Mueller told Trumps attorneys president under investigation but is not currently a criminal target

[still_one]

Source: Washington Post



Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III informed President Trumps attorneys last month that he is continuing to investigate the president but does not consider him a criminal target at this point, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
In private negotiations in early March about a possible presidential interview, Mueller described Trump as a subject of his investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 election. Prosecutors view someone as a subject when that person has engaged in conduct that is under investigation but there is not sufficient evidence to bring charges.
The special counsel also told Trumps lawyers that he is preparing a report about the presidents actions while in office and potential obstruction of justice, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations.

Mueller reiterated the need to interview Trump both to understand whether he had any corrupt intent to thwart the Russia investigation and to complete this portion of his probe, the people said.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-told-trumps-attorneys-the-president-remains-under-investigation-but-is-not-currently-a-criminal-target/2018/04/03/d7832cf0-36c1-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html?utm_term=.c6ad50bdbf52

[MattP]

1. I don't believe it sounds like a Trump sided leak

They are twisting his words to get Trump out of testifying

[Iliyah]

2. Ditto

[iluvtennis]

5. + agree. this narrative reeks of what Trump has been espousing.

[sandensea]

3. ...at this point.

Mueller's not about to show his hand - not with shysters like Cheeto and his gang.

[getagrip_already]

10. he has to.....

It's justice policy. If someone is a target, you have to tell them they are under investrigation. Indictments are never a surprise.

That said, muehler doesn't have to tell him any more than he is under investigation, since that may be true "at this point".. Sometimes it helps to make it sound worse, sometimes better. Once they notify you, you are a very nervous person for good reason.

It may be his legal team trying to calm his nerves. Muehlers team wouldn't leak that. It had to come from someone on his staff or someone he told.

[sandensea]

17. Good.

Thank you for explaining that. Helped make sense of these news today.

I tell you though, if impeaching Cheeto means being stuck with Mikey Fetus Funeral, I'd rather keep the orange oaf on for the duration of his (one) term.

Politically, he seems to be a gift that keeps on giving (life's ironies).

[Wwcd]

29. Mueller & his team do not leak. This is from Trump's attorney.

I'll continue to wait.

[sandensea]

39. Absolutely.

Didn't mean to imply he did.

Besides any professional considerations, I'm glad Mueller's holding his cards that close to his vest.

I'd bet anything King Con has had his offices bugged though.

[mindfulNJ]

4. How long

before Cheetolini is tweeting that this exonerates him? 🙄

[still_one]

6. I suspect it will be his next tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

7. With Trump

there are no binding contracts. And all contracts are business contracts. Without a contract nothing happened. If there was a contract, you might not pay.

I don't think he understands collusion or conspiracy very well. You not only have to prove one or the other or both, you have to tie him to it, and the underlings may not deliver on that.

In the spook business there is the sort of slang term, 'agent without portfolio'. "The Agency will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck, Jim."

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

8. This stuff does not happen in a vacuum.

There are rules that have to be followed when a person is a subject or a target of an investigation (they are not the same thing). The prosecutor sends either a target or a subject letter to the person they want to testify. If Trump is a subject, it's probable that he got a letter that would likely have caused him to have an intestinal incident. If he's a target, he definitely got a scary letter from Mr. Mueller. Either way, Trump and his attorneys know he's being looked at. Mueller doesn't talk publicly. This has to be Trump trying to spin his way out before testifying.

From the US Attorney's handbook:

A "target" is a person as to whom the prosecutor or the grand jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defendant. An officer or employee of an organization which is a target is not automatically considered a target even if such officer's or employee's conduct contributed to the commission of the crime by the target organization. The same lack of automatic target status holds true for organizations which employ, or employed, an officer or employee who is a target.

A "subject" of an investigation is a person whose conduct is within the scope of the grand jury's investigation.

