BREAKING: Mueller investigation near completion, acting AG Whitaker says

[Sunriser13]

Source: MSNBC, ABC

Special counsel Robert Mueller has nearly wrapped up his almost two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, the acting attorney general said Monday.

"The investigation is, I think, close to being completed, and I hope that we can get the report from [Special Counsel] Mueller as soon we -- as possible," acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said during a news conference after announcing criminal charges against one of China's largest telecommunications companies.

"I have been fully briefed on the investigation, and I look forward to director Mueller delivering the report, and I really am not going to talk about an open and ongoing investigation otherwise," he added.



Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/mueller-investigation-near-completion-acting-ag-whitaker-says-n963726

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Also on ABC News [link:https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/acting-attorney-general-matt-whitaker-special-counsel-investigation/story?id=60686973

Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker said the special counsel investigation is nearing its completion during a press conference on Monday, the first official on the record confirmation.

“I’ve been fully briefed on the investigation, and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report...," Whitaker said.

Over the course of his nearly two-year-long probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors have now indicted 34 individuals and three Russian businesses on charges ranging from computer hacking to conspiracy and financial crimes.

Those indictments have led to seven guilty pleas and three people sentenced to prison. Four former Trump campaign officials – including his onetime national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign chairman Paul Manafort, also a former associate of Stone – are among those who have pleaded guilty.

More at link.

[jodymarie aimee]

1. nope

panel shooting it down...

[still_one]

7. It was just a few weeks ago Mueller wanted a six months extension. I agree, this is bogus

[nilram]

12. which panel? link?

[Igel]

13. The grand jury was set to expire.

It can be renewed in 6-month increments.

Judging from the Stone indictments, he still needed the grand jury. However, just because he got the standard 6-month extension doesn't mean that at the time he thought he'd need 6 months. If he needed it for one more week, he'd have had a 6-month extension. If he needed it for another 18 months, he'd have gotten a 6-month extension.

"He can't be close to done because he got a 6-month extension" is using a merely possible scenario in a way that assumes it's the only realistic scenario.

[Honeycombe8]

37. I heard that, too. Miles to go before we sleep. Miles to go. nt

[C_U_L8R]

3. Considering the source

Just more trumpist baloney

Rudy’s been saying the same thing for over a year.

No credibility

[Glimmer of Hope]

4. "I have been fully briefed on the investigation".

Sure you have.

[George II]

5. The way he spoke, he was just blathering, I don't think he knows how close it is to being complete.

[bluestarone]

6. Key words he said here are (I THINK)

I say BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[canetoad]

9. +1

Agree. Waffling words that Trump wants to hear.

[LenaBaby61]

8. "Acting AG Matt Whitaker says Mueller probe is near completion."

I don't believe that, unless Mueller's gonna drop bomb loads of indictments all at once. especially given that tRump toadie Whitkaer dropped this little bomblet out there today.

I'll believe it when I see it, especially given that the information was sent out by tRump toadie Matt " I don't want my big balls hanging in a toilet" Whitkaer

[empedocles]

10. Mueller hasn't yet gotten Commitee transcripts yet.

Whitaker sending some kind of message to trump? An audience of one?

[BigmanPigman]

11. Ring ring...Hey Matt, create a distraction. A BIGLY one. Thanks.

[RandySF]

14. I call bullshit

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. With its size and complexity I doubt it very much

[ancianita]

16. When. Ever. I just care that WE paid for all this; we deserve to know what's in Mueller's report.

I don't care how we get it -- by hook or by crook -- as long as we who paid our taxes for all the investigations by Justice and Congress get the results we paid for.

[wryter2000]

17. Why in hell should I believe him?

Bull shit.

I'll believe it when Mueller says it.

[iluvtennis]

22. Ditto

[TrollBuster9090]

18. Who gives a s#!t what Matt "Butterbean" Whitaker says?

He's about as well informed as Giuliani, who said the investigation would be completed a year ago. He, along with the rest of Trump's hand picked lickspittle cabinet are just saying "it'll be over soon" to keep Trump from going off the deep end. (And, in Trump's case, 'the deep end' constitutes tearing his clothes off, painting himself fluorescent orange, sticking a trumpet up his ass, and running around on the White House lawn yelling WITCH HUNT, WITCH HUNT!)

Nobody cares what Butterbean Whitaker says, except the people who are taking careful notes, in preparation for indicting him five minutes after he's replaced by Barr.

Matt "Butterbean" Whitaker. (File photo)

[PSPS]

19. Whitaker is a dirty as the rest of them.

[Miigwech]

20. Check out FBI C. Wray's blinking

Don't folks working in counterintelligence use blinking to send a message if they are being held hostage and want to communicate a message? Call me crazy (OK), but he sure is blinking in a pattern.

[padah513]

21. If the investigation is drawing to a close

Then why would they raid Stone's place? Whittaker is full of it.

[MosheFeingold]

23. It's going to be a popcorn fart

Nothing there, except Trump made public statements we know about, and a few people went to Wikileaks to see if they could get more dirt.

Some more process crimes.

Nothing worth the effort.

Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I'm a realist.

[SayItLoud]

25. tRUMP foundation, tRUMP organization, tRUMP banking all under investigation..

Lots of things worth the effort. Just sayin...I'm a believer.

[SayItLoud]

24. "Ive been fully briefed" means tRUMP has been leaked everything this

idiot knows.

[sarcasmo]

26. Mueller would never reveal that information. I call hogwash.

[onetexan]

35. Agree, he's trying to pull the same crap as Giuliani in demanding

Mueller wrap up his inveatigation.

[machoneman]

27. Whittaker has jumped the gun. I don't believe him for one second.

He knows Mueller won't hold a presser to correct him. My guess is he was one of Roger Stone's attendees at the house party just before the FBI raided his place.

In other words, he's blowing smoke if not Trump's mushroom penis!

[Leith]

28. It looks like I wasn't alone in seeing BS

What is this "I think" crap? And why is he saying it before it is 100% complete and ready for roll out?

Yeah, he's full of excrement.

[Maxheader]

29. Believe it when I hear it..

[LiberalFighter]

30. Truth is that Mueller will be investigating Whitaker.

[Cattledog]

31. March more likely.

[rockfordfile]

32. Interesting

This is a big black eye on the CIA and FBI. With Russia and the Saudis putting a puppet in as President of the USA.
Big fish is/was the Supreme Court. Like I said before skeptical of Mueller. Mueller is there to put this under the rug.
Never trust a republican to prosecute republicans.

[Apollyonus]

33. They are obviously keeping this guy in the dark

so A) Trump doesn't get the details and B) he can release such info as a pacifier for Trump

I'm pretty sure when he took charge, they told him that if he interferes, he will be arrested for obstruction and advised him to be a good boy and keep his nose clean.

[ancianita]

41. The most likely reason.

[Sunriser13]

34. Just passing it along

Hardball is covering it now, but Matthews isn't a favorite talking head for me. I'll wait for Rachel before I start thinking anything but bull...

[underpants]

36. Ides of March

[Evolve Dammit]

38. You wish Trump acting appointee!

[honest.abe]

39. "The investigation is, I think, close to being completed"

keywords "i think".

[Kablooie]

40. Trump minions have been saying this since the beginning.

He may have been fully briefed but I'll bet he doesn't really know.
Mueller knows he is a Trump stooge and I'm sure he's found a legal way to prevent Whitaker from really knowing when things will wrap up and how it will go down.

[duforsure]

42. Did wimpy order him to say this?

Like he's had others do? He sure was sweating saying this.