Mueller investigation - live: Michael Cohen gave information about Russian attempts to reach Trump campaign dating back to 2015
Robert Mueller says Cohen has cooperated with his investigation and so does not ask for any extra jail time
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Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have asked a judge to sentence former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to a “substantial term of imprisonment” for paying an adult film star hush money on the president's behalf and evading taxes.
Earlier in the day Mr Trump has attacked Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, although Mr Mueller and his team asked for no extra prison time for Cohen for lying to federal investigators, citing Cohen's cooperation with his investigation.
New court documents are also expected flesh out the case against Mr Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort.
Mr Mueller’s team has accused Manafort of breaching a plea bargain agreement by lying to prosecutors – something Manafort has denied – and he has submitted information on those alleged lies.
Elsewhere, the former head of the FBI James Comey – a frequent target for attacks from Mr Trump – took part in a behind-closed-doors hearing with two congressional committees on decisions made by the Justice Department during the 2016 presidential election.
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It’s no coincidence the president has been unleashing a series of anti-Mueller tweets to cap off the week.
We’re expecting major news announcements surrounding Michael Cohen’s cooperation with New York prosecutors, an outline of Paul Manafort’s “crimes and lies” that forced the end of his cooperation agreement with the special counsel and further controversy surrounding James Comey’s closed-door meeting with the Judiciary and Oversight committees.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has assured there will be a “major Counter Report,” adding, “This should never be allowed to happen to a future President of the United States!”
Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian oligarch, boasted to people in his circle that he had “the pull needed to help achieve the sanctions relief the Kremlin was craving” thanks to a relationship he maintained with Donald Trump’s former longtime lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, Bloomberg has reported.
Ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff posted a tweet focusing on the president’s reaction to looming news surrounding Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
“What Trump is saying: It’s a witch hunt. We will have our own report. Mueller is bad. Comey is worse. Rosenstein is no picnic. Why don’t they go after Hillary and Brennan, anyone but me?” the congressman wrote. “What he means: When Mueller’s report comes, it will be bad.”
“Why he says it: Meltdown,” he added.
Numerous Democratic senators are speaking out about William Barr’s nomination to become the next attorney general, with Senator Richard Blumenthal saying in a statement, “I will demand that Mr. Barr make a firm and specific commitment to protect the Mueller investigation, operate independently of the White House, and uphold the rule of law."
In a statement, Senator Sheldon White House also pointed to “Barr’s strange calls for the Department to investigate fringe conspiracy theories involving the Clintons”.
He added, “This nomination still doesn’t solve … the unconstitutional appointment of Matt Whitaker.”
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll has revealed the majority of Americans consider Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
According to the poll, 54 per cent of the country believes the probe is a “fair investigation,” with stark comparisons between Democrat and Republican voters.
While 82 per cent of Democrats said the investigation is fair, 71 per cent of Republicans said they consider the probe to be a “witch hunt” — a phrase Donald Trump has echoed throughout his presidency regarding the special counsel’s Russia investigation.
Republicans are increasingly opposed to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, it appears, with a 12 per cent rise in Republican voters who say they have an unfavorable view of the probe.
Despite Donald Trump’s series of public attacks against Robert Mueller, frequently describing the special counsel as a “witch hunt” on Twitter, the probe has yielded a slate of very real indictments.
To recap: at least 33 individuals and three companies have been charged in the probe into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Meanwhile, Mr Mueller is also looking into the president’s potential obstruction of justice, reportedly speaking with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly in recent months about the issue.
Donald Trump is currently delivering remarks at the 2018 Project Safe Neighborhoods National Conference in Kansas City amid explosive reports surrounding Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The president boarded Air Force One late on Friday amid a series of Twitter attacks against the special counsel, with tonight's deadline quickly approaching for Mr Mueller to release further information surrounding Paul Manafort’s cooperation with investigators and his history of alleged crimes, as well as his memo on Mr Trump's former longtime fixer and personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Michael Flynn’s son, Michael Flynn Jr, posted a tweet defending Donald Trump and slamming “left wing hacks,” referring to lawmakers like California Democrat Ted Lieu who said he believed “Trump is very scared” in an earlier post.
“This is not a man who scares easily,” he continued. “But by all means, keep thinking he’s ‘scared’.”
The lawmaker responded in a tweet of his own, writing, “How’s your dad?” and adding, “He ratted out @POTUS or his associates in 19 interviews to investigators for at least 3 ongoing investigations. His testimony was so good that Special Counsel Mueller recommended no prison time.”
Ranking Member of the House Judicial Committee Jerry Nadler said he would end the investigation into the FBI and Department of Justice upon assuming the top role on the committee when Democrats take over the House in the new year.
“It was a waste of time to start with,” he said after walking out of James Comey’s closed-door testimony.
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