US court refuses to dismiss the case against company owned by Putin's associate
On Monday, the District Court of Columbia (DC) refused to dismiss the case against the Russian company Concord Management and Consulting, which is accused of financing a propaganda operation designed to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. The court considered that the special prosecutor Robert Muller did not exceed his power. Concord Management and Consulting petitioned for the closure of the case, insisting that the special prosecutor Müller was appointed unlawfully.
"Initiating and investigating Concord lawsuit, the special prosecutor did not overreach his authority," reads Judge Dabney Friedrich's ruling.
She also rejected the company's argument that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, after the self-removal of the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, took over control of the "Russian investigation" and by appointing Mueller to this case violated the constitutional provision on such appointments. Friedrich decided that based on the judgments of the Supreme Court and the district courts, Rosenstein had the right to appoint Mueller.
According to the prosecution, Concord is under the control of Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is said to be closely associated with Putin and other representatives of the Russian military and political establishment.
This company, along with 2 other legal entities and 13 Russian citizens, was charged with espionage and attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 election in support of Trump's victory.
Russia denies any interference in the elections. Trump also insists that there was no agreement between Moscow and his campaign headquarters, calling Mueller's investigation a "witch-hunt."