Grand jury raises stakes in Russia investigation

Move gives Mueller broad power to compel testimony

WASHINGTON - Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly tapping a federal grand jury in Washington, a sign the federal investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election is intensifying and could go on for many months or years.

The move would give Mueller, a former FBI director, broad authority to subpoena documents and compel witnesses to testify under oath.

Mueller has been investigating possi-

ble collusion between Trump associates and Russians who sought to influence the election by hacking Democrats. The probe’s expansion is also virtually sure to incense President Donald Trump, who is furious with the Russia investigation he calls a “witch hunt.”

The Wall Street Journal, which broke the story Thursday, reported that the grand jury began working in recent weeks. The panel has issued subpoenas relating to the controversial June 2016 meeting between the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., and a Russian lawyer, Reuters reported.

Last month, Trump Jr. released emails showing he arranged the meeting in the hopes of obtaining damaging information about his father’s election opponent Hillary

Clinton — even after he was told it would come from the Russian government.

President Trump’s sonin-law and adviser Jared Kushner, along with thencampaign chairman Paul Manafort, were also in the meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, and others with Russian ties.

Josh Stueve, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment.

Yet legal analysts characterized Mueller’s use of a grand jury as a serious escalation of an inquiry that he began overseeing in May.

“This suggests that there is evidence that a crime may have been committed and there is a need to apply the legal tools a grand jury can bring to bear,’’ said Jimmy Gurule, a former assistant attorney general in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.

If Mueller is impaneling a grand jury, said Jens David Ohlin, a vice dean and professor at Cornell

“This suggests that there is evidence that a crime may have been committed.”

JIMMY GURULE, A FORMER ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

Law School and an expert on criminal law, “this suggests the investigation will end with indictments.”

At a rally in Huntington, W.Va., on Thursday day, Donald accused Democrats of fueling the narrative of his campaign’s contacts with Russian officials, calling it a “total fabrication” and a “hoax.”

Trump said the Russia story is “just an excuse for the greatest loss in the history of American politics.” He called on prosecutors to instead investigate Hillary Clinton’s emails and her “paid Russia speeches.”