Donald Trump Jr and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort have reached a deal with the Senate Judiciary Committee to avoid facing a public testimony.

The pair were both due to testify before the committee next week but they have since reached an agreement to testify privately after handing over a series of documents.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in a statement said: "Both Donald Trump, Jr. and Paul Manafort, through their attorneys, have agreed to negotiate to provide the committee with documents and be interviewed by committee members and staff prior to a public hearing.

"We will not issue subpoenas for them tonight requiring their presence at Wednesday's hearing but reserve the right to do so in the future."

This means that should either of the two stop co-operating then they could still be subpoenaed.

The Department of Justice, now guided by a special counsel in the shape of former FBI director Robert Mueller, is looking into the ties between the Trump campaign and Russia and any possible cover-up.

Meanwhile, there are numerous committees on Capitol Hill that have been looking into possible Russian influences on the election.

This includes the Senate Intelligence Committee who, under their purview, have taken part in both open and closed testimonial from James Comey, the former boss of the FBI.

Two other congressional groups, the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, are looking into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as the firing of Comey.

Despite the departure of Comey, who believes he was fired because of the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, the bureau is continuing due process.

The emails that Donald Trump Jr released, which detail his meeting with a Russian lawyer, are the latest twist that investigating committees are keen to delve into.