First charges filed in US probe on Russia meddling
A US federal grand jury has approved the first charges in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the US presidential election and the people charged are to be taken into custody next week, CNN reported on Saturday.
The charges, approved by the jury in Washington on Friday, are sealed under orders from a federal judge.
US agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the elections to try and help President Donald Trump defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton through a campaign of hacking and releasing emails, and disseminating propaganda via social media to discredit her campaign.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, is investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with those Russian efforts.
WASHINGTON:
CNN quoted its sources as saying that plans were prepared on Friday for “anyone charged to be taken into custody as soon as Monday”. The report said it was “unclear what the charges are”.
A spokesman for Mueller’s office declined to comment.
Trump denies allegations that his campaign colluded with Russians and condemned the investigations as a witch hunt. The Kremlin too denies the charges.
Under regulations for this special investigations, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein would have been made aware of any charges before they were taken to the grand jury for approval, CNN quoted unnamed officials as saying.