Putting Together the Pieces of Mueller’s Investigation Puzzle

It’s been arapid firefew days in special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian collusion during the run-up to the 2016 presidential, with sentencing memos for Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen last week, followed by Cohen’s sentencing this week. Also this week, we learnedfrom federal prosecutors that theNational Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc. has admitted to paying hush money to silence a woman who alleged an affair with Donald Trump in “concert with” the Trump Campaign, corroborating Cohen’s account.

And in a separate investigation,Maria Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy,admitting that she tried to influence high profile Republicans and National Rifle Association members on behalf of Russia. All the while, President Donald Trump has doubled down, again referring to the investigation as a “witch hunt.”

But how do these latest developments fit into the larger picture of Mueller’s investigation, and are we anywhere near the end?

This week onPolitics with Amy Walter from The Takeaway,we attempt to break it all down and examine what we know from all different angles, hearing from a reporter, a former FBI agent, a historian, a Democratic Congressman, and a conservative publisher during the course of the hour.

Guests:

Mark Mazzetti is theNew York Times’Washington Investigative Correspondent.

Asha Rangappa is a discussingSenior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a former FBI special agent.

Julian Zelizer is a professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University.

Congressman Adam Schiff is on track to become the Chairman of theHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Chris Buskirkis the publisher and editor of the conservative publication American Greatness.

Opening music composed byTina Guo. Check out her musichere.

All other music composed byJay Cowit.