'Sleeper' case could torpedo Mueller report

[Raphe M]

By JOSH GERSTEIN, Politico, 08/27/2018 05:06 AM EDT

A little-noticed court case stemming from the apparent murder of a Columbia University professor six decades ago could keep special counsel Robert Mueller from publishing any information about the Trump campaign and Russia that he obtains through a Washington grand jury.

The substance of the case is entirely unrelated to Mueller’s investigation into whether any of President Donald Trump’s associates aided Russia’s efforts to intervene in the 2016 election.

But if a Washington appeals court set to hear the murder-related case next month sides with the Justice Department and rules that judges don’t have the freedom to release grand jury information that is usually kept secret, it could throw a monkey wrench into any plans Mueller has to issue a public report on his probe’s findings, lawyers following the issue said.

And it might even keep the special counsel from sending a report to Congress, shaking Democrats’ hopes that such a document could provide the impetus for impeachment proceedings against the president.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/27/robert-mueller-special-counsel-report-sleeper-case-797373

Whenever I'm feeling optimistic that this country might be going in the right direction, I can always count on Politico to pour the bucket of cold water on my head.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Interesting. Mueller can use Talking Indictments like he has. States can indict too. . . . nt

[SHRED]

2. Kicked for visibility

I personally think a report will happen even if leaked.

[KCDebbie]

3. Let's hope a "LEAK" won't be necessary...

[lagomorph777]

5. Even the absence of a report would be a massive problem for the GOP.

Everybody will (rightly) assume it contains truly horrific information about the Russiapublican party.

[MBS]

4. "Whenever I'm feeling optimistic that this country might be going in the right direction. . "

". . . I can always count on Politico to pour the bucket of cold water on my head. "
I share your pain. So utterly, depressingly true.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Malcolm Nance told Bill Maher that

If Mueller's report is buried by the GOP there are tons of copies and a palette would land at the door of the NYTimes. It has been backed up with tech and with a lot of professionals who know what they are facing and have taken precautions.

[mikehiggins]

7. Bigly clickbait

If this happens (which it hasn't) then the Republic is DOOMED! Doomed I say.

Of course if this "question" is being considered by an "appeals court" that implies that some judge, some where, decided that the answer to that one comes down to "the Judge can release Grand Jury testimony". It is apparently the Trump/Sessions Justice department that is appealing. Good luck with that.

No matter the Appeals Court decision, thinking there could be an effect on the Russia investigation is such a reach as to make an NBA star jealous. Pot stirring deserving of a C- grade.

[red dog 1]

8. Here's the part that worries me

(From the OP)

"The three-judge panel announced by the court last week leans Republican, which is unusual since most of the D.C. Circuit's active judges are Democrats.
In addition, the panel will include the appeals court's only Trump appointee, Judge Greg Katsas"

I have no doubt that Judge Katsas will side with the Justice Department on this one.
[I hope I'm wrong]

[Demonaut]

9. cool story bro

[elleng]

10. Analogy between a regular Grand Jury and Mueller report is a stretch, imo.