We have heard reporters who claim to have absolute reliable sources tell us that Mueller is wrapping up his investigation and putting the final touches on his “report” which will be completed in February or March. We have also heard “Acting” AG Whitaker say, in response to a reporter’s question, that he expects the Mueller investigation to be done “soon”, in a stuttering stammering voice that sounded like he really doesn’t know what’s going on and was just spouting off nonsense to make his boss (Trump) happy.
But there are several facts on the ground which dispute the theory that the end is near for the Mueller investigation. In fact, everyday we learn more and more through court filings and other events which suggest that the Mueller investigation is far from over. Here are just some of these facts:
1. Stone’s Raid — In a joint Court filing yesterday by Mueller and Stone’s attorneys, the Parties have agreed to wave Stone’s right to a “speedy” trial which would have limited the time for Discovery (sharing of evidence) to 70 days. As per the filing, more time is needed for Mueller to go through the documents and tera-bites of digital information (rooms of paper if printed) seized from the raids on Stone’s two homes and studio. Mueller’s team has to go through all this information, decide what he wants to use as evidence in Stone’s trial and then hand this evidence over to Stone’s defense team to also review before trial. Mueller is also likely to go through this mountain of digital information to see if any of it supports bringing additional charges against Stone in a “Superseding Indictment”, or whether it supports indicting others. Because of this large haul of digital documents from the Stone raids (which for some reason Stone held onto out of arrogance or because he was stupid enough to believe that the FBI couldn’t break his encryption codes) the parties have agreed to an unlimited time for Discovery which will likely stretch well beyond the standard 70 days. Also, this information could open doors for additional investigations and indictments which could prolong the Mueller investigation.
2. Congressional Transcripts — Republican Leadership in the House finally got around to naming the members of their caucus who will sit on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. That means Chairman Adam Schiff can finally get the Committee’s Trump/Russia investigation underway. And the Committee’s first order of business next week will be to hand over to Robert Mueller around 50 official transcripts of witness testimony from last years Committee Hearings that Mueller has requested (some reports say Mueller already has some/all of these transcripts in un-official form). Mueller will then likely have to decide who, if anyone, should be indicted for lying to Congress, as he has done with Cohen and Stone, and then see if any of these folks want to flip. This can’t all be done in a few weeks.
3. Mueller’s “Secret” Subpoena Case — Back last August a Mueller Grand Jury issued a subpoena for documents to an unknown corporation (Corporation A) owned by and unknown Foreign Country. Since Corporation A is fighting the subpoena, the case has wound its way through the Federal Courts in total secrecy and at an amazing speed, and is now before SCOTUS. In addition, the Federal Appeals Court imposed a fine on Corporation A of $50,000 a day for not complying with the subpoena which SCOTUS upheld, meaning they have to pay it even though the merits of the case is still being decided by SCOTUS (suggesting they are going to lose). Also, yesterday we learned from Court documents that Corporation A is still not paying its daily fine, and that the Court has given permission to Mueller and the FBI to seize the corporations US assets to cover the fine.
There is no way to estimate how long this will go on. But one thing is for sure, Mueller REALLY wants these documents and the Corporation is REALLY going to great lengths to prevent him from getting them. This suggests there is something REALLY IMPORTANT to the Trump/Russia investigation that Mueller knows or suspects is contained within these documents. Where this leads is anyone’s guess. But if SCOTUS upholds the decisions of the lower Courts, Mueller will either get these documents or we will be in a Mega-International legal dispute. If Mueller does eventually get these documents, it will likely take months to go through them, find evidence and follow it to wherever it leads.
4. Butina, NRA & Russia Investigation — This investigation is about Russia (allegedly) funneling large amounts of money to the NRA and the NRA subsequently illegally donating that foreign money to the Trump Campaign. It also involves a Russian women, Maria Butina, acting as a connection between Russia and the NRA who is in a US jail and is a cooperating with the DoJ in this investigation. This investigation seems to still be in its early stages. While I believe it is being handled by a District office of the DoJ, it could end up being a part of Mueller’s investigation if evidence suggests the NRA acted as a conduit for illegal donations to the Trump campaign by Russians, again lengthening Mueller’s investigation.
5. Trump’s Ongoing Suspicious Putin Relationship — Everyday we learn of new events which suspiciously look like Trump providing Putin with the “Quo” part of their suspected “Quid Pro Quo” election deal. From the lifting of sanctions on Russian Oligarch (Putin Best Bud) Olig Deripaska, to Trump’s announced pull out of troops from Syria leaving it to the Russians, to Trump’s inaction against Russia for poisoning people in the UK, to Trump’s inaction against Russia for seizing Ukrainian ships, to Trump’s inaction against Russia for interfering in our elections, etc. Not to mention all those suspicious secret meetings between Trump and Putin which no one in the US government except for Trump knows what was being discussed. Its not certain if Mueller is looking into each new facet of Trump’s behavior towards Russia, but such suspicious activity seems like it would be within his DoJ mandate. If he is, Mueller has to seriously ask himself, where do I draw the line with these continuing Trump/Putin suspicious interactions so I can end my investigation.
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So if anyone tells you the Mueller investigation will be over in a few weeks, DON’T BELIEVE THEM! The truth is nobody except Mueller and his team know when they will be wrapping up. Although the facts above suggest there is a lot more work to be done, I can’t rule out the possibility that Mueller won’t send the AG some sort of “Interim Report” just to give Congress something to chew on, and to give them enough time to conduct an Impeachment process (if warranted) before the November 2020 elections.
Here’s a poll if you want to take a guess when Mueller will be finished.
Friday, Feb 1, 2019 · 4:35:52 PM +00:00
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Doctor Who
UPDATE #2: The REC LIST AGAIN!
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