Special counsel Robert Mueller (L) arrives at the U.S. Capitol for closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 in Washington, DC.

A federal judge has extended by up to six months the authorization for the grand jury that special counsel Robert Mueller is using to conduct his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and other issues, including ones related to people in President Donald Trump's orbit.

That original 18-month authorization for the grand jury designated "17-1," which began sitting in July 2017, was set to expire Sunday.

"I can confirm that grand jury 17-1 has been extended, can continue to sit," said Lisa Klem, administrative assistant to Judge Beryl Howell, chief judge of U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

Under federal rules, a grand jury can serve no longer than 18 months unless the chief judge extends its service by a period of six months or less "upon determination that such extension is in the public interest."</s>A federal judge on Friday extended special counsel Robert Mueller’s grand jury for up to six months, the U.S. District Court in D.C. announced.

Mr. Mueller is using the 23-person federal grand jury to conduct his investigation into Russian interference and other matters, leading to the indictment of some of President Trump’s campaign officials.

The original 18-month authorization for the grand jury, which began in July 2017, was set to expire Sunday. Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the District Court in D.C. granted the extension.

Judge Howell does not sit in on the grand jury’s sessions.

Under federal rules, a grand jury cannot serve longer than 18 months unless the chief judge extends its service for another six months or less, if it is “in the public interest.”

The grand jury’s work is secret. They have been reviewing evidence and hearing testimony from witnesses. Their work has resulted in multiple criminal cases against people connected to Mr. Trump, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos. Mr. Trump’s first national security adviser Michael Flynn was also indicted by the grand jury.

More at The Washington Times</s>A federal judge reportedly has extended by six months the authorization for a grand jury that is being used by special counsel Robert Mueller to conduct his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and related issues.

CNN reported Friday that the Judge Beryl Howell, chief judge of U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. has allowed the grand jury to continue sitting until early July.

The term of the grand jury, which began reviewing evidence and taking testimony in July 2017, was set to expire Sunday, according to CNN.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment when contacted by CNBC.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.</s>A federal judge on Friday extended special counsel Robert Mueller’s grand jury for up to six months, the U.S. District Court in D.C. announced.

Mr. Mueller is using the 23-person federal grand jury to conduct his investigation into Russian interference and other matters, leading to the indictment of some of President Trump’s campaign officials.

The original 18-month authorization for the grand jury, which began in July 2017, was set to expire Sunday. Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the District Court in D.C. granted the extension.

Judge Howell does not sit in on the grand jury’s sessions.

Under federal rules, a grand jury cannot serve longer than 18 months unless the chief judge extends its service for another six months or less, if it is “in the public interest.”

The grand jury’s work is secret. They have been reviewing evidence and hearing testimony from witnesses. Their work has resulted in multiple criminal cases against people connected to Mr. Trump, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos. Mr. Trump’s first national security adviser Michael Flynn was also indicted by the grand jury.

All three have pleaded guilty.

The grand jury has also indicted 25 Russians and three companies for meddling in the 2016 election.

Mr. Trump has railed against the Mueller probe, dismissing it as a “witch hunt” and “hoax.” He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and so far, the special counsel has not indicted anyone connected to Mr. Trump with crimes related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.</s>The federal grand jury in Washington D.C. that is being used by the special counsel as part of the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 elections has been extended, a court spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.

Grand Jury 17-1, which is being used in the special counsel Robert Mueller's probe for prosecutions in D.C., began its work in the summer of 2017 and was set to expire in the coming days.

CNN first reported that the grand jury had been extended by Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the D.C. District Court.

Grand juries typically serve for 18 months, but the court may extend that term no more than six months if deemed to be public interest, according to the federal rules of criminal procedure.

The court spokesperson did not say how long grand jury 17-1 has been extended.</s>Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday extended a grand jury for six months as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The federal grand jury, which was empaneled in July 2017, was set to expire Saturday.

U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell's office confirmed the extension to The Washington Post and CNBC.

Federal grand juries cannot serve longer than 18 months unless authorized by a judge "upon determination that such extension is in the public interest," court rules indicate.

Howell did not say for how much longer the grand jury would be seated.

Since it began in the spring of 2017, Mueller's probe has cost taxpayers more than $25 million, the Department of Justice said Dec. 15. His team has indicted 36 people, including George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates and Michael Flynn, all of whom have pleaded guilty.

President Donald Trump, who has come under investigation for allegedly colluding with the Russian government, has called the probe a "witch hunt" on multiple occasions.</s>The chief federal judge in Washington has extended the term of the grand jury used by special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

That's according to a court spokeswoman who wasn't authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The extension by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is the latest sign that the Mueller probe will continue for at least the next several months.

The grand jury was impaneled in July 2017 for a standard 18-month term and was set to expire this week before Howell's extension. Federal criminal procedure rules allow such extensions when a judge determines it is in the public interest. The extension can only last up to six months.</s>WASHINGTON – A federal judge Friday extended the term of the grand jury that has weighed evidence in the Russia investigation headed by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell extended the panel's 18-month term that was set to expire in the coming days.

The panel, whose deliberations are secret, was seated for its regular term in July 2017.

It was not immediately clear whether the extension represented a perfunctory measure to keep the panel intact during what was expected to be the final stages of the inquiry or if the action signaled a more prolonged period of investigation.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the investigation, which he has described as a "witch hunt."

At the same time, former members of his inner circle – including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former personal attorney Michael Cohen and campaign chairman Paul Manafort – have been convicted of crimes ranging from lying to the FBI to financial fraud.</s>Special counsel Robert Mueller’s federal grand jury has been extended by six months.

The grand jury, based in Washington, DC, was seated for an 18-month term that began in July 2017 and was set to expire in the coming days.

Under federal rules, the court is able to extend a grand jury’s term for another six months if it is “in the public interest.”

Grand jury activity is secret, except following the 23-person group’s approval of criminal indictments.

Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the DC District Court, who oversees the Mueller grand jury, granted the extension. She does not sit in on its sessions.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — The chief federal judge in Washington has extended the term of the grand jury used by special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. That’s according to a court spokeswoman who wasn’t authorized to…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chief federal judge in Washington has extended the term of the grand jury used by special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

That’s according to a court spokeswoman who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The extension by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell is the latest sign that the Mueller probe will continue for at least the next several months.

The grand jury was impaneled in July 2017 for a standard 18-month term and was set to expire this week before Howell’s extension. Federal criminal procedure rules allow such extensions when a judge determines it is in the public interest. The extension can only last up to six months.

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Chief United States District Judge Beryl Howell extends grand jury "17-1" for up to six months; the original 18-month authorization was set to expire Sunday.