The Russia watchFSB-tied U.S. firms; Russia & undersea cables; securing voting machines, and more
• Trump can end the Russia probe—but that doesn’t mean he can obstruct it
• As North Korea danger recedes ever so slightly, renewed Russian threat looms
• Pennsylvania announces audit of election systems in wake of attempted Russian hacking
• US blacklists Russian firms tied to FSB hacking ops
• Dems unveil push to secure state voting systems
• Russia may hack any World Cup travelers’ electronics, top U.S. spy says
• Bills to protect U.S. elections from foreign meddling are struggling, senators say
• The West is worried about Russian subs lurking around undersea cables, and the US is sanctioning companies helping them do it
Trump can end the Russia probe—but that doesn’t mean he can obstruct it (Timothy Edgar, Lawfare)
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is wrapping up an important phase in his investigation. Even as he brings new charges in the case against President Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, Mueller is coming to conclusions about Trump himself. According to the Washington Post, Mueller plans to document his findings in two reports: one on possible collusion with Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and one possible obstruction of justice in the course of the Russia investigation. The most important unresolved question that is apparently delaying the first of those reports—at least as far as the public is aware—is Mueller’s pending request that Trump testify under oath. Such a request is typically the last step in a grand jury investigation of a criminal suspect, permitting a prosecutor to “lock in” the suspect’s story. As Trump’s lawyers note, the president “could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired.” Their argument is that the greater power to end the Russia probe—possibly through pardons—includes the lesser power to take actions that have the effect of impeding it.
