Subpoena question

[garybeck]

Isn't a subpoena normally used to question a witness about an investigation into someone else?

In other words, if Grump is given a subpoena to testify before a grand jury, that would normally not be because HE is a target or facing charges. It would be concerning someone else's charges or pending indictment.

If he himself was facing possible charges, then they typically would be issuing subpoenas to other people in his circle, not directly to him, correct?

The grand jury normally questions witnesses, not targets. Right?

[beachbum bob]

1. He can become a target after appearing before a grand jury...

Presently mueller is most likely seeking info from trump concerning actions of others around him and when he knew certain events happened.

[garybeck]

3. right,....

so we should not assume that just because he gets a subpoena that he has become a target and that the questioning will be all about his role and what he knew when. the main purpose could be about investigations into other people who are official targets.

of course, if something arises in the testimony, or if he lies to the grand jury, that would open up some new doors, possibly leading to his becoming a target.

but for now, a subpoena does not imply his status has changed and he is not a target.

[DetlefK]

2. AFAIK a grand jury determines whether there's reasonable case for an investigation.

So, it questions witnesses, not targets.

However, the grand jury could ask Trump about all sorts of issues that do not relate to him as a person:
Manafort working for Russians,
Flynn meeting Russians,
Sessions meeting Russians,
Kushner meeting Russians,
Don Jr. meeting Russians,
Carter Page meeting Russians,
Papadopoulos meeting Russians,
Roger Stone meeting Assange,
Roger Stone contacting Guccifer 2.0,
Wikileaks contacting Don Jr. ...

Trump's choice would be to either start talking about those people or to plead the Fifth.