Post says Trump being investigated

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s special counsel investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election is now also reportedly examining whether President Donald Trump attempted to obstruct justice.

Robert Mueller, the former FBI director now leading the Department of Justice (DOJ) probe, is looking into whether the 45th president is guilty of a federal crime, The Washington Post reported Wednesday evening.

Citing unidentified “officials,” the Post reported Mueller’s probe has taken a dramatic turn. No longer is he merely focused on Moscow’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, meaning Mueller appears also to be zeroing in on Trump’s actions since taking office on Jan. 20.

The special counsel, who has moved quickly to take full control of the investigation, is reportedly interviewing what the Post described as “senior intelligence officials” as part of what suddenly also is an obstruction of justice investigation.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee that there were discussions at high levels about firing FBI Director James Comey even before Sessions was confirmed. He told the panel that he and others, including Trump, concluded months before Comey’s termination that it was time for a “fresh start” at the bureau, adding concerns about Comey’s performance were never discussed with the then-FBI chief.

Trump has said he was going to fire Comey no matter what, and also has acknowledged that the “Russia thing” was on his mind when he made the final termination call. Comey was fired May 9.

During his own dramatic testimony before the same Senate committee last week, Comey said he felt he was fired in large part because he refused to drop an FBI probe into possible nefarious ties between Russian officials and Trump’s campaign adviser and first national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

The White House on Wednesday evening declined to comment about the Post’s report. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders referred Roll Call to an outside counsel. Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, did not respond to an email requesting comment. But in a statement issued after the Post report, a spokesman for Kasowitz said: “The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal.”