House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

Washington, DC - 26 July 2019

1. Wide, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler walks into briefing room, along with members of committee

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up. And if that were not enough. Director Mueller's testimony removed all doubt. He told us that Donald Trump obstructed justice and abused his office by tampering with witnesses, attempting to block the investigation and attempting to fire the special counsel. He told us that Donald Trump lied to the public about the Trump Tower meeting in New York. Lied to the public about his plans for Trump Tower in Moscow and lied in his written responses to the special counsel. He told us in a remarkable exchange with Mr. (Ted) Lieu that but for the Department of Justice policy from prohibiting, prohibiting from doing so, he would have indicted President Trump."

3. Wide, news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"The court filings today are the next step and we'll continue down that road to see whether we have the strong case that is needed to put to the American people."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat - California:

"Well if you shut up expecting a Broadway show sure you may have been disappointed but if you listened to what he said he said that the Russians attacked us they had a preference for Donald Trump. The Trump campaign welcomed it and planned around it and when the police investigated it they took great lengths to cover it up including the president and the president is the only person in America who would be shielded from being held accountable because of what they did. That is pretty cut and dry. And what you've seen is not members who have called for impeachment saying take me off of that call in light of what Mr. Mueller have said. Six members since have come forward and have said add me to that call for impeachment."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"And what I believe we really should be focused on is not the performance of Mr. Mueller but the performance or behaviors of this president, obstructing justice. That's the performance you need to be examining. The performance of the Trump administration welcoming, wallowing in interference by Russia. The performance of Russia interfering with our elections in massive and sweeping ways that will continue. And a Senate yesterday that did nothing, in fact blocked attempts, to take care of or protect our elections."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat - Texas:

"We're crossing a threshold. Absolutely. When you think about the, the, the mode that we were operating under before it really was an oversight function. We're now crossing a threshold with the filing of this, of this, with this filing and we are now officially entering into an examination of whether or not to recommend the articles of impeachment. So it's we have crossed a threshold. I just wanted to make that real clear."

10. Pan as members walk away

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

1. Wide, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler walks into briefing room, along with members of committee

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up. And if that were not enough. Director Mueller's testimony removed all doubt. He told us that Donald Trump obstructed justice and abused his office by tampering with witnesses, attempting to block the investigation and attempting to fire the special counsel. He told us that Donald Trump lied to the public about the Trump Tower meeting in New York. Lied to the public about his plans for Trump Tower in Moscow and lied in his written responses to the special counsel. He told us in a remarkable exchange with Mr. (Ted) Lieu that but for the Department of Justice policy from prohibiting, prohibiting from doing so, he would have indicted President Trump."

3. Wide, news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"The court filings today are the next step and we'll continue down that road to see whether we have the strong case that is needed to put to the American people."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat - California:

"Well if you shut up expecting a Broadway show sure you may have been disappointed but if you listened to what he said he said that the Russians attacked us they had a preference for Donald Trump. The Trump campaign welcomed it and planned around it and when the police investigated it they took great lengths to cover it up including the president and the president is the only person in America who would be shielded from being held accountable because of what they did. That is pretty cut and dry. And what you've seen is not members who have called for impeachment saying take me off of that call in light of what Mr. Mueller have said. Six members since have come forward and have said add me to that call for impeachment."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"And what I believe we really should be focused on is not the performance of Mr. Mueller but the performance or behaviors of this president, obstructing justice. That's the performance you need to be examining. The performance of the Trump administration welcoming, wallowing in interference by Russia. The performance of Russia interfering with our elections in massive and sweeping ways that will continue. And a Senate yesterday that did nothing, in fact blocked attempts, to take care of or protect our elections."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat - Texas:

"We're crossing a threshold. Absolutely. When you think about the, the, the mode that we were operating under before it really was an oversight function. We're now crossing a threshold with the filing of this, of this, with this filing and we are now officially entering into an examination of whether or not to recommend the articles of impeachment. So it's we have crossed a threshold. I just wanted to make that real clear."

10. Pan as members walk away

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus121022

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman: ++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID++

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

POOL

Washington - 24 July 2019

2. Various Robert Mueller testifying

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of an investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, a person familiar with the probe said Thursday.

