Where the investigations related to President Trump stand Where the investigations related to President Trump stand

Where investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him:

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush-money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund.

———

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW?

Cohen was granted a few more weeks of freedom Wednesday after his lawyers said he's still recovering from surgery and hasn't had time to get his affairs in order because he's preparing to testify before Congress.

U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III approved delaying the start of Cohen's three-year sentence until May 6. Cohen's lawyer said he was undergoing intensive post-surgery physical therapy and spending substantial time getting ready to testify.

Cohen, 52, was sentenced in December to three years in prison after pleading guilty to lying to the Senate intelligence committee and campaign finance violations.

Meanwhile, the House Oversight and Reform committee said Wednesday night that Cohen would testify publicly on Feb. 27. Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a memo that Cohen would be questioned about issues related to Trump's business practices, presidential campaign and embattled charitable foundation, including any payments relating to efforts to influence the 2016 election.

———

SO ... DID THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUDE WITH RUSSIA?

There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the communication.

There is evidence that some people in Trump's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential effort.

———

OTHER QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

—WHAT ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE? That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of Comey and Trump's fury over Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal.

—WHAT DOES TRUMP HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL THIS? Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and insisted there was "NO COLLUSION" with Russia. He also says his former lawyer Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence in New York.

—WHEN WILL IT ALL WRAP UP? It's unclear. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said late last month that the probe is "close to being completed," the first official sign that Mueller's investigation may be wrapping up. But he gave no specific timetable.

———

For more in-depth information, follow AP coverage at https://apnews.com/TrumpInvestigations