Where the investigations related to President Trump stand
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Feb 11, 2019 4:29 PM CST
President Donald Trump gives the thumbs-up as he arrives on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, as he returns from his annual physical exam at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)   (Associated Press)

A look at where the investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him:

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush-money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund.

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WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW?

Cohen was scheduled to talk to the Senate intelligence committee Tuesday behind closed doors, but his lawyer announced on Monday that the meeting was postponed for medical reasons. The lawyer, Lanny Davis, said last month that Cohen had undergone shoulder surgery.

It's the third time Cohen has rescheduled congressional testimony in the last month. It is unclear if he has scheduled a new date to speak to the Senate investigators, who subpoenaed him to appear. Aides to Senate intelligence committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and the top Democrat on the panel, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, declined to comment.

Cohen is set to begin a three-year prison sentence in March for the campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

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SO ... DID THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUDE WITH RUSSIA?

There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the communication.

There is evidence that some people in Trump's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential effort.

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OTHER QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

—WHAT ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE? That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and Trump's fury over Sessions' recusal.

—WHAT DOES TRUMP HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL THIS? Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and insisted there was "NO COLLUSION" with Russia. He also says his former lawyer Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence in New York.

—WHEN WILL IT ALL WRAP UP? It's unclear. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker says the probe is "close to being completed," the first official sign that Mueller's investigation may be wrapping up. But he gave no specific timetable.

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For more in-depth information, follow AP coverage at https://apnews.com/TrumpInvestigations

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