The Supreme Court declined to decide whether a grand jury witness must be warned of his or her Fifth Amendment privilege against compulsory self-incrimination before the witness's grand jury testimony can be used against the witness. See United States v. Washington, 431 U.S. 181, 186 and 190-191 (1977); United States v. Wong, 431 U.S. 174 (1977); United States v. Mandujano, 425 U.S. 564, 582 n. 7. (1976). InMandujano the Court took cognizance of the fact that Federal prosecutors customarily warn "targets" of their Fifth Amendment rights before grand jury questioning begins. Similarly, in Washington, the Court pointed to the fact that Fifth Amendment warnings were administered as negating "any possible compulsion to self-incrimination which might otherwise exist" in the grand jury setting. See Washington, at 188.

Notwithstanding the lack of a clear constitutional imperative, it is the policy of the Department that an "Advice of Rights" form be appended to all grand jury subpoenas to be served on any "target" or "subject" of an investigation. See advice of rights below.

In addition, these "warnings" should be given by the prosecutor on the record before the grand jury and the witness should be asked to affirm that the witness understands them.

Although the Court in Washington, supra, held that "targets" of the grand jury's investigation are entitled to no special warnings relative to their status as "potential defendant(s)," the Department of Justice continues its longstanding policy to advise witnesses who are known "targets" of the investigation that their conduct is being investigated for possible violation of Federal criminal law. This supplemental advice of status of the witness as a target should be repeated on the record when the target witness is advised of the matters discussed in the preceding paragraphs.

When a district court insists that the notice of rights not be appended to a grand jury subpoena, the advice of rights may be set forth in a separate letter and mailed to or handed to the witness when the subpoena is served.

Advice of Rights

The grand jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of Federal criminal laws involving: (State here the general subject matter of inquiry, e.g., conducting an illegal gambling business in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1955).

You may refuse to answer any question if a truthful answer to the question would tend to incriminate you.

Anything that you do say may be used against you by the grand jury or in a subsequent legal proceeding.

If you have retained counsel, the grand jury will permit you a reasonable opportunity to step outside the grand jury room to consult with counsel if you so desire.

Additional Advice to be Given to Targets: If the witness is a target, the above advice should also contain a supplemental warning that the witness's conduct is being investigated for possible violation of federal criminal law.

[Clarity2]

9. Mueller holding his cards close to chest

so he doesnt get shut down. Thats all. He’ll show his royal straight flush at the last minute.

[Wwcd]

31. Yup. He's not even blinking.

Trump's day is coming..

[ailsagirl]

11. "at this point"

Three important words

[dalton99a]

13. Yep.

[machoneman]

21. Yes! I wonder if Mueller told them this to lull them and Two Scoops into....

getting the OrangeTurd to actually sit for an interview?

[Kablooie]

12. The story says three people confirm this.

The big question is what three people?
Were they Trump lawyers and other who have sworn fealty to the Rump or people who are trying to be honest?

Since this is the Washington Post I would expect the reporters and their superiors believe the three people are not carrying water for the Rump so it's likely to be true.

This is last month and it says he is still under investigation so things could have changed or may change in the future.

It would be soul crushing if all these guys get sentenced while Rump remains free to continue destroying our nation without consequences.

[pbmus]

14. Right...

Link to tweet

[jaysunb]

15. Currently n/t

[Progressive2020]

16. Mueller Probe

I think that Mueller might be trying to mollify Trump a bit to induce his testimony. If Trump were told he was a criminal target, he might clam up. Mueller is being typically cautious and getting ducks in row. Mueller will not pull the trigger on calling Trump a criminal target until he (Mueller) has exhausted all avenues of investigation, including interviewing Trump directly.

[rockfordfile]

18. I'm skeptical of Mueller still at this time. Something's not right

Trump's is un-American and a criminal.

[SylviaD]

27. Youre fucking right he is!!

HAS HE GOTTEN TO MUELLER????

fuckfuckfuckfuckfucking fucking FUCK

[Loki Liesmith]

34. Simmer down

[SylviaD]

36. How long are we supposed to wait?

And now..hes not a criminal target?

What. the. fuck. Mueller

[shanny]

41. He's a subject of the investigation.

All he has to do is lie to investigators and he can be a target. Do you think it is likely he will do that? Especially if, as a consummate bullshit artist, he thinks he can get away with it and/or is too stupid to know he's done anything wrong? Especially if he is so stupid as to think that the phrase "not a target" = exoneration? We all know he is that stupid, and his lame ass lawyers that he doesn't listen to anyway are also that stupid.

