USA - Russia Investigation: Robert Mueller’s Office Will Serve First Indictment Monday - by K,DILANIAN, P.HELSEL and P.MCCAUSLAND

A federal grand jury in Washington has approved the first criminal charges in the special counsel’s investigation into Russian election interference, two sources told NBC News, marking a significant milestone in an inquiry that has roiled Donald Trump’s presidency.

Robert Mueller's Office of the Special Counsel will make public an indictment on Monday, a U.S. official with firsthand knowledge of the process confirmed to NBC News, without disclosing the name of the target or the nature of the charges. The timing was confirmed by a second source familiar with the matter. CNN was the first to report on Friday that the grand jury approved charges, citing multiple sources.

The network added that the charges remain sealed by order of a federal judge. Peter Carr, a spokesperson for Mueller, declined to comment Friday night.

Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed in May as special counsel to oversee the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the election. Former FBI Director James Comey testified to Congress that the FBI began investigating the matter in July 2016, but the investigation picked up steam after Trump took office in January.

Read more:Robert Mueller’s Office Will Serve First Indictment Monday, Sources Confirm