Special Counsel Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe

[MelissaB]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Expansion beyond Flynn grand jury is a sign the investigation in election meddling is ramping up


By Del Quentin Wilber and
Byron Tau
Aug. 3, 2017 3:24 p.m. ET

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The grand jury, which began its work in recent weeks, is a sign that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry is ramping up and that it will likely continue for months. Mr. Mueller is investigating Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether President Donald Trump’s campaign or associates colluded with the Kremlin as part of that effort.

A spokesman for Mr. Mueller, Joshua Stueve, declined to comment. Moscow has denied seeking to influence the election, and Mr. Trump has vigorously disputed allegations of collusion. The president has called Mr. Mueller’s inquiry a “witch hunt.”

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said he wasn’t aware that Mr. Mueller had started using a new grand jury. “Grand jury matters are typically secret,” Mr. Cobb said. “The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly.…The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller.”

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-impanels-washington-grand-jury-in-russia-probe-1501788287?mod=e2tw

[Laf.La.Dem.]

1. Good!!!

[brush]

22. This must be why the big W Va. Gov switcheroo anouncement at the trump rally tonight

The one thing trump is good at is distraction.

Mueller will go on with his grand jury though, orange one.

[MelissaB]

2. Important quote:

“This doesn’t mean he is going to bring charges,” Mr. Zeno cautioned. “But it shows he is very serious. He wouldn’t do this if it were winding down.”

[Honeycombe8]

4. Isn't a grand jury typically impaneled at the END of an investigation?

The GJ hears the evidence and makes a finding. That means the investigation on that point is almost done, or done. ??

[marylandblue]

15. I think he needs a grand jury to issue subpoenas

And in a complex case like this, presenting evidence can take months.

[Honeycombe8]

20. Oh, I see. I didn't know a GJ had to issue subpoenas. That is DURING an investigation...

then. That makes sense.

I've only ever heard of Grand Juries hearing evidence & testimony & then deciding whether the evidence is sufficient for people to be indicted. That GJ hearing is at the end of an investigation.

[wishstar]

26. Grand Jury/Prosecutors hear witnesses giving sworn testimony without their lawyers present

This means all of Trump's people will be required to testify and can't decline to appear to give testimony under oath

[Honeycombe8]

42. That's at the conclusion of an investigation. When the prosecutor has all his ducks in a row,

and has the evidence filed and stamped and ready...so that each witness can be questioned on the pertinent evidence.

But what another poster is saying that hte GJ is being impaneled for the purpose of issuing subpoenas, which would possibly be done during an investigation, it seems?

Could be the investigation is not that far along, but is on one issue only. There are other issues.

Mueller just hired someone new, which he wouldn't have done if he were ready to go to the GJ on everything.

[procon]

31. Also, GJ aren't limited to one, Mueller could have several more on deck. nt

[Matthew28]

3. Good,

Trumps a crook and a snake. He must be covered up to his eyes in criminal activity.

[Honeycombe8]

5. Wow. This is a total surprise! I thought he was just getting into the investigation.

He just hired someone new. ???

[MelissaB]

10. Some twitter peeps keep saying they are further along than most believe.

I guess that's true. This surprised me.

[leftynyc]

13. I think Comey had the groundwork

all laid out before the schmuck fired him.

[Honeycombe8]

21. I bet Trump is apoplectic after hearing this. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. Mueller is weaving many investigations, actually.

Trump was/is involved a lot of different things.
You might remember that there are/were a lot of different USA agencies that were looking into different
issues about Trump, like Treasury Dept. Some of those investigations were turned over to Mueller, so he could see the big picture.
More info has come from foreign countries who had surveillance going on .

A lot of players willing to join together, on a global scale, that should make him feel special.

[Honeycombe8]

44. Wow. This is exciting...that the investigation is making headway this quickly. nt

[Gothmog]

6. This is a good step in the right direction

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

Good.

[SpankMe]

8. Oh, please...please...please...let there be something big! n/t

[hamsterjill]

35. +1000

Oh, please!!!!

[Leghorn21]

9. Ohohohohohhooooooo that me singin y'all ooohhohohohoooohhhhohohooohohohoooh eohm

[jpak]

11. Cheeto Fineeto!

[Calista241]

12. It's not Trump he's after with the grand jury.

Trump can't be prosecuted until he's out of office. He's after someone else, and Mueller better hope all those jurers keep quiet lest Trump exercise the power of the Presidential Pardon.

[leftynyc]

14. The jurors can't speak but

any witness he calls to testify can.

[marylandblue]

17. Not true that Trump can't be prosecuted

Legal scholars are divided and no court has ever ruled on the issue. If I were Mueller and I had the evidence, I would indict Trump and let the courts decide.

[politicat]

18. That may not be as iron-clad as previously assumed.

Thanks to Ken Starr, there's a DOJ memo that makes the case that an indictment of a sitting president is possible. Of course, that attempt itself will put a lot of lawyers to work.

