Trump holds rally in West Virginia, dismisses Russia investigation
President Trump held a rally in West Virginia dismissing the whole Russia investigation as reports surfaced that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has convened a new criminal grand jury.
The move indicates the investigation into Russia’s election meddling and possible collusion is heating up.
The grand jury allows Mueller’s team to subpoena documents and witness testimony.
This subpoena reportedly seeks both documents and testimony from people involved in a June 2016 meeting with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower. On Thursday night, Trump held a rally in West Virginia, where he brought up the investigation.
Applause and laughter filled the West Virginian audience as President Trump mocked the ongoing Russia investigation.
“The Russia story is a total fabrication, it’s just an excuse for the greatest loss in the history of American politics,” he said.
Also there was Democrat West Virginian Governor Jim Justice, who announced he will be changing his registration to republican first thing Friday morning.
All of this going on as word circulates that grand jury subpoenas have been issued.
Some experts said this could suggest that special prosecutor Robert Mueller has uncovered information pointing in the direction of criminal charges who those criminal charges might be directed towards is still unclear.
President Trump's Attorney Jay Sakulow said he was not notified prior to the subpoenas, but he wasn't surprised either.
“The paneling of a grand jury in situations like this when you have an investigation like this is how they move forward,” he said.
A grand jury is a group of ordinary citizens who work behind closed doors, considers evidence of potential criminal wrongdoing that a prosecutor is investigating and then decides whether charges should be brought.
Mueller's use of a grand jury could give him expansive tools to pursue evidence, including issuing subpoenas and compelling witnesses to testify.
Meantime, President Trump is expected to take his first extended vacation Friday for 17 days at his private golf club in New Jersey.