RUSSIA HACKING: Mueller’s probe gathers steam, sets up grand jury

Investigation into alleged Russian interference in 2016 election is gaining steam with reports by Wall Street Journal revealing that US special counsel, Robert Mueller, has convened a grand jury in Washington, DC to further investigate Moscow’s involvement.

According to reports, grand jury subpoenas have been issued in connection with a meeting on June 2016 between Donald Trump Jr., a Russian lawyer and two other sources familiar with the matter in an investigation that will probably continue for months.

Four weeks ago, the New York Times revealed in a report that Trump’s eldest son, his son-in-law and former election campaign manager met with a Russian lawyer linked to the Kremlin soon after Trump clinched the Republican presidential nomination last year.

Read also: Trump Jr. knew Russia had plans to help his dad, New York Times claims

Donald Trump Jr. confirmed the get-together in a statement, describing it as “a short introductory meeting” that focused mainly on the issue of child adoption. He said he also asked Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner and then-campaign manager Paul Manafort to take part in the meeting. A lawyer for Kushner said Trump’s son-in-law “briefly attended” the meeting.

Recall that after the US elections, intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered hacking of Democratic political groups to discredit the election and sway the voting towards Republican Trump, who won an upset victory in November.

Moscow has however denied any such meddling. Trump also has dismissed the allegations, suggesting instead that Obama might have wiretapped his Trump Tower in New York or that China may have been behind the cyber attacks.

 

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