Trump-Russia probe deepens as Mueller convenes grand jury

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The investigation into alleged Russian interference in the US election has taken a significant step forward, with Special Counsel Robert Mueller reportedly having impaneled a grand jury.

The Wall Street Journal reported late on Thursday that the grand jury had begun its work in the US capital Washington "in recent weeks."

US President Donald Trump at a Make America Great Again Rally in Huntington, West Virginia on August 3, 2017. /AFP Photo

The development does not mean charges will necessarily be brought against Trump associates, but will allow Mueller to subpoena documents and get sworn testimony -- while opening the door to criminal indictments.

Follow the money

Sources told Reuters that the grand jury was connected to the June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, then campaign adviser Paul Manafort, and a Russian lawyer.

Donald Trump Jr. walks around Trump Tower in New York on December 6, 2016. /AFP Photo

Russia has denied interfering in the 2016 election, while US President Donald Trump has repeatedly denied knowledge of collusion. However, the US president has acknowledged that his son, Kushner, and Manafort met a Kremlin-connected lawyer after being offered information about Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

(From left to right) Paul Manafort, Donald Trump Jr, Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner. /AFP Photo

A separate CNN report on Thursday indicated that federal investigators were looking closely at Trump and his associates' financial ties to Russia.

People with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that the probe is reviewing possible financial crimes, as well as scrutinizing possible collusion and allegations of obstruction of justice.

White House response

The White House said that it was unaware of a grand jury being impaneled in the Russia investigation. "Grand jury matters are typically secret," Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said in a statement released by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

"The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller," he added.

Robert Mueller, special counsel on the Russian investigation, leaves following a meeting with the US Senate Judiciary Committee at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on June 21, 2017. /AFP Photo

John Dowd, another lawyer representing Donald Trump, told NBC News the president's legal team has been "cooperating with Bob Mueller and his staff since the first of June because we're trying to get this thing over and done with."

Also on Thursday, US senators introduced two cross-party bills designed to protect Mueller from being fired by Trump.

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