There are signs that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election is winding down, several government officials told NBC News on Thursday, and he could submit his confidential report to the attorney general as soon as February.
"They are clearly tying up loose ends," one person said. Since his appointment in May 2017, Mueller has charged 33 people and convicted three — Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former National Security Advisdr Michael Flynn, and Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Manafort, Flynn, and Cohen all cooperated at one point or another with Mueller, and will soon be sentenced. Legal experts told NBC News prosecutors try to hold off on sentencing cooperating witnesses while they still need to retain leverage over them, and this is a sign that Mueller is wrapping up the inquiry.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequelThe Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtripThe Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
