Speculation in Washington amid reports of possible first indictment for election probe

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Speculation in Washington amid reports of possible first indictment for election probeOct. 23, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Trump is unleashing new criticism of the probes into possible ties between his campaign associates and Russia. Trump, in a series of tweets, is making reference to what he calls “phony Trump/Russia ‘collusion,’ which doesn’t exist.” He says Democrats are using a “witch hunt” for “evil politics.” (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

A shadow settles over the White House amid reports of a first indictment from an election probe. It’s an investigation that U.S. President Donald Trump calls a ‘witch hunt.’ He denies accusations that his campaign staff colluded with Russians.

CGTN’s Toby Muse reports from Washington.

It’s being widely reported that a federal grand jury approved the first charges in an investigation into possible collusion between the election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia.

An arrest could come as early as Monday, according to CNN, citing people close to the investigation. We don’t know who has been charged or even what the charges are.

This is likely to increase the pressure on the Trump administration as it battles charges it received Russian aid in winning last year’s presidential election.

“I think anybody who’s been advised by the special counsel’s office that they’re a target of the investigation — which I’m sure he has done to those people who are — should be concerned,” warned Christ Christie, the Republican Governor of New Jersey, while on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who at one time was the former director of the FBI, oversees a sprawling investigation. The probe looks into the possible hacking of the Democratic National Committee and email leaks as well as meetings between the Trump campaign and various Russian figures who may be connected to the Kremlin.

President Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to once again deny any help from Russia. Mueller, who was appointed as special counsel in May, is also examining possible obstruction of justice by President Trump following his dismissal of the former director of the FBI, James Comey.

Washington is abuzz with who could be arrested and to what end. The investigation has been looking into alleged lobbying for foreign governments by Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and the former head of the Trump campaign, Paul Manafort. FBI agents raided Manafort’s home earlier this year, taking documents and computers.

“Two people, who it could be, are Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, but we have no idea and haven’t been told,” said Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on ABC’s “This Week.”

The President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is also under scrutiny as well as other lesser known figures, including Michael Flynn’s son. The higher the profile of the person indicted, the more it will shake Washington.