Grand jury used in Trump-Russia investigation
The special counsel investigating claims of Russian meddling in the US election has begun using a grand jury in Washington, reports say.
The move suggests Robert Mueller may be taking a more aggressive approach to gathering data on possible collusion with Donald Trump’s campaign team.
Grand juries are used to issue subpoenas to compel people to testify.
The president has again poured scorn on the inquiry, telling a rally in West Virginia it was a “total fabrication”.
In the US, grand juries are composed of members of the public who hear evidence in secret.
Prosecutors use them to gather evidence, as they can compel people to testify or hand over documentation.
Although they consider whether evidence in any case is strong enough to issue indictments for a criminal trial, their use does not mean such an indictment is imminent or even probable.
The juries do not decide the innocence or guilt of a potential defendant.
Prosecutors have for months been using a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia, which had issued some subpoenas in the case, reports say.
Mueller has now opted for one of the several grand juries that sit in Washington, and reportedly began using it several weeks ago.
Analysts say it shows Mueller is taking full control of the investigation.
He has already replaced most of the prosecutors originally on the case, in favour of his own legal minds.
The switch from Virginia to Washington is also more practical. Mueller’s office will be closer and he knows the Washington federal courthouse better.
As grand juries are secret, there will be no disclosure. Mueller himself has given no details.
It is clear Mueller is investigating a meeting in June last year, in which Trump’s son, Donald Jr, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met a Russian lawyer. Trump Jr has admitted he was promised damaging material on Trump’s rival in the presidential race, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, though he says none was forthcoming.
According to Reuters news agency, the special counsel is examining whether anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign encouraged the Russians to start releasing material about the Clinton campaign.
Mueller is reportedly seeking to determine whether Trump knew of his son’s meeting before it happened, or if he was briefed on it afterwards.
US media have also quoted sources close to the investigation as saying that the special counsel is looking into whether President Trump obstructed justice when he fired FBI chief James Comey, who was leading the previous investigation into Russian interference.
Mueller was then appointed in May by the deputy attorney general of the Department of Justice to continue the inquiry.
Mueller is also reportedly investigating the financial dealings of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort as well as those of Michael Flynn, who Trump sacked as national security adviser because he failed to disclose his Russian contacts.
———————————————————————————————-
Watch your favorite programs, documentaries, informative packages and latest NEWS(English and Urdu).
Watch Humsub tv Live Streaming here: Humsub.tv
Read English Latest Articles and News here: Humsub
Read Urdu Latest News and Articles here: Urdu News
———————————————————————————————-