Mueller Tells White House He Wants Info on 13 Areas

One of those areas: Trump's firings of FBI chief James Comey
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 21, 2017 4:42 AM CDT
Report: Manafort Offered Russian Campaign Briefings
In this July 21, 2016 file photo, Manafort stands between Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Robert Mueller's investigation of alleged Russian campaign meddling appears to be steaming ahead: The special counsel has sent the White House details on 13 areas where investigators are seeking more information and want documents, the New York Times reports. The areas include Trump's firings of FBI chief James Comey and national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as a meeting with Russian officials in which Trump said firing Comey had relieved "great pressure," the Times reports, citing White House officials. Mueller also wants more information on campaign officials including embattled former campaign chief Paul Manafort. None of the requests involve Trump's private finances.

Documents that have already been turned over to the Mueller probe include emails in which Manafort offers a Russian oligarch and close ally of Vladimir Putin "private briefings" on the Trump campaign, sources tell the Washington Post. There is no sign, however, that Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum tycoon and former business associate of Manafort's, took him up on the offer. In other emails, Manafort—using his campaign email account to try to collect unpaid debts from Eastern European clients—speaks of his growing reputation after joining the campaign. Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni says the emails were "innocuous" and Manafort offered nothing more than a "routine" briefing on the campaign. (The FBI reportedly wiretapped Manafort before and after he joined the campaign.)

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