WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th January, 2019) A grand jury empaneled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for an investigation into allegations of Russian influence in the 2016 US presidential election has been extended for at least six months, according to media reports.
Lisa Klem, special assistant to Chief Judge Beryl Howell confirmed for The Hill on Friday that the grand jury has been extended and can continue to sit, but she did not provide any length of time for the extension.
The panel had been given a six-month extension, according to the report.
Sunday will mark 18 months since the federal grand jury was impaneled on July 6, 2017. Under the rules for Federal Criminal Procedure, a federal grand jury can only serve up to 18 months unless the court determines that an extension is in the public interest, according to the report.
Russia has repeatedly denied any role in the 2016 US election, saying the allegations of interference have been made up to excuse the election loss of a presidential candidate and deflect public opinion from actual instances of election fraud and corruption.
US President Donald Trump has called the Mueller investigation a political witch hunt that has not produced evidence of collusion in well over a year. On Friday, Trump told reporters that he did not need any help from Russia to win the election.
