Mueller prosecutor leaves team in latest sign investigation is winding down

[demmiblue]

Source: CNN

(CNN)A criminal appellate prosecutor who was part of an ongoing subpoena fight related to the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference concluded his detail with the team in December, the special counsel's office has announced.

The announced departure of Scott Meisler comes amid growing indications the special counsel is winding down the investigation.

Of the 17 prosecutors who joined Mueller's team within the Justice Department since May 2017, Meisler is the fourth known to have to exited the office.

He is still working for the Justice Department and on cases related to Robert Mueller's investigation, according to Peter Carr, a spokesman for the unit run by Mueller. Other divisions of the Justice Department have taken on more responsibility in matters launched by Mueller.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/06/politics/robert-mueller-team-prosecutor/index.html

[Javaman]

1. or not. nt

[BritVic]

2. Don't think so.

[niyad]

3. keep saying it, one day, might even be true.

[Scruffy1]

4. I don't think the investigation will end for many years.

Every time they uncover a rock they find more. Mueller will just pass on the loose threads and wind his part down sooner or later but it has becpme so huge with a cast of many we will probably see it go on for several years. Our legal system works very slowly against those that have money, power and a lot of lawyers. I expect some convictions in te next year or so foll0owed by years of court delays, appeals ad nausium and all the delaying tactics possible. That is why guilty pleas are the ticket. I can imagine if Stone cops a plea there will be many years worth of crimes, including bribes, to deal with. I just don't think the Mueller report is anything but a start.

[former9thward]

8. There are statute of limitations on most crimes.

Investigations can't go on for "many years" because charges could not be brought because of time limits to prosecute.

[Calista241]

9. Nah, prosecutors know their activities impede the functioning of the government

the people he's investigating, and their lawyers, spend hours every day working on the investigation as opposed to other business the US government needs to conduct.

My prediction, and I hope it isn't so, is that Mueller's report basically calls Trump an asshole, but says that he committed no provable crimes related to Russia's election interference.

Mueller's conclusion of the special counsel's investigation doesn't preempt or end the investigations by SDNY or other offices.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "prosecutor ...concluded his detail" does not mean "special counsel is winding down"

For regular civil service government employees, there are usually time limitations associated with "details", and about the most that they normally go without some kind of other type of personnel action coming into play (like a "reassignment" ), is about 120 days, with a couple 120-day extensions, and that's it.

So based on 3, "120-day" (in quotes) detail periods ("360 days" total), with about 240 "working week days" in a year (20 per month on average x 12), that gives you about 16 months of max detail time. And obviously these folks are working weekends, etc, but I think they go by time range, i.e., from a start date to an end date, vs. actual number of days working.

[cstanleytech]

6. Some people leaving is not an indictication its close to wrapping up rather it could simply be

that the person or persons leaving are either done or they have gotten a better job offer.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Did not some of these folks

move over to House investigative Committees?

[BigmanPigman]

10. The 4th out of 17 to leave so far...

it doesn't look that it is wrapping up or even slowing down much to me.

[onetexan]

13. agree, if 10 are leaving i'd be more inclined to think the investigation is winding down

obviously not the case here

[Izzy Blue]

11. Many on Mueller's team specialize in areas of law or forenics

Politics
October 3, 2017 / 5:22 PM

Justice Department appeals lawyer on Mueller Russia probe
Karen Freifeld

3 Min Read

"NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. Justice Department appeals lawyer is on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team probing interference in the 2016 presidential election, Reuters has learned.

Scott Meisler, an appellate attorney with the Justice Department’s criminal division, is one of 16 lawyers who have signed on to the probe and one of only two who have not been previously identified."


snip:

"Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, said Meisler joined the team in mid-June. "

more
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-lawyer/justice-department-appeals-lawyer-on-mueller-russia-probe-idUSKCN1C82PY

[GeorgeGist]

12. Snort.

[helpisontheway]

14. That acting AG probably cut the funds for the investigation. Nt