Mueller submits final report on Russia investigation to Justice Department

Special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday delivered his final report to the Justice Department on his investigation into President Trump's alleged collusion with Russia, according to multiple reports. Handing off his report to Attorney General William Barr signals the end of the investigation that began when Mueller was appointed in May, 2017 by acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Barr now has to decide how much of the report will be released to Congress and to the public.

During the course of his investigation, Mueller obtained convictions against Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen, Mike Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Alex van der Zwaan, Richard Pinedo, and Sam Patten. Roger Stone and Konstantin Kilimnik have also been indicted.

Mueller also filed indictments against 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian companies — including the Internet Research Agency “troll farm” — for the malign activities they allegedly engaged in while interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The names of those Russian citizens are Yevgeny Prigozhin (and two of his businesses), Mikhail Bystrov, Mikhail Burchik, Aleksandra Krylova, Sergey Polozov, Anna Bogacheva, Maria Bovda, Robert Bovda, Dzheykhun Aslanov, Vadim Podkopaev, Gleb Vasilchenko, Irina Kaverzina, and Vladimir Venkov.

Mueller filed additional indictments against 12 Russian intelligence officers — all members of the Russian military intelligence unit’s GRU — for their alleged involvement in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee in 2016.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mueller-submits-final-report-on-russia-investigation-to-justice-department

Hundreds of thousands of Algerians rally against Bouteflika

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Algerians rallied on Friday to demand the immediate resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is fighting for his political survival in the face of unrelenting protests and the desertion of long-time allies. The march remained largely peaceful with police using tear gas only in isolated cases such as to stop youth approaching the presidential palace, a Reuters reporter and state news agency APS said.

Despite heavy rain and cold weather, the turnout was as large as last Friday, as protesters carrying the national flag packed central Algiers, the scene of mass protests for a month. “We stay here until the whole system goes,” said Mahmoud Timar, a 37-year old teacher.

Bouteflika, 82 and rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke five years ago, bowed to the protesters last week by reversing plans to stand in elections for a fifth term. But he stopped short of quitting as head of state and said he would stay on until a new constitution is adopted. The move further enraged Algerians, and many of Bouteflika’s allies have turned against him. “We are close to victory. The system is divided,” said restaurant owner Rachid Zemmir, 55. There were also protests in other cities such as Serif, El Oued and Skikda, television footage showed.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-algeria-protests/hundreds-of-thousands-of-algerians-rally-against-bouteflika-idUSKCN1R31B3?il=0