The forced resignation of Jeff Sessions has raised questions about the future of the investigation under the acting attorney general

The forced resignation of Jeff Sessions as US attorney general has raised questions about the future of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

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Sessions had recused himself from overseeing the investigation and that role had devolved upon the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein. However, now that Sessions is gone, his acting replacement Matt Whitaker will oversee the investigation. So what could happen to the investigation now?

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Could the investigation be shut down?

It could, but this would spark a constitutional crisis and is unlikely to happen. Even though Whitaker has long been skeptical of the investigation, he has never called for it to be shut down. Further, such a dramatic action would probably inflame not just Democrats but many congressional Republicans as well. Donald Trump himself seems to be aware of the consequences, saying at a press conference on Wednesday: “I don’t want to stop it because politically I don’t want to stop it.”

Could the investigation be limited?

Whitaker has, however, argued for limitations on the investigation. In an August 2017 op-ed for CNN, he argued that the scope should be narrowed only to direct interactions between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia, and not include anything pertaining to Trump’s business interests or finances.

He has also speculated about Mueller’s budget being cut to the point “that his investigation grinds to almost a halt”.

These comments have led Democrats – who this week took a majority in he House of Representatives following the midterm elections – to call on Whitaker to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation.

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It is unclear what type of uproar any attempt to limit the investigation would cause in the short term. However, it would be an immediate priority for Democratic investigations when they officially take control of the House in January.

Once that happens, a Democratic majority could use subpoena power not only to pursue any avenues of investigation that are limited by Whitaker, but to probe why he took such steps.

Could nothing change?

It’s also possible that Whitaker does nothing to limit the Mueller investigation. At this point, the investigation has lasted nearly a year and a half. Trump has not interfered with it yet, despite repeatedly labelling it a “hoax” and a “witch-hunt”.

It has swept up a number of people in Trump’s orbit, securing multiple indictments, but there have yet to be any public indications that Mueller has found evidence of direct collusion between Trump himself and Russia.

Further, CNN is reporting that Mueller’s team has begun to write its final report, a sign that the investigation may end soon anyway.