A former Justice Department spokesperson says that this week could show us how the special counsel’s investigation will be received and ultimately shape American politics in the weeks and months to come.

Matthew Miller, who worked for the Justice Department during the Obama administration, said that several expected updates are expected that could provide a road map for what comes ahead.

“It’s one of those moments when a number of threads are finally starting to merge together, which is to be expected because we do appear to be near the end,” Mr Miller told Politico.

Among the news we expect to come out this week will be former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s total prison sentence which will tie up the first of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s public legal fights.

We also expect former Trump campaign strategist Roger Stone’s trial date to be established. In addition, we expect further updates on Michael Flynn and Rick Gates, both of whom have been cooperating with Mr Mueller’s investigation.

Criminals who worked for Trump Show all 5 1 /5 Criminals who worked for Trump Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Cohen Former lawyer for Donald Trump was sentenced to three years in prison on counts involving evading income tax, false disclosure of the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels and another hush money charge Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Paul Manafort Former campaign manager for Trump Manafort was found guilty in February 2018 of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The crimes occurred prior to his appointment in Trump's campaign Getty Criminals who worked for Trump George Papadopoulos Former Trump campaign adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in October 2017. He had lied about making contact with a professor who claimed that the Russians had dirt on Hillary Clinton. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Michael Flynn Former White House National Security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in December 2017. He had lied about conversations that he had with the Russian ambassador to the US during Trump's Presidential campaign. He was not given prison time due to his "significant assistance" to the Mueller investigation Getty Criminals who worked for Trump Rick Gates Deputy chairman of Trump's presidential campaign Gates pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in February 2018 AFP/Getty

With the Mueller probe said to be winding down, these various updates could help us to understand how Mr Mueller plans on proceeding, and if any investigations will be handed off to other investigators across the US government like in the Souther District of New York.

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But the big question remains as to what Mr Mueller’s report — which will be released to the attorney general’s office — might contain. There are a few options, with a recommendation for charging Donald Trump being the obviously most damaging possibility should the special counsel investigation have found proof of crimes.