Mueller is drawing near to a verdict on two highly-anticipated investigation: whether President Donald Trump attempted to obstruct justice as well as whether his 2016 campaign and Russia colluded to help win the presidential election.
Two U. S. officials say that special counsel Robert Mueller will conclude his Russia probe and state his findings after the 2018 election.
Bloomberg News reported that one of the officials, who asked not to be named, said that Mueller is near a verdict on two highly anticipated investigations: whether President Donald Trump attempted to obstruct justice as well as whether his 2016 campaign and Russia colluded to help win the presidential election.
Mueller’s timing is important because his findings won’t be reported until after the election, as Democrats are jockeying to flip congressional control and Republicans are working to keep their majority.
Mueller has also been facing increased pressure to either wrap up the investigation or shut it down entirely. The president has repeatedly called the special counsel’s investigation a “ rigged witch hunt,” and rumors have circulated that Attorney General Jeff Sessions or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein could resign or be replaced by Trump, which could mean a new boss for Mueller.
Another official said that Rosenstein wants the investigation to be finished soon. The special counsel recently gave Trump’s lawyers written questions but hasn’t ruled out an in-person interview. If the president were to refuse this interview, Mueller would have to make the tough decision to subpoena the president, which is against the Justice Department’s policy.
While the investigation is nearing its conclusion, the results could be shared publicly. Mueller is only allowed to present his findings to his boss, Rosenstein, then the regulations of the probe will determine what’s given to Congress, what’s shown to the public, and what’s left a secret.
Mueller’s investigation has already garnered over 25 guilty pleas or indictments since he took over the investigation 18 months ago, including Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his lawyer and “fixer,” Michael Cohen .
The officials did not provide any details as to what Mueller might have found. The special counsel’s office declined to comment.
