Key dates in the investigation

The probe into Russian interference into 2016 US polls began well before Robert Mueller was named to examine whether President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow.

Late July

The FBI begins investigating Russian role after WikiLeaks publishes 20,000 emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee.

January 6

US intelligence chiefs allege that President Putin directed an effort to sabotage Clinton’s election prospects via hacking.

February 13

Michael Flynn resigns under the cloud of the stillsecret investigation into his contacts with Kislyak.

March 20

An FBI Director James Comey confirms there is a counter-intelligence probe into Russia meddling.

May 9

President Trump fires Comey, later admitting in a TV interview that the Russia probe was on his mind when he did so.

May 17

Former FBI director Robert Mueller is named special counsel to take over the probe.

October 30

Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates are indicted on financial charges.

February 16

Putin associate Evgeny Prigozhin, 12 others are charged over their social media disinformation campaign.

July 13

Mueller charges 12 members of Russia’s military intelligence agency, with conspiracy for hacking the Clinton’s campaign in 2016.

January 25

Republican operative Roger Stone is arrested for lying to investigators about his communications with WikiLeaks in 2016.