The Briefing Room

General Category => Trump Legal Investigations => Topic started by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 05:37:22 pm

Title: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 05:37:22 pm

Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”


by Ryan Goodman

October 29, 2017

Quote
Imagine if Special Counsel Robert Mueller finds sufficient evidence to charge President Donald Trump, but his hands are tied because he or the Department of Justice concludes that they cannot indict a sitting President? Could Mueller instead identify President Trump by name as an “unindicted coconspirator” when bringing charges against other individuals? The stakes are enormously high. Such action would have some of the same reverberations across the country as a criminal indictment of the President.

A facile answer would rely simply on the fact that the Special Prosecutor in Watergate did just that. The Watergate grand jury named President Richard M. Nixon as an unindicted coconspirator when it issued indictments of others.

Since Watergate, however, the Department of Justice has developed guidance for criminal prosecutions that places a presumption against naming individuals as unindicted coconspirators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Manual states:

More at:  https://www.justsecurity.org/46415/mueller-authority-president-trump-unindicted-coconspirator/ (https://www.justsecurity.org/46415/mueller-authority-president-trump-unindicted-coconspirator/)

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This is an old story, but the DoJ says "No more indictments."  I'd bet a dollar Mueller will name Trump as an "undicted co-conspirator to keep the trope alive.  Meanwhile, this story suggests there are reasons not to do that.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: RetBobbyMI on March 23, 2019, 06:05:38 pm
Can’t have a coconspirator, without another conspirator, which Mueller didn’t have.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 06:11:14 pm
Can’t have a coconspirator, without another conspirator, which Mueller didn’t have.

He could name two unindicted co-conspirators.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: RetBobbyMI on March 23, 2019, 06:15:12 pm
He could name two unindicted co-conspirators.
He could, but then he’s blowing wind because he has no indictments and no prosecution of anything even remotely related to a conspiracy.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 06:23:24 pm
He could, but then he’s blowing wind because he has no indictments and no prosecution of anything even remotely related to a conspiracy.

I agree with you on every point, but I don't think Mueller is a moral individual, and would throw out an accusation like that as a sop to the Rats to keep Congressional hearings alive (and justify his squandering of $40 Million).

The story I posted suggests the DoJ doesn't like to do that because the defendant never gets a day in court or an opportunity to face evidence.  It's like saying, "I can't prove it, but I think you are still beating your wife."
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: RetBobbyMI on March 23, 2019, 07:26:22 pm
I agree with you on every point, but I don't think Mueller is a moral individual, and would throw out an accusation like that as a sop to the Rats to keep Congressional hearings alive (and justify his squandering of $40 Million).

The story I posted suggests the DoJ doesn't like to do that because the defendant never gets a day in court or an opportunity to face evidence.  It's like saying, "I can't prove it, but I think you are still beating your wife."
Wouldn’t put it past them.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: mountaineer on March 23, 2019, 07:37:46 pm
Can’t have a coconspirator, without another conspirator, which Mueller didn’t have.
The conspirators need to have conspired to commit a crime. What would that crime be?
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 08:56:51 pm
The conspirators need to have conspired to commit a crime. What would that crime be?

Mueller could pick from one of the many scalps he's claimed and say the President put him up to it.  Boom!  A conspiracy complete with underlying crime and a defendant unable to answer charges.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Wingnut on March 23, 2019, 09:50:58 pm
The conspirators need to have conspired to commit a crime. What would that crime be?
/


It is the seriousness of the commitment to conspire that the conspirators need to be judged.  Wait...what?  Oh heck,  But resist we much. We must, and we will much- about that- be committed.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: edpc on March 23, 2019, 09:57:15 pm
He could, but then he’s blowing wind because he has no indictments and no prosecution of anything even remotely related to a conspiracy.



Really?


https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download (https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download)
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 10:16:55 pm
Really?

https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download (https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download)

That will work. I should raise the ante on my bet that Trump will be named an unindicted co-conspirator of something/anything.  "Still beating the wife, Donald?"  The allegation will be proudly snapped up by the willing.

From a prosecutor's viewpoint, nothing is better than an accusation that cannot be refuted because there won't be a trial.  What a country!

I should start a poll about which pretense will be used to name the President a co-conspirator.  The Rats will have him then!
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: edpc on March 23, 2019, 10:33:18 pm
That will work. I should raise the ante on my bet that Trump will be named an unindicted co-conspirator of something/anything.  "Still beating the wife, Donald?"  The allegation will be proudly snapped up by the willing.

From a prosecutor's viewpoint, nothing is better than an accusation that cannot be refuted because there won't be a trial.  What a country!

I should start a poll about which pretense will be used to name the President a co-conspirator.  The Rats will have him then!


