# If Mueller finds non-Russia related illegal activities by Trump, can he pursue them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 21, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-mueller-finds-non-russia-related-illegal-activities-by-trump-can-he-pursue-them/789552 "2017-06-21T17:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-mueller-finds-non-russia-related-illegal-activities-by-trump-can-he-pursue-them/789552/1 "2017-06-21T17:16:11Z")
As part of the investigation into Russian collusion, Mueller will likely investigate many of Trump’s activities, both in his business and personal life. If he comes across illegal activities not related to Russia, can he pursue it? I was thinking back about how the investigation into Clinton’s involvement with Whitewater eventually led to his impeachment for lying under oath about having sexual relations with an intern. Although Starr initially was investigating Clinton’s roles in Whitewater and Foster’s death, he was eventually given the authority to investigate the Paula Jones case (and others), which uncovered lying under oath. So it was valid for Starr to go forward with it. What would happen if Mueller uncovers something illegal, but not related to Russia? For example, if he has reason to believe Trump’s businesses were involved in money laundering, but it it turns out it was for the Mafia, could Mueller expose that? Or would he need Congress to first give him the authority to investigate for money laundering? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-mueller-finds-non-russia-related-illegal-activities-by-trump-can-he-pursue-them/789552/2 "2017-06-21T17:26:44Z")
My understand is that Ken Starr had to go back to Congress every time he wanted to extend his investigation and that Mueller’s appointment gives him more leeway up front. Here’s what Wikipedia says “Mueller oversees the investigation into “any links and/or coordination between Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump, and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation”” ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-mueller-finds-non-russia-related-illegal-activities-by-trump-can-he-pursue-them/789552/3 "2017-06-23T10:34:48Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > As part of the investigation into Russian collusion, Mueller will likely investigate many of Trump’s activities, both in his business and personal life. If he comes across illegal activities not related to Russia, can he pursue it? > > I was thinking back about how the investigation into Clinton’s involvement with Whitewater eventually led to his impeachment for lying under oath about having sexual relations with an intern. Although Starr initially was investigating Clinton’s roles in Whitewater and Foster’s death, he was eventually given the authority to investigate the Paula Jones case (and others), which uncovered lying under oath. So it was valid for Starr to go forward with it. > > What would happen if Mueller uncovers something illegal, but not related to Russia? For example, if he has reason to believe Trump’s businesses were involved in money laundering, but it it turns out it was for the Mafia, could Mueller expose that? Or would he need Congress to first give him the authority to investigate for money laundering? If Mueller finds evidence of more mundane crimes, he can always turn it over to other LE organizations, including the FBI and various state Attorney Generals. For example, the state AG of NY, Eric Schneiderman in investigating the Trump Foundations for fraud, right now. > **[New York attorney general ‘looking into’ Eric Trump’s foundation](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/06/09/n-y-attorney-general-looking-into-eric-trumps-foundation/)** > > One issue is the foundation's rebranding. The New York attorney general has jurisdiction over charities in the state, where Eric Trump's foundation is registered. > [@WaPo article above](#): > > The main impetus for this inquiry was the Forbes story, published earlier this week. It examined the Eric Trump Foundation’s tradition of holding fundraiser golf tournaments at Trump-owned courses. Although Eric Trump had asserted repeatedly that his father’s company allowed him to use the courses free, Forbes found evidence that the Eric Trump Foundation has actually paid the Trump Organization to use them. > > … > > Schneiderman’s office is already investigating the president’s own name-branded foundation, the Donald J. Trump Foundation. A series of stories in The Post last year revealed instances in which Trump had used his charity’s money to settle lawsuits involving his for-profit businesses or to buy portraits of himself. That investigation is ongoing, a spokeswoman for Schneiderman said Friday.