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MPR News Staff

NPR Embedded series special report: 'Collusion'

Special counsel Robert Mueller
Special counsel Robert Mueller. Former FBI director.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images 2013

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NPR host Kelly McEvers reports on two key questions explored by special counsel Robert Mueller in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The first program covers the question of "collusion" -- whether or not President Trump's campaign coordinated with Russia in its efforts to disrupt and influence the election. This episode reaches back to 1987 (Donald Trump's first visit to Moscow) and examines Trump business ties to Russia over the decades. The hour also explores contacts between the Trump Campaign and Russia and evidence that the Campaign may have coordinated with the Russians.

Program 2 airs Thursday March 8: OBSTRUCTION

The second program covers the question of "obstruction." This second major thread of Mueller's probe asks whether the Trump team sought to impede the investigation of contacts with Russia. A charge of obstruction of justice could be brought regardless of any finding about whether the campaign actually coordinated with the Russian government.

This report starts in December 2016 with the story of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. It then focuses on the President's interactions with FBI Director James Comey and explores other crucial points in the first year of both the Russia investigations and the Trump presidency.

From NPR's "Embedded" podcast series.