Trump Jr Russia case stepped up
Special counsel ramps up investigation into claims Trump campaign colluded with spies during election
Subpoenas have been issued over Donald Trump Jr’s meeting with a Russian lawyer last year as Robert Mueller, the special counsel, enlisted a grand jury to investigate Russian election interference. It is a ramping up of the inquiry and indicates he believes criminal charges are possible.
A GRAND jury has been convened by Robert Mueller, the special counsel who is investigating whether Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in last year’s US presidential election.
The grand jury has reportedly issued subpoenas in connection with a meeting between Donald Trump Jr and a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in New York in June 2016.
It marked a ramping up of Mr Mueller’s inquiry and indicated he could believe criminal charges are possible against individuals in the future.
Under the US legal system a grand jury’s deliberations are secret and its existence was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
It began work in recent weeks and consists of up to 23 lay individuals who can hand down criminal indictments if convinced to do so by Mr Mueller.
Through a grand jury, a prosecutor such as Mr Mueller can also have subpoenas issued for documents from individuals, force banks and telephone companies to hand over records, and put witnesses under oath.
Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer, said: “It’s a significant escalation of the process.
“You don’t impanel a grand jury unless your investigation has discovered enough evidence that you feel reflects a violation of at least one, if not more, criminal provisions. If you secure an indictment, your next step is to arrest the defendant.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokesman, said the president himself was unlikely to be the subject of an investigation.
She said: “Former FBI director Jim Comey said three times the president is not under investigation and we have no reason to believe that has changed.” Mr Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia, and has denounced Mr Mueller’s investigation as a political witch hunt.
Ty Cobb, special counsel to Mr Trump, told the Wall Street Journal he was not aware the grand jury had been set up. He said: “Grand jury matters are typically secret. The White House favours anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr Mueller.”
Reuters reported that subpoenas had been issued by the grand jury in connection with the controversial Trump Tower meeting on June 9, 2016.
It was a meeting between Donald Trump Jr and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who had promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton. It was also attended by Mr Trump’s then campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Mr Mueller’s investigation has also widened to include looking at any possibility of financial crimes, CNN reported. He is looking at any financial ties between associates of Mr Trump and Russia, unrelated to the election.
That has antagonised Mr Trump who recently warned Mr Mueller to stay away from his financial affairs.
In an interview with the New York Times two weeks ago the president said he considered that a red line and added: ‘’I think that’s a violation. Look, this is about Russia.”
According to the remit of his inquiry, Mr Mueller has the authority to look into anything that “arose or may arise directly from the investigation”. He has assembled a team of three dozen investigators including 16 lawyers.
Mr Trump has accused Mr Mueller of hiring “Hillary Clinton supporters” to be part of his team. On Thursday Republican and Democratic senators introduced a proposed law seeking to block Mr Trump from any attempt to fire Mr Mueller. It would ensure a judicial review of any decision to dismiss the Special Counsel.
There was positive news for Mr Trump as Jim Justice, the Democrat Governor of West Virginia, announced he was switching parties to become a Republican. Mr Trump won the state in a landslide over Hillary Clinton last year. The US Senate last night confirmed Mr Trump’s choice of Woody Johnson, billionaire owner of the New York Jets American football team, to be US ambassador to the UK.
Yesterday’s revelations will fuel speculation Mr Trump may try to curb the inquiry by firing Mr Mueller. Two US senators introduced a bipartisan bill earlier yesterday to pre-empt that move by insulating Mr Mueller. The legislation, sponsored by Democrat Chris Coons and Republican Thom Tillis, would bar a president from directly firing the special counsel without a judicial review.