The use of a grand jury, a standard prosecution tool in criminal investigations, suggests that Mueller and his team of investigators are likely to hear from witnesses and demand documents in the coming weeks and months. The person who confirmed to The Associated Press that Mueller had turned to a grand jury was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the use of a grand jury.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records and to present evidence, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near or will necessarily be sought. It was not immediately clear how or whether the Washington grand jury was connected to the work of a separate one in Alexandria, Virginia. That panel has been used to gather information on Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.

A spokesman for Mueller's team did not return an email seeking comment.

Mueller's reliance on a grand jury is the "logical next step in this investigation" given that it's the traditional method for prosecutors to gather evidence, said Washington defense lawyer Jacob Frenkel.

Meanwhile, lawyers for President Donald Trump said they were unaware of the existence of a grand jury and had no information to suggest the president himself was under federal investigation.

"With respect to the news of the federal grand jury, I have no reason to believe that the president is under investigation," defense attorney John Dowd told the AP.

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said he wasn't aware Mueller had started using a new grand jury.

"Grand jury matters are typically secret," Cobb said. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller."

It was not clear what witnesses might appear before the grand jury or what evidence it might be accumulating or presented with.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May by the Justice Department following the firing by Trump of FBI Director James Comey. He has since assembled a team of more than a dozen investigators, including current and former Justice Department prosecutors with experience in international bribery, organized crime and financial fraud.

That team has been working at an undisclosed location in Washington, so presenting evidence inside a federal courthouse in the city could be more convenient for the group of investigators than working out of Alexandria. Mueller also worked as a prosecutor in Washington before becoming FBI director, a job he held for 12 years.

A grand jury "increases the power of the prosecutors," said David Levine, law professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns," he said.

News of the grand jury came as senators introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump, with both parties signaling resistance to any White House effort to derail the investigation into Russian meddling in last year's election.

Trump's defense team has been looking into potential conflicts of interest among members of Mueller's team, such as past political contributions to Democrats including Hillary Clinton, and Trump has warned that any effort by Mueller to look into his finances would fall outside the scope of Mueller's appointment.

Under the regulations, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is the government official empowered to fire Mueller under limited circumstances, such as conflict of interest and dereliction of duty. Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, has publicly said he has seen no basis for firing him.

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

1. David Levine looks at news story on phone

2. Screen showing news story about grand jury in Russia probe

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "What we've learned is that special counsel Mueller and the lawyers working with him ++ are using a grand jury to further their investigation into the questions about Russian collusion and related areas such as financial transactions and other matters."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

4. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "It increases the power of the prosecutors. ++ Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

6. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Washington, D.C. - Dec. 11, 1998

7. AP Photo of President Bill Clinton walking to Rose Garden to deliver statement on impeachment

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "If it's somebody in the United States, they are subject to subpoena. And that would include the president of the United States. Famously President Bill Clinton appeared before a grand jury. It turned out not very well for him."

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"We're probably months and months away before we hear formally ++ covered by video ++ from Mr. Mueller as to whether and who might be indicted and for what." ++

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

10. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of an investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, a person familiar with the probe said Thursday.

The use of a grand jury, a standard prosecution tool in criminal investigations, suggests that Mueller and his team of investigators are likely to hear from witnesses and demand documents in the coming weeks and months. The person who confirmed to The Associated Press that Mueller had turned to a grand jury was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the use of a grand jury.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records and to present evidence, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near or will necessarily be sought. It was not immediately clear how or whether the Washington grand jury was connected to the work of a separate one in Alexandria, Virginia. That panel has been used to gather information on Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.

A spokesman for Mueller's team did not return an email seeking comment.

Mueller's reliance on a grand jury is the "logical next step in this investigation" given that it's the traditional method for prosecutors to gather evidence, said Washington defense lawyer Jacob Frenkel.

Meanwhile, lawyers for President Donald Trump said they were unaware of the existence of a grand jury and had no information to suggest the president himself was under federal investigation.

"With respect to the news of the federal grand jury, I have no reason to believe that the president is under investigation," defense attorney John Dowd told the AP.

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said he wasn't aware Mueller had started using a new grand jury.

"Grand jury matters are typically secret," Cobb said. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller."

It was not clear what witnesses might appear before the grand jury or what evidence it might be accumulating or presented with.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May by the Justice Department following the firing by Trump of FBI Director James Comey. He has since assembled a team of more than a dozen investigators, including current and former Justice Department prosecutors with experience in international bribery, organized crime and financial fraud.

