The Special Counsel investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election seems to be coming to an end.
Watchers say all signs point to Robert Mueller's report being handed over to the Justice Department within the next few weeks.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
Twenty-two months after the Special Counsel investigation was opened,... watchers are now strongly suggesting the Mueller probe is winding down.
Last Tuesday,... the special counsel's lawyers told a federal judge that they have all the information they need from ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn,... who has been cooperating with Mueller's team since he pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI.
The following day,... a federal judge handed a second prison sentence to Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman.
The sentencing closed the book on the Manafort case,... a key part of the investigation.
Another clue that the investigation is coming to an end,... is the fact that two key members of Mueller's team are being reassigned to a different office.
According to Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor,... these signs indicate the investigation is steadily wrapping up.
He added Mueller is most likely "a few weeks or even a month or more away" from issuing the final report.
He added a "fairly complete" draft has already been circulating inside the Mueller team.
In Hanoi last month,... President Trump again strongly denied any Russian involvement in his 2016 presidential election victory,... and reiterated his view that the investigation is a "witch hunt."
"But the fact is, there is no collusion. And I call it the "witch hunt." This should never happen to another President. This is so bad for our country."
Last week,... the House unanimously approved a resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public,... putting pressure on Attorney General, William Barr,... to release as much information as possible when the investigation ends.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