When that indictment was released, Rosenstein made a point to say Americans in contact with this group were unaware of who they were. So, if I took a guess, there won’t be a direct naming as an unindicted co-conspirator.

More likely, it’ll be worded in a manner similar to the SDNY charging document of Cohen. In that, it’s stated his actions were at the direction of Individual-1 and that person is identified as a 2016 candidate who won the election. So, it’s probable the implications will be indirectly made.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 10:36:10 pm

When that indictment was released, Rosenstein made a point to say Americans in contact with this group were unaware of who they were. So, if I took a guess, there won’t be a direct naming as an unindicted co-conspirator.

More likely, it’ll be worded in a manner similar to the SDNY charging document of Cohen. In that, it’s stated his actions were at the direction of Individual-1 and that person is identified as a 2016 candidate who won the election. So, it’s probable the implications will be indirectly made.

The Rats have made more hay with less.  It's amazing what can be done with a willing press.   :shrug:
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: edpc on March 23, 2019, 10:46:17 pm
The Rats have made more hay with less.  It's amazing what can be done with a willing press.   :shrug:


Yes, but it doesn’t help when you have a group of people who lie about things meaninglessly and continually get caught. Also, it’s not helpful to hire a legal advisor and spokesman that says some of the oddest and contradictory things.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 23, 2019, 11:00:11 pm

Yes, but it doesn’t help when you have a group of people who lie about things meaninglessly and continually get caught. Also, it’s not helpful to hire a legal advisor and spokesman that says some of the oddest and contradictory things.

All true.  I wonder if the Rats in Congress would make the determination that having unsavory/marginally competent employees and a big mouth are impeachable offenses?

Aw heck...look who I'm asking about.  Of course they will.  CNN will start that drum beat next week.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: catfish1957 on March 23, 2019, 11:05:08 pm
I find kind of strange that Trump and conspiracy are showing up in the same sentence, when and while we are hearing rumours of a POTUS overthrow via DOJ, Cabinet, or whatever. 

Talk about priorties.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: edpc on March 24, 2019, 01:31:53 am
I find it kind of strange that the overthrow story came from McCabe, who was fired and is under investigation for lying. He is suddenly believable, when Cohen is not.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Wingnut on March 24, 2019, 01:56:35 am
I find it kind of strange that the overthrow story came from McCabe, who was fired and is under investigation for lying. He is suddenly believable, when Cohen is not.

Is/are any of the swamp rats believable any more Eric?
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: corbe on March 24, 2019, 02:01:47 am
    $hit the President can't even conspire with his own Treasury Department on the degree of sanctions on NK, I really doubt if he'd be able to pull this crap off, even if he wanted too.
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Wingnut on March 24, 2019, 02:06:40 am
    $hit the President can't even conspire with his own Treasury Department on the degree of sanctions on NK, I really doubt if he'd be able to pull this crap off, even if he wanted too.

Whatchu talking about Willis?
Title: Re: Mueller Has Authority to Name President Trump as an “Unindicted Coconspirator”
Post by: Cyber Liberty on March 24, 2019, 02:08:35 am
I find it kind of strange that the overthrow story came from McCabe, who was fired and is under investigation for lying. He is suddenly believable, when Cohen is not.

Meh.  I don't believe either of them.  I am not a partisan in the AT/NT War.
Title: Barr won't turn over classified material, key GOP lawmaker says
Post by: mystery-ak on March 24, 2019, 03:33:52 pm
Barr won't turn over classified material, key GOP lawmaker says
by Daniel Chaitin
 | March 24, 2019 11:02 AM



A key Republican lawmaker said Democrats demanding the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's entire report will be disappointed by Attorney General William Barr.

"I know that the Democrats are saying we want everything, but the law doesn't provide for that. In fact, it says the opposite," Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, said Sunday morning during an interview on Fox News. "And I very much doubt that Bill Barr is going to turn over classified material or material subject to executive privilege or, most importantly, grand jury testimonies that Bob Mueller has received that did not result in charges against anyone."

Citing the "longstanding policy" of the Justice Department, Ratcliffe noted former FBI Director James Comey strayed of course in his handling of the Hillary Clinton emails investigation "that got him fired and had Democrats complaining back then."

"Bill Barr is not going to repeat those mistakes, so he'll be as transparent as the law will allow and as the regulations provide, and the Democrats should respect that," Ratcliffe added.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/barr-wont-turn-over-classified-material-key-gop-lawmaker-says (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/barr-wont-turn-over-classified-material-key-gop-lawmaker-says)
Title: Re: Barr won't turn over classified material, key GOP lawmaker says
Post by: mystery-ak on March 24, 2019, 03:35:07 pm
Jim Jordan says 'release it all,' not just the Mueller report
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jim-jordan-says-release-it-all-not-just-the-mueller-report (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jim-jordan-says-release-it-all-not-just-the-mueller-report)