The Justice Department has laid out a description of how early and how often Russian agents reached out to President Trump's then-nascent campaign in 2016; a former foreign policy aide has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the matter. Separately, Trump's former campaign chairman and a top aide were charged with money laundering.
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with attorney Sol Wisenberg, former deputy independent counsel under Kenneth Starr, about what the indictments handed down today tell us about where special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation might be headed.
The White House is trying to create distance between President Trump and the actions special counsel Robert Mueller took against several of Trump's former campaign aides in connection with his investigation.
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Washington Post reporter Philip Bump about George Papadoupolos, an adviser to the campaign who admitted to lying to the FBI about his interactions with Russian operatives.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He joins NPR's Mary Louise Kelly to talk about former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort's indictment and what else is ahead for special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election.
The Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations committee on whether the Authorization for the Use of Military, passed shortly after 9/11, should be amended or repealed. The law is still the basis for U.S. wars and military operations around the globe.
Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller unveiled his first charges in the Russia imbroglio on Monday. Three former Trump aides were involved, and members of Congress have said they want to pass a bill protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump if the president feels threatened.
Paul Manafort, who was President Trump's campaign chairman, and a longtime deputy are named in a 12-count indictment. They pleaded not guilty. Manafort's attorney called the allegations "ridiculous."