Mueller Refers Alleged Plot to Make False Claims About Him to FBI

Mueller Refers Alleged Plot to Make False Claims About Him to FBI

WASHINGTON —

Robert Mueller's office has referred to the FBI allegations that women were "offered money to make false claims" about the special counsel, according to Mueller's spokesman.

In a statement, spokesman Peter Carr said once the office learned of the allegations, it immediately referred the matter to the FBI for investigation.

The statement didn't specify what the claims were, but the referral to the FBI — and a rare public statement about it from the special counsel's office — suggested that Mueller's office thought there was a potential crime for federal law enforcement to investigate.

The attempt to spread what Mueller's office said were false claims about him also appeared to be an effort to discredit the former FBI director as his team enters a critical stage of its investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential race and whether the president tried to obstruct justice.

Mueller's office has charged 32 people so far, with four former associates of the president pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate with investigators. A grand jury in recent weeks has heard testimony centered on another former Trump aide, Roger Stone.

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