Clinton FoundationWashington, Nov 14 (AFP) The US Justice Department saysit has asked prosecutors to examine alleged misconduct at theClinton Foundation and the controversial Obama-era sale of auranium firm to Russia, and whether a special counsel might beneeded to investigate.
The move, disclosed in a letter to lawmakers, came asAttorney General Jeff Sessions was poised to testify todayabout election year contacts between members of the Trumpcampaign and Russia.
As the former head of the Trump campaign's foreign policyadvisory team, Sessions can expect a tough grilling fromDemocrats about what he knew about the contacts.
Sessions has previously testified under oath that he hadno knowledge of any collusion with the Russians, but a probeby special counsel Robert Mueller has uncovered contacts bylower level campaign advisers.
As the Russia election meddling probe has heated up, USPresident Donald Trump as well as Republican lawmakers havecalled for a probe into Hillary Clinton and the sale of auranium company to Russia under former president Barack Obama.
Yesterday, the Justice Department responded to theRepublican demands in a letter to House Judiciary Committeechairman Robert Goodlatte, who also will preside overTuesday's hearing with Sessions.
Sessions, it said, has directed senior federalprosecutors to evaluate Goodlatte's request for a specialcounsel to investigate the uranium sale and "alleged unlawfuldealings related to the Clinton Foundation and other matters."The prosecutors "will make recommendations as to whetherany matters not currently under investigation should beopened, whether any matters currently under investigationrequire further resources, and whether any matters merit theappointment of a Special Counsel," it said.
The letter, first obtained by broadcaster NBC News, wassigned by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd.
Republican lawmakers in late October announced they wereinvestigating the 2013 sale of Canadian mining company UraniumOne to Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which was approvedby former president Barack Obama.
The move gave Rosatom control of 20 percent of US uraniumstockpiles, and was decided after Uranium One made severaldonations to the Clinton Foundation of former president BillClinton.
They are also demanding more clarity on how the FederalBureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice decidedduring the height of last year's White House race to notpursue charges against Clinton over her misuse of a personalemail server.
The Justice Department letter said the handling of theClinton email case was under review by the department'sinspector general, and an assessment would be made of whatsteps should be taken, if any, once it is completed.(AFP)AMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.