WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence President Donald Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election but reached no conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice. That brought a hearty claim of vindication from Trump but set the stage for new rounds of...
Mueller Concludes Russia Probe, Delivers Report to AG Barr
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday turned over his long-awaited final report on the contentious Russia investigation that has cast a dark shadow over Donald Trump's presidency, entangled Trump's family and resulted in criminal charges against some of the president's closest associates. The comprehensive report, still confidential, marks...
Cohen Says Trump Knew About WikiLeaks Email Dump Beforehand
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer told Congress on Wednesday that Trump knew ahead of time that WikiLeaks had emails damaging to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and he testified that Trump is a "racist," a "conman" and a "cheat." Michael Cohen suggested that Trump also implicitly told him...
Is Mueller Wrapping Up Russia Probe? Acting AG Says Yes.
WASHINGTON — The special counsel's Russia probe is "close to being completed," the acting attorney general said Monday in the first official sign that the investigation may be wrapping up. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's comments were a departure for the Justice Department, which rarely comments on the state of...
Mueller Disputes BuzzFeed Report Trump Told Cohen to Lie
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller's office on Friday issued a rare public statement disputing the accuracy of BuzzFeed News' report that said President Donald Trump's attorney told Mueller that the president directed him to lie to Congress. BuzzFeed, citing two unidentified law enforcement officials, reported that Trump directed Michael...
'I Will Not Be Bullied,' Says Trump's AG Nominee
WASHINGTON — Vowing "I will not be bullied," President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general asserted independence from the White House on Tuesday, saying he believed that Russia had tried to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, that the special counsel investigation shadowing Trump is not a witch hunt and...
Trump AG Nominee: 'Vitally Important' Mueller Finish Russia Probe
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general will tell senators at his confirmation hearing "it is vitally important" that special counsel Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his Russia investigation, according to prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. "I believe it is in the best...
Rosenstein, a Frequent Trump Target, Will Leave Justice Dept
WASHINGTON — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller and remains his most visible Justice Department protector, is expected to leave his position soon after William Barr is confirmed as attorney general, a person familiar with the plans said Wednesday. Barr, who served in the position...
Trump Team Turns Over Written Answers to Mueller’s Questions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has provided the special counsel with written answers to questions about his knowledge of Russian interference in the 2016 election, his lawyers said Tuesday, avoiding at least for now a potentially risky sit-down with prosecutors. It's the first time he has directly cooperated with the...
AP Fact Check: Trump’s Misdirection on CA Fires, Climate
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is going too far in assigning most of the blame for California's devastating wildfires on the state's forest management. In comments over the weekend, he called forest management a "big problem" and suggested that California officials needed to do a much better job. But most...