Written By The Russia investigation has been one of the most controversial and closely-watched investigations in recent American history. It began in May 2017, when then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Since then, the investigation has uncovered a wide range of activities related to Russian meddling in the election and potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Here’s what we know so far:
- Russian interference: The investigation has confirmed that Russian intelligence agencies conducted a coordinated campaign to interfere in the 2016 election, including hacking and leaking emails from the Democratic National Committee and other targets, spreading disinformation on social media, and attempting to hack state election systems.
- Trump campaign contacts: The investigation has also uncovered a number of contacts between members of the Trump campaign and Russian officials, including a June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and a Russian lawyer promising “dirt” on Hillary Clinton.
- Obstruction of justice: The investigation has explored whether President Trump obstructed justice by firing FBI Director James Comey and pressuring other officials to end the investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia.
- Indictments and convictions: The investigation has led to numerous indictments and convictions of individuals involved in the Trump campaign or Russian interference, including Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman; Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser; and Roger Stone, a longtime Trump associate.
- Mueller report: In March 2019, Mueller submitted his final report to Attorney General William Barr, which detailed the findings of the investigation. The report concluded that the Trump campaign did not conspire with Russia, but did not exonerate the president on the issue of obstruction of justice.
- Impeachment: The findings of the Mueller investigation played a significant role in the impeachment of President Trump in late 2019, with Democrats citing his solicitation of foreign interference in the 2020 election as one of the articles of impeachment.
- Continuing investigations: While the Mueller investigation has concluded, other investigations into Russian interference and potential collusion continue. The Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee have both conducted investigations, and the Department of Justice is currently investigating the origins of the Russia investigation itself.
The Russia investigation has been highly controversial and politically charged, with both supporters and critics of the president offering strong opinions on the issue. However, the investigation has uncovered significant evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election and connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. While the ultimate impact of the investigation on American politics and the presidency remains to be seen, it is clear that the investigation has had a significant impact on American political discourse and will continue to be a topic of debate for years to come.
