General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWith all this testimony going on, are any of witness's allowed to discuss anything
i'm sure NO but how do we know???
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)And even if the prosecutor didn't ask, their attorneys would tell them to say nothing. Still, I'm convinced that when we get leaks from "sources familiar with the investigation," some of those sources are witnesses or their attorneys.
Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)I believe that pretty much everyone in the room in a federal grand jury hearing is sworn to secrecy except for the witnesses. (This is controlled by rule 6e under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.)* However, a prosecutor could take a witness before a judge to have him/her sworn to secrecy regarding their testimony. That might also be part of any plea deal arrangement: I assume that Papadopolus character had to agree to keep his testimony under wraps prior to sentencing.
State courts vary on whether or not secrecy is automatically required of GJ witnesses.
*Here's the chapter and verse on rule 6(e)(2)(B):
(A) No obligation of secrecy may be imposed on any person except in accordance with Rule 6(e)(2)(B).
(B) Unless these rules provide otherwise, the following persons must not disclose a matter occurring before the grand jury:
(i) a grand juror;
(ii) an interpreter;
(iii) a court reporter;
(iv) an operator of a recording device;
(v) a person who transcribes recorded testimony;
(vi) an attorney for the government; or
(vii) a person to whom disclosure is made under Rule 6(e)(3)(A)(ii) or (iii).
....