Mueller's multipronged approach

Posted on: September 20, 2017 at 21:03:35 CT

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is seeking to determine what White House officials knew about a federal investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn early this year.

The move comes as Mr. Mueller’s team examines whether President Donald Trump or other administration officials sought to obstruct that probe, according to people familiar with the matter.

As part of that effort, Mr. Mueller’s prosecutors have indicated they would like to interview key White House officials and have requested a trove of documents on a range of topics, including Mr. Flynn and a warning from a Justice Department official about his interactions with a Russian diplomat, the people said.

The day after Mr. Flynn’s resignation, Mr. Trump met with then-Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey in the Oval Office. Mr. Comey later testified before Congress that he believed Mr. Trump was asking him to back off an investigation into Mr. Flynn when Mr. Trump allegedly asked the director if he could see his way “to letting Flynn go.”

Mr. Mueller is investigating whether Mr. Trump’s actions amounted to obstruction of justice. Mr. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Mueller’s request, which includes a dozen other topics of interest, including the May firing of Mr. Comey, provides a window into Mr. Mueller’s investigation, the people said.

Mr. Mueller’s probe has taken aim at two of Mr. Trump’s top advisers during the 2016 campaign: Mr. Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

The special counsel’s office is exploring whether Mr. Manafort engaged in potential violations of lobbying and money-laundering laws, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Manafort has said he did nothing wrong.

Last month, federal agents working with Mr. Mueller raided one of Mr. Manafort’s homes pursuant to a search warrant. That warrant was served on July 26 at Mr. Manafort’s residence in Alexandria, Va., seeking documents and other material tied to foreign bank accounts and tax matters, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Later in August, Mr. Mueller subpoenaed Mr. Manafort’s spokesman, demanding records related to his work for Mr. Manafort and seeking his testimony before a federal grand jury. The spokesman, Jason Maloni, did so last week. CNN this week reported that investigators wiretapped Mr. Manafort before and after the election, including a period in which conversations with the president may have been overheard.

The investigation also focuses on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign and whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow.

According to a January report from the U.S. intelligence agencies, the highest levels of the Russian government were involved in directing the electoral interference. Its tactics included hacking state election systems; infiltrating and leaking information from party committees and political strategists; and disseminating through social media and other outlets negative stories about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and positive ones about Mr. Trump, the report said. Russia has denied interfering in the election, and Mr. Trump has denied any collusion.

Mr. Mueller’s document request came last month, according to one of the people. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment.

“The White House does not comment on any specific requests being made or our conversations with the special counsel,” said Ty Cobb, the White House special counsel, in an interview. “The White House is fully committed to cooperating” with Mr. Mueller’s probe, he said.