That team has been working at an undisclosed location in Washington, so presenting evidence inside a federal courthouse in the city could be more convenient for the group of investigators than working out of Alexandria. Mueller also worked as a prosecutor in Washington before becoming FBI director, a job he held for 12 years.

A grand jury "increases the power of the prosecutors," said David Levine, law professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns," he said.

News of the grand jury came as senators introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump, with both parties signaling resistance to any White House effort to derail the investigation into Russian meddling in last year's election.

Trump's defense team has been looking into potential conflicts of interest among members of Mueller's team, such as past political contributions to Democrats including Hillary Clinton, and Trump has warned that any effort by Mueller to look into his finances would fall outside the scope of Mueller's appointment.

Under the regulations, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is the government official empowered to fire Mueller under limited circumstances, such as conflict of interest and dereliction of duty. Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, has publicly said he has seen no basis for firing him.

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

1. David Levine looks at news story on phone

2. Screen showing news story about grand jury in Russia probe

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"What we've learned is that special counsel Mueller and the lawyers working with him are using a grand jury to further their investigation into the questions about Russian collusion and related areas such as financial transactions and other matters."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

4. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"It increases the power of the prosecutors. Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

6. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"If it's somebody in the United States, they are subject to subpoena. And that would include the president of the United States. Famously President Bill Clinton appeared before a grand jury. It turned out not very well for him."

Washington, D.C. - Dec. 11, 1998

8. AP Photo of President Bill Clinton walking to Rose Garden to deliver statement on impeachment

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"If I was in the White House, I would be concerned that the investigation has gone up a notch or appears to have gone up another notch. In short order probably people who are in the administration or former members of the administration or former members of the campaign will be getting subpoenas to testify and provide documents."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

10. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"And as the word gets around in the White House as to who is getting subpoenas and what is being asked, at least some members of the administration will obviously be getting more more nervous. This is why so many of them already have - the parlance is they've lawyered up. So many of those senior officials each have their own lawyer or series of lawyers because of their concerns of where this may lead."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

12. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

13. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"We're probably months and months away before we hear formally from Mr. Mueller as to whether and who might be indicted and for what."

14. David Levine looking at phone

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about $28,000 from the transition and more than $5,000 as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC-based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial you know move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Muller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

7. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate. Kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

9. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 17 November 2016

12. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 3 January 2016

13. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about $28,000 from the transition and more than $5,000 as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial you know move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Muller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

7. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate. Kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

9. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 17 November 2016

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 3 January 2016

11. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling.

++WHITE FLASH BETWEEN BITES++

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign said on Thursday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about 28,000 US dollars from the transition and more than 5,000 dollars as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC-based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Mueller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

7. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate, kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

9. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York - 17 November 2016

12. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York - 3 January 2016

13. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

A former Trump campaign aide appeared for hours before a federal grand jury Friday, after he defiantly insisted in a series of news interviews just days earlier that he intended to defy a subpoena in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Sam Nunberg spent more than six hours inside the federal courthouse in Washington. He declined to speak with journalists on the way in or out of the building, and it was not immediately clear what testimony he offered to the grand jury or what documents he provided.

His appearance marked a turnabout from extraordinary public statements on Monday when Nunberg, in multiple interviews, balked at complying with a subpoena that sought his appearance before the grand jury as well as correspondence with multiple other campaign officials. In doing so, he became the first witness in the Mueller probe to openly threaten to defy a subpoena.

Washington - 9 March 2018

1. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg leaving court where he testified in the Mueller probe

A former Trump campaign aide appeared for hours before a federal grand jury Friday, after he defiantly insisted in a series of news interviews just days earlier that he intended to defy a subpoena in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Sam Nunberg spent more than six hours inside the federal courthouse in Washington. He declined to speak with journalists on the way in or out of the building, and it was not immediately clear what testimony he offered to the grand jury or what documents he provided.

His appearance marked a turnabout from extraordinary public statements on Monday when Nunberg, in multiple interviews, balked at complying with a subpoena that sought his appearance before the grand jury as well as correspondence with multiple other campaign officials. In doing so, he became the first witness in the Mueller probe to openly threaten to defy a subpoena.

Washington - 9 March 2018

1. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg leaving court where he testified in the Mueller probe