Explainer: In Trump-Russia probe, when does collusion become a crime?

Explainer: In Trump-Russia probe, when does collusion become a crime

WASHINGTON: As Special Counsel Robert Mueller has pursued his investigation into Moscow’s role in the 2016 U.S. election, legal experts have debated what sort of contacts between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia may have violated U.S. criminal law.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia used a scheme of hacking and propaganda to cause discord in the United States and harm Trump’s Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Mueller’s probe, with several Trump campaign figures already pleading guilty or being convicted, has documented numerous contacts between Russians and people close to the president.

Mueller, who has sought to determine whether Trump’s campaign coordinated with Moscow, is preparing to submit a report on his investigation to U.S. Attorney General William Barr. Trump and Russia have denied collusion and Moscow has denied election interference.

Here is a look at potential crimes Mueller may examine relating to these contacts and other matters