Trump renews Russia attacks
He decries ‘witch hunt’ with charges looming
WASHINGTON – Republicans and Democrats waited anxiously for more details — which could come as soon as Monday — about potential charges in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election and possible collusion with President Trump’s associates.
Just two days after reports that a grand jury approved the first charges in the federal investigation, Trump appeared ready for the other shoe to drop, taking to Twitter on Sunday to denounce the investigation, Democrats and his election opponent, Hillary Clinton.
“All of this ‘Russia’ talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!” the president tweeted.
The president said Republicans were angry that investigators were focusing on “phony Trump/Russia ‘collusion,’ which doesn’t exist” — rather than the Clinton campaign’s involvement in what he called a “Fake Dossier.” (Trump is referring to the infamous, and still unverified, dossier that alleges ties between Trump and Russia.)
Democrats, he continued, “are using this terrible (and bad for our country) Witch Hunt for evil politics, but the R’s are now fighting back like never before. There is so much GUILT by Democrats/Clinton, and now the facts are pouring out. DO SOMETHING!”
It was unclear whether Trump was pleading with the Justice Department, congressional investigators, the media or his 41 million Twitter followers to take action.
Yet some Republican members of Congress insisted that Mueller should be given the time to make his case. “Too defensive,” Sen. Rob Portman, ROhio, said of Trump’s statements.
“We ought to instead focus on the outrage that the Russians meddled in our elections, not just this last election,” Portman said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “We need to get to the bottom of it, and we need to go where the facts lead us.”
CNN first reported late Friday that at least one charge in the federal Russia inquiry could become public as soon as Monday — though it remains unclear who would be charged or with what. The network reported that charges were sealed under orders from a federal judge.
Among those who have been under investigation are former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whose Virginia home was raided by the FBI in July.
Mueller has used grand juries in Virginia and Washington, D.C., to advance a wide-ranging inquiry into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow. He took over the investigation after Trump fired FBI director James Comey, who started it in July 2016.
Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsel’s office, declined to comment on Friday.
“All of this ‘Russia’ talk right when the Republicans are making their big push for historic Tax Cuts & Reform. Is this coincidental? NOT!”
President Trump