This is clearly a jobs program -- full employment for all the lawyers. (In fact, there's been an excess supply of lawyers since 2009-10ish.)

[PubliusEnigma]

25. So, this is bad news then, right? Ha!!

[mackdaddy]

46. The grand jury findings could be used as the basis of Impeachment charges.

Impeachment is just another kind of indictment, and if the charges are solid enough even the Republicans in congress would have to do something.

[politicat]

16. Legal minds: Do the same standards of prior knowledge apply to grand juries?

I know that I'm unlikely to ever be impaneled on a regular jury because I'm a scientist with direct experience and research into memory and behavior, therefore I bring knowledge into the jury box beyond what is presented. I know several people who have been client, prisoner and patient advocates who don't make it onto juries for similar reasons. And people who follow the papers closely (or true crime afficianados) are also often excused/excluded.

Given the profile of this matter, if that's the standard, impaneling the GJ could be difficult. Is there a different standard for GJs in this district?

[mobeau69]

27. How Are Grand Juries Chosen? From Legal Beagle:

THE GRAND JURY POOL
The pool of potential grand jurors includes all persons living in the community under the court's jurisdiction. The court randomly chooses grand juror candidates from among this pool. The clerk of courts identifies candidates from public records such as registered voters and licensed drivers.

ELIGIBILITY
U.S. law requires that everyone selected for federal grand jury duty be U.S. citizens over the age of 18, and having lived within the court's judicial district for at least one year. Jurors must be sufficiently fluent in the English language to complete the court's selection questionnaire and have no pending felony charges or felony convictions on their records. They also must have no physical or mental disabilities making them unable to serve.

SELECTION
To determine the eligibility of prospective jurors, the clerk of the court sends each a mandatory questionnaire to complete and return. The court then randomly selects grand jurors from among the candidates eligible to serve according to their questionnaire answers. Each selected juror receives a summons to appear for jury duty at the courthouse on the scheduled date and time.

EXEMPTIONS
Selected jurors may request an exemption from serving on the grand jury under certain conditions. Courts generally excuse jurors in public safely professions (such as police or nurses), and those over a certain age if they request it. Additionally, courts may excuse others from duty if their service would create an "undue hardship or extreme inconvenience." This includes someone who is the sole caregiver for a disabled family member, someone without the means to reach the courthouse, or someone scheduled for surgery in the immediate future.

TERMS OF SERVICE
Grand jurors generally must serve one or two days each week for anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on the type of grand jury--county, state or federal. Fortunately for those chosen, citizens need not serve on more than one grand jury, or serve as both a grand and petit juror, within any two-year period.

[politicat]

34. That, I knew. That's the criteria for jury qualification, which is universal.

But in a regular jury, both prosecutor and defense have the right to object to specific jurors, either for cause (a juror who is a close relative of an unrelated murder victim is unlikely to be able to be impartial in a murder case) or peremptory (the attorney is not required to state a cause.) Both sides get a number of peremptories in most jury cases.

A grand jury, however, does not have a defense, and given the secrecy in which GJs work, it would be a breach of security to ask questions before impaneling.

So thanks, but that's not the question I was asking.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. K&R

Just heard on the radio.

[mobeau69]

23. Good. Things are moving along.

[Achilleaze]

24. Indict & prosecute all republican TreasonWeasels

who have sold out America to freaking russia.

[George II]

28. GJ subpoenas have now been issued with respect to the "adoption" meeting!

[Skittles]

29. so sick of the word MEDDLING

it is so much more serious than that

[Pachamama]

32. Definitely much more

Even "conspiring to subvert an election" is probably more accurate than the word "meddling".

But I think the crimes associated include, money laundering, sharing classified information, and much more

[adigal]

30. My prediction- Trump resigns in August, with pardons for all

Then Pence pardons him.
He will forget, as usual, about NY's Atty General who is also on the hunt, and Pence can't pardon state crimes.
With his corrupt business history, Trump should NEVER HAVE run for any office, even dogcatcher.

[procon]

33. Looks like Trump won't have to stay in that "dump" for much longer. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

36. There is that word "FAIRLY" again

He's going to dispute anything where he doesn't WIN!

Just like the election.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

37. Get'n the show on the road! n/t

[Cadfael]

38. I wonder when the twitterstorm is gonna start....

Please please make more statements that can be investigated! Open mouth, insert foot, kiss butt goodbye.....we dare you!

[L. Coyote]

39. "possible financial crimes, some unconnected to the 2016 elections" Second Grand Jury too!!

As the scope changes and more people are targets, more grand juries may be convened. This is a complicated investigation, expect more of them.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[nycbos]

40. His lawyer's name is really Ty Cobb?

[mopinko]

45. a descendant.

[workinclasszero]

41. I bet the Russian turncoat-in-charge

is sweating this out right about now.