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Article snippet: Updated Oct. 30, 2017 Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, charged Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, and a business associate with money laundering, tax fraud and foreign lobbying violations. The indictment was the first to be filed since Mr. Mueller took over in May the investigation into Russia’s meddling in the election and possible links to Mr. Trump and his associates. Mr. Mueller was appointed as special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein after Mr. Trump’s firing of James B. Comey as F.B.I. director. Here is a look at what Mr. Mueller’s position entails — and doesn’t. Mr. Rosenstein’s letter gave Mr. Mueller the authority to look into not only Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and any coordination with Trump campaign officials, but also “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation.” And it included a reference to a Justice Department regulation that permits special counsels to investigate attempts to impede their inquiry. That mandate would seemingly give Mr. Mueller a writ to investigate whether Mr. Trump’s interactions with Mr. Comey amounted to obstruction of justice. Given the circumstances, “he is required to look” at whether there was obstruction of justice, said Julie O’Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor who teaches criminal law at Georgetown University. “He can’t ignore this.” Normally, United States attorneys oversee criminal investigati... Link to the full article to read more