Let Mueller get him on the record and under oath, he'll throw him an anchor....




glug

[GulfCoast66]

20. Are suggesting that Mueller violate policy?

Cause it seems you are suggesting that he is or should tell him he is not under investigation when in fact he is. That is not allowed

[Progressive2020]

24. No

Mueller has told Trump and his Lawyers that he (Trump) is under investigation but not a target of criminal investigation at this point. I think Trump will be a target of criminal investigation only if and when Mueller gets some iron-clad proof or strong evidence. I am saying that Mueller has not exhausted all paths of investigation, particularly interviewing Trump directly.

So, I am not suggesting that Mueller violate policy. I am suggesting that Mueller will not call this a criminal investigation of Trump unless Mueller has definitive evidence, which he apparently does not have at this point. It would be premature to call Trump a target of criminal investigation, and I expect Mueller will not do so unless and until all relevant evidence has been gathered and examined.

[elmac]

19. the twit will be on twitter all night

saying he's cleared!, he's cleared!
well, I doubt that any charges will ever be levied against him. A fascist state does provide protection for fellow fascists.

[GulfCoast66]

22. We are putting way to much faith in Mueller.

We all believe the Trump is a criminal. But that does not mean there is real evidence supporting that in front of the judge.

I have been concerned all along that this investigation has the potential to devastate the Democratic Party if it comes back that there is no evidence to support trump violating the law. I could see way too many Democratic voters losing hope.

Our only hope is the ballot box. To the extent that we focus on anything else we are harming our cause.

[Kablooie]

23. I agree that it's not certain it can be proved that Trump was conspiratorially involved.

I certainly think he was and I hope there is enough evidence to prove that but things might have been handled to insulate him from any direct involvement.

Just his reaction and constant proclamations of innocence should be enough to convict him but legally it will have to be more.

[Progressive2020]

25. Fair Point

Still, I think even if the Mueller Investigation does not ultimately bring Trump down, it erodes and undermines his Presidency. The investigation gives us leverage, which will hopefully boost Democratic chances in November 2018. This investigation is a cloud over Trumps head, whether it produces indictments or not.

[still_one]

32. Actually we have the issues on our side, and they are independent of the Mueller outcome

[Progressive2020]

37. True

We DO have the Issues on our side, but the Mueller Investigation just provides us with more ammunition in our fight against Trump and the Republicans.

Being right on the issues is the core of Democratic values, but it is also good to use whatever other political weapons that we can find. The Russia Investigation is just such a weapon.

[still_one]

30. You are right, they may not have the smoking gun to get trump for one reason or another, but

whether they have the evidence to indict trump or not isn't the key factor for the Democrats, or the country.

The fact is ever since the trump and the republicans have taken control, things are not going well for the country.

People are losing healthcare coverage, Civil Rights, workers rights, women's rights are all being threatened.

The people that have been chosen to lead the major departments from education to nuclear energy are least qualified people, and the mass exodus, either from resignations or firings only highlight that point.

Right now there is a looming potential for an out of control trade war, which poses an extreme danger to our economy, so much so that it could lead us into a major recession or worse.

There are many issues that the Democrats have, and none of them hinge on whether Mueller finds evidence that trump is guilty of anything or not.

[GulfCoast66]

38. I totally agree

Focus on the issues we win.

Focus on porn starts and Russia we lose

[SylviaD]

26. WHAT?

FUCKING WHAT????
WTF MUELLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shanny]

42. Former CIA guy on the teevee

just said that if some FBI agents walked in his office and told him he was the subject, not the target, of a years' long criminal investigation he would wet his pants. Even with a clean conscience.

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/04/id-wet-pants-ex-cia-officer-nails-significance-trumps-status-subject-muellers-probe/#.WsRKrLyZ9Uc.twitter

[Wwcd]

28. Sure. That means RICO will be handled by NYAG Schneiderman

Yippeeee!!

Who are those 3 sources anyway, are they leakers from Trump's attorney?

I thought all his attorneys quit.

I'm not buying it ..

[WhoWoodaKnew]

33. Calm down.

Damn

[Loki Liesmith]

35. This is not good news for Trump

Read the article people.

[burrowowl]

40. K&R