"AFTER TWO YEARS AND MILLIONS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS (and a cost of over $30,000,000), NO COLLUSION!" the president said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
AFTER TWO YEARS AND MILLIONS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS (and a cost of over $30,000,000), NO COLLUSION!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1071389414239162369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
“This is collusion illusion, there is no smoking gun here. At this late date, after all that we have gone through, after millions have been spent, we have no Russian Collusion. There is nothing impeachable here.” <a href="https://twitter.com/GeraldoRivera?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeraldoRivera</a> Time for the Witch Hunt to END!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1071434642555920385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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While the filings indeed did not appear to reveal evidence of collusion, they did offer a wealth of new information about what Mueller's team is looking into, along with other federal prosecutors in New York.

Prosecutors directly implicated Trump in efforts to buy the silence of two women who claimed they had had affairs with him, saying he directed his then-attorney Michael Cohen to offer them hush money.

"With respect to both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election," the New York prosecutors said.&nbsp;

"In particular, and as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1," they added, referring to Trump.

The payments are technically unrelated to the Russia probe, but prosecutors painted a damning picture of the "extensive, deliberate, and serious criminal conduct" of Cohen -- once a member of Trump's inner circle of trusted aides.

In August, the 52-year-old Cohen pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance law in connection with the payments.

"Cohen deceived the voting public by hiding alleged facts that he believed would have had a substantial effect on the election," prosecutors said.

'Synergy on a government level' 
In a separate sentencing memo, Mueller said that Cohen was in contact with a Russian national as far back as November 2015 -- months before Trump formally won the presidential nomination and well before previously reported contacts -- who offered "synergy on a government level."

That Russian national claimed to have ties to the Kremlin and repeatedly proposed a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The individual said the meeting could have a "phenomenal" impact "not only in political but in a business dimension as well," but Cohen never followed up, Mueller said.

That combination of political and business interests could spell trouble for Trump, whose real estate empire was seeking to build a signature tower in Moscow as late as mid-2016 in the midst of his White House bid.

Last week, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the Moscow real estate project.&nbsp;

Recent filings in the Mueller probe have suggested the White House knew that Cohen planned to lie to lawmakers about his contacts with Russians.

Due to his "relevant" and "substantial" help, Mueller declined to recommend additional jail time, but Cohen is still expected to face four to five years behind bars.

Multiple 'lies' 
Also on Friday, new twists and turns emerged in the case against Trump's onetime campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was convicted in August of financial fraud and witness tampering charges and pleaded guilty to a second set of charges a month later.

Prosecutors accused Manafort of multiple "lies" to investigators: about his contacts with administration officials even after striking a plea deal; about a debt payment; and about his interaction with a suspected Russian intelligence officer.

The breach of the plea deal could lead to a stiffer jail sentence than the 10 years originally envisaged for the 69-year-old veteran Republican consultant.

Manafort has been convicted mostly on charges related to his work for pro-Moscow politicians in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014.

But he has also been investigated for his possible role in alleged campaign collusion with Russia during the election.

Mueller has been inching ever closer to the White House, and on Friday, Trump fired off a feverish volley of tweets against a probe he dubs a "witch hunt," accusing Mueller of "big time conflicts of interest" and alleging he coerced false testimony from witnesses.

For House Democrat John Garamendi, these may be "the opening days of an impeachment."

Trump is a president who "clearly has surrounded himself with criminals," he told CNN.

"During the campaign, laws were broken... And now we have the president implicated in that," he said.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday again denied that his presidential campaign colluded with Russian operatives, but made no comment on claims that he directly organized hush payments to ward off a possible sex scandal during his White House run.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday again denied that his presidential campaign colluded with Russian operatives, but made no comment on claims that he directly organized hush payments to ward off a possible sex scandal during his White House run. Trump took to Twitter, his favourite means of communication, to address the multiple court filings that dropped on Friday in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller's sweeping investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. "AFTER TWO YEARS AND MILLIONS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS (and a cost of over $30,000,000), NO COLLUSION!" the president said. AFTER TWO YEARS AND MILLIONS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS (and a cost of over $30,000,000), NO COLLUSION! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2018 × “This is collusion illusion, there is no smoking gun here. At this late date, after all that we have gone through, after millions have been spent, we have no Russian Collusion. There is nothing impeachable here.” @GeraldoRivera Time for the Witch Hunt to END! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2018 × While the filings indeed did not appear to reveal evidence of collusion, they did offer a wealth of new information about what Mueller's team is looking into, along with other federal prosecutors in New York. Prosecutors directly implicated Trump in efforts to buy the silence of two women who claimed they had had affairs with him, saying he directed his then-attorney Michael Cohen to offer them hush money. "With respect to both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election," the New York prosecutors said. "In particular, and as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1," they added, referring to Trump. The payments are technically unrelated to the Russia probe, but prosecutors painted a damning picture of the "extensive, deliberate, and serious criminal conduct" of Cohen -- once a member of Trump's inner circle of trusted aides. In August, the 52-year-old Cohen pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance law in connection with the payments. "Cohen deceived the voting public by hiding alleged facts that he believed would have had a substantial effect on the election," prosecutors said. 'Synergy on a government level' In a separate sentencing memo, Mueller said that Cohen was in contact with a Russian national as far back as November 2015 -- months before Trump formally won the presidential nomination and well before previously reported contacts -- who offered "synergy on a government level." That Russian national claimed to have ties to the Kremlin and repeatedly proposed a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The individual said the meeting could have a "phenomenal" impact "not only in political but in a business dimension as well," but Cohen never followed up, Mueller said. That combination of political and business interests could spell trouble for Trump, whose real estate empire was seeking to build a signature tower in Moscow as late as mid-2016 in the midst of his White House bid. Last week, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the Moscow real estate project. Recent filings in the Mueller probe have suggested the White House knew that Cohen planned to lie to lawmakers about his contacts with Russians. Due to his "relevant" and "substantial" help, Mueller declined to recommend additional jail time, but Cohen is still expected to face four to five years behind bars. Multiple 'lies' Also on Friday, new twists and turns emerged in the case against Trump's onetime campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was convicted in August of financial fraud and witness tampering charges and pleaded guilty to a second set of charges a month later. Prosecutors accused Manafort of multiple "lies" to investigators: about his contacts with administration officials even after striking a plea deal; about a debt payment; and about his interaction with a suspected Russian intelligence officer. The breach of the plea deal could lead to a stiffer jail sentence than the 10 years originally envisaged for the 69-year-old veteran Republican consultant. Manafort has been convicted mostly on charges related to his work for pro-Moscow politicians in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014. But he has also been investigated for his possible role in alleged campaign collusion with Russia during the election. Mueller has been inching ever closer to the White House, and on Friday, Trump fired off a feverish volley of tweets against a probe he dubs a "witch hunt," accusing Mueller of "big time conflicts of interest" and alleging he coerced false testimony from witnesses. For House Democrat John Garamendi, these may be "the opening days of an impeachment." Trump is a president who "clearly has surrounded himself with criminals," he told CNN. "During the campaign, laws were broken... And now we have the president implicated in that," he said.

Trump denies collusion with Russia, not hush payments to women

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