U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has instructed federal prosecutors to pursue legal action over claims that political opponents of Donald Trump conspired to fabricate accusations of Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential campaign. The case is now being prepared for presentation to a grand jury, which will decide whether formal charges should be brought.
The issue has resurfaced following the declassification of an appendix from a previous Justice Department investigation, once again sparking debate over the origins and handling of the Russiagate allegations.
Trump’s 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton was soon followed by widespread claims that his campaign had ties to Russia—allegations he has always dismissed as a politically motivated attempt to undermine his presidency.
The newly released document, part of Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation, includes a March 2016 memo from a U.S. intelligence source. The memo alleges that Clinton approved a plan to link Trump to Russian interests. Also included are emails said to be from individuals linked to liberal financier George Soros, discussing efforts to damage the reputations of both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
