Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury as part of the Justice Department investigation into Russia, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The establishment of the grand jury marks a major development into the Russia investigation, which encompasses Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, whether President Donald Trump or members of his team colluded in that effort, and whether Trump attempted to impede the investigation.
The grand jury began its work several weeks ago, WSJ reports, and it will likely continue for months to come.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey in early May. Comey’s ouster came as a result, at least in part, of the investigation into Russia, according to Trump.
Since that time, Trump has repeatedly called the federal probe into Russia a “witch hunt” and reportedly toyed with the possibility of firing Mueller. A bill recently introduced in the Senate would prevent the president from unilaterally firing a special prosecutor.
Read the full story at WSJ.