In what analysts view as a landmark movement in the ongoing investigations by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential race, the first charges are reported to have been filed with a federal grand jury approving them on Friday.
“The charges are still sealed under orders from a federal judge,” CNN reported, citing sources briefed on the matter, but with no word yet on the nature of the charges or the identity of person or persons indicted.
The network reported that plans are ready “for anyone charged to be taken into custody as soon as Monday”, when the indictment is expected to be unsealed. The Wall Street Journal reported that at least one person has been charged and could be taken into custody on Monday.
Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed Special Counsel in May against the backdrop of allegations that Russia interfered in the presidential election in a bid to help Republican Donald Trump to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton through a campaign of hacking and releasing embarrassing emails. Mueller’s appointment came shortly after Trump abruptly fired the then-FBI Director James Comey.
A major component of Mueller’s investigation is to determine whether the Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russian efforts. As part of the probe, Mueller’s team has examined foreign lobbying conducted by former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and others. In July, FBI agents raided Manafort’s Virginia home.
Trump has all along denied the allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians and sought to rubbish the whole probe as “a witch hunt”. Russia has also denied the allegations.
While entrusting Mueller with the probe, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had said in May: “If the Special Counsel finds it necessary and appropriate, the Special Counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters.”
Manafort had already been under the scanner over his dealings in the Ukraine several years ago without having filed himself as a foreign agent until June 2017. Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, had also drawn flak over his conversations with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak that prompted Trump to fire him within a month of his appointment as National Security Adviser.
Although the first charges are reported to have been filed now, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin believes Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference could last “well into 2018”.
“If anybody thinks the Mueller investigation is going to be wrapping up in the next couple of months, this decision today pretty much guarantees the Mueller office will be up and running well into 2018,” Toobin said.