2016 ELECTION/CAMPAIGN/FBI/INTELLIGENCE/LEGAL/RUSSIA: “FBI Chief James Comey said publicly for the first time Monday that his agency is investigating alleged links between Russia and the Trump campaign and whether any crimes may have been committed during last year’s election campaign.
‘That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts,’ Comey said in his opening statement to a dramatic hearing before the House Intelligence Committee.
But Comey said that while an investigation was going on he would be unable to give few details about its progress or whether anyone in particular was being targeted.
The hearing, which also features testimony from National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, could also shed light on the state of FBI investigations into the extent of Russian meddling in the election campaign. Republicans hope Comey will state that there is no evidence of collusion between Trump aides and officials from Moscow, a move that could begin to break up a cloud of Russian intrigue that has stifled the early weeks of the administration. But Democrats say there is circumstantial evidence of wrongdoing that needs to be probed.”
-Stephen Collinson, “Comey confirms FBI investigating Russia, Trump ties,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, March 20, 2017