Justice Department opens grand jury probe into investigation of Trump and Russia: Reports
The Justice Department has escalated efforts to investigate those behind the years-old probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election by launching a grand jury probe.
The Justice Department has opened a grand jury investigation into allegations that Obama administration officials broke the law when they investigated Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election, according to news reports.
Attorney General Pam Bondi signed an order Aug. 4 directing a federal prosecutor to present evidence to the grand jury, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation. The Justice Department declined to comment.
The move marks a major escalation of the Trump administration's efforts to investigate the investigators behind the years-old probe. Robert Mueller, who ultimately took over the probe as special counsel, concluded that the Russian government interfered to help then-presidential candidate Donald Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but that there was not evidence anyone in the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.
The new criminal probe follows allegations National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbardmade at a July 23 press briefing that the Obama administration pushed a “contrived narrative” that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump. That same day, the Justice Department announced it was creating a "Strike Force" to assess evidence highlighted by Gabbard and "investigate potential next legal steps."
When Trump was asked on July 22 about his Justice Department's conduct when it comes to investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Trump pointed to allegations from Gabbard, saying she caught Obama "absolutely cold" and Obama had committed treason.
Obama responded that Trump's remarks were a "weak attempt at distraction."
Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, Kinsey Crowley - Paste BN