The investigation into Russia's alleged attempt to influence the outcome of the U.S. election is unlikely to conclude before the end of the year, according to a GOP representative. Congressman Mike Conaway reportedly said he it would be "a surprise" if the House Intelligence Committee attempted to conclude its Russia investigation by the end of the year and issue a report on the findings.
"'No,' Mike Conaway just told me when asked if House Intel would try to conclude Russia investigation this year and issue its report. 'That would be a surprise,'" CNN's senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju tweeted on Tuesday.
The suggestion the Russia probe is set to drag on appears to be at odds with President Donald Trump's understanding of the matter–-with the Republican reportedly suggesting that the probe was drawing to a close. Indeed, despite legal experts suggesting the investigation is far from finished, The Washington Post reported Trump and many of his aides are under the impression the probe has reached "its final stage" as Mueller indicts and interviews those closest to the president.
For his part, Trump has a disdain for the investigations into Russia's alleged attempt to influence the U.S. presidential election in 2016, tweeting over the weekend that the "phony" probe was an attempt to distract from the Democrats' election loss.
"Since the first day I took office, all you hear is the phony Democrat excuse for losing the election, Russia, Russia,Russia," Trump wrote on Sunday–-showing increasing frustration with the ongoing probe.
"Despite this I have the economy booming and have possibly done more than any 10 month President. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he added.
His comments, and those of Conaway, come on the heels of the suggestion that the president's former national security adviser Mike Flynn working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Last week, The New York Times reported Flynn's lawyers had ended an information-sharing agreement with Trump's attorneys amid the probe into Russia's alleged interference in the U.S. election, suggesting Flynn may be attempting to make a deal as the investigation shows little sign of abating.
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