Where the investigations related to President Trump stand
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Feb 22, 2019 11:40 PM CST
Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, center left, walks to his vehicle as he leaves federal court Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, in Washington, between members of the media, security, and protesters. A judge has imposed a full gag order on Trump confidant Roger Stone after he posted...   (Associated Press)

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?

Special counsel Robert Mueller's sentencing memorandum for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was not publicly available late Friday, suggesting the document may still be under seal.

Mueller's team was to have weighed in by the end of the day on Manafort's punishment in one of his two criminal cases. But the memo was not publicly filed by midnight Friday, an indication that the document includes sensitive information and that prosecutors are seeking a judge's approval to redact, or black out, that material.

The sentencing recommendation comes as the 69-year-old Manafort, who led Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for several critical months, is already facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison in a separate case.

Also, Mueller's report on the Russia investigation is not expected to be delivered to the Justice Department next week. That's from a senior department official on Friday.

The official could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear when the report might come, though Mueller is showing signs of concluding his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and ties to the Trump campaign.

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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 communications.

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 Comey and Trump's fury over Attorney General Jeff 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 Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence in New York.

—WHEN WILL IT ALL WRAP UP? It's unclear. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said late last month that 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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