Money laundering. The investigation of Washington special prosecutor Robert Mueller is bursting its seams, going far beyond Russian meddling in the presidential election. But the investigators appear to still have a long way to go before wrapping up their probe.
Moscow allegedly offered the campaign compromising materials on Trump rival Hillary Clinton several times — some of which was published by WikiLeaks. According to reports and court filings, separate offers were made to campaign advisers George Papadopoulos and Carter Page. A key question: What did Trump know about that offer? Mueller is also reportedly eyeing Republican political consultant Roger Stone over his contacts with WikiLeaks during the campaign. There was a spider-web of contacts between campaign officials and Russians, but it is unclear what they add up to.
Page, formerly a Moscow-based investment banker, visited Russia during the campaign, and was already the target of an FBI espionage investigation. Papadopoulos admitted to numerous contacts with Russians in England, as he sought to arrange a trip by Trump to Moscow. Kushner has admitted discussing a private communications channel with the Russians after the election, for unclear purposes. Surprisingly, the Mueller probe has also dug deeply into the Russian meddling itself, and not only to fill out the picture of what happened in Mueller is also expected to indict people involved in the hacking theft of Clinton materials.
That could cut a broad swath: Russians figured large as customers in the business, with many buying condominiums in his New York and Florida projects. Mueller could also be looking into the possible existence of a lurid videotape in Russian hands involving Trump and prostitutes dating back to the Miss Universe. That was reported in the dossier on links between the campaign and Russia produced by British ex-spy Christopher Steele. But Mueller will need powerful evidence to prove it, as it could set up a hearing on impeaching the president in Congress.
MACAU: Chinese president Xi Jinping landed in Macau on Wednesday as the city prepares to mark 20 years since the former Portuguese colony was returned, a celebration that stands in stark contrast to months of unrest in neighboring Hong Kong. Like Hong Kong it maintains its own currency, judiciary and free market. But it has long since passed mainland style anti-sedition laws that have been successfully resisted by Hong Kongers. He will meet local leaders and attend a dinner and a cultural performance on Thursday.
