The FBI investigation now being run by special counsel Robert Mueller has focused in on two central figures: former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. NBC reports:
Officials say multiple grand jury subpoenas and records requests have been issued in connection with the two men during the past six months in the ongoing probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian attempts to influence the election, an inquiry that will now be overseen by former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
The FBI, with the help of the Treasury Department, the CIA and other agencies, is examining evidence of possible contacts, money transfers and business relationships between a variety of Trump associates and Russian officials, the sources say. The investigation goes well beyond Flynn, Manafort and a possible American connection, to include how Russian intelligence services carried out the campaign of fake news and leaking hacked emails that intelligence officials say was meant to hurt Hillary Clinton and benefit Donald Trump. [...]
Law enforcement officials tell NBC News that both Flynn and Manafort are formally considered "subjects" of a criminal investigation, though their lawyers say they have done nothing wrong. A subject generally is someone investigators suspect of a crime.
Other tidbits from the NBC report:
•another confirmation that Comey told senators the investigation was being hamstrung by a dearth of prosecutors
•the probe has reportedly picked up in the last several weeks since Rod Rosenstein was confirmed
•reminder that the investigation is both criminal and counter intelligence in nature, making for a somewhat strange blend and subpoenas that don't always detail specific legal violations
•as of last year, Manafort was already under a separate criminal investigation which is now part of the overall Russia probe.