Robert Mueller files request for 70 blank subpoenas in Paul Manafort’s Virginia case

[mystery-ak]

Robert Mueller files request for 70 blank subpoenas in Paul Manafort’s Virginia case
by Kelly Cohen
 | May 03, 2018 03:57 PM
 | Updated May 03, 2018, 04:31 PM



Special counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday filed a request for 70 blank subpoenas in the Eastern District of Virginia, where former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort lives.

The two-page filing reveals little, but says that that each subpoena recipient must appear in the Alexandria, Va., courthouse on July 10 to testify in the case.

The 70 blank subpoenas amount to 35 total possible subpoenas — in each case, a subpoena is needed for the witness and another is needed for the defense. Court documents filed in April show that Mueller's team was pushing to subpoena 35 witnesses in the trial.

A blank subpoena means the party serving the subpoena, in this case the federal government, can fill in the name later, as long as it is done so before the subpoena is served.

The document says each recipient “must also bring with you the following documents, electronically stored information or objects” — but what follows the colon is under seal.

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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/robert-mueller-files-request-for-70-blank-subpoenas-in-paul-manaforts-virginia-case

[Wingnut]

The witch hunt continues.   

[endicom]

[Cyber Liberty]

Mueller's taking a lesson from the Waco DA. 

[XenaLee]

Um.... is this news supposed to intimidate and frighten someone on the Trump Team?   If so....

another EPIC FAIL!!!

[endicom]

Um.... is this news supposed to intimidate and frighten someone on the Trump Team?   If so....

another EPIC FAIL!!!

What if the 35 people subpoenaed each led to a few more people?

[XenaLee]

What if the 35 people subpoenaed each led to a few more people?

Led to a few more people that colluded with Russia, you mean?   lol

It's a fairy tale.  You know it.  I know it.  Mueller knows it.

[Frank Cannon]

"Blank Subpoenas"? What the hell type of Banana Republic clownery is that?

Little Bobby Mueller is easily those most corrupt and disgusting person to ever work in govt'. No wonder he cost US taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for violating peoples rights. I hope this shitbag dies a horrible and painful death.

[Cyber Liberty]

"Blank Subpoenas"? What the hell type of Banana Republic clownery is that?

Little Bobby Mueller is easily those most corrupt and disgusting person to ever work in govt'. No wonder he cost US taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for violating peoples rights. I hope this shitbag dies a horrible and painful death.

Apparently this is a common practice.  A judge signs a whole stack of them, trusting the prosecutors to only fill in "correct names." It's much more efficient than actually pondering each pair.

[edpc]

Oh, no......a prosecutor doesn't want to broadcast his witness list to the world right now.  The horror!

[Cyber Liberty]

Oh, no......a prosecutor doesn't want to broadcast his witness list to the world right now.  The horror!

I guess this is a common practice.  Huh.  Judges sign blank forms all the time....

[edpc]

I guess this is a common practice.  Huh.  Judges sign blank forms all the time....

Huh.  I guess it is.  Turns out, it's procedure.


Under Title IV, Rule 17 of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the clerk “must issue a blank subpoena—signed and sealed—to the party requesting it,” in this case Mueller, “and that party must fill in the blanks before the subpoena is served.”

Signed, sealed, filled in blanks, then delivered.

Former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah explained that it is common to issue trial subpoenas for witnesses to make sure they show up, but they are blank because Mueller doesn’t want all of the witnesses revealed at this time

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mueller-requests-70-blank-subpoenas-in-case-against-paul-manafort/

[Frank Cannon]

Oh, no......a prosecutor doesn't want to broadcast his witness list to the world right now.  The horror!

Yeah. This is the same type of solid prosecuting Mueller has done in the past........ending up putting hundreds of millions of dollars in the wrongfully prosecuted pockets. These are not subpoenas Little Bobby is handing out. They are lottery tickets with a guaranteed payout.

[Cyber Liberty]

Huh.  I guess it is.  Turns out, it's procedure.


Under Title IV, Rule 17 of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the clerk “must issue a blank subpoena—signed and sealed—to the party requesting it,” in this case Mueller, “and that party must fill in the blanks before the subpoena is served.”

Signed, sealed, filled in blanks, then delivered.

Former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah explained that it is common to issue trial subpoenas for witnesses to make sure they show up, but they are blank because Mueller doesn’t want all of the witnesses revealed at this time

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/mueller-requests-70-blank-subpoenas-in-case-against-paul-manafort/

Good news for prosecutors everywhere.  I wish I could have judges sign blank forms for me, that would have done wonders when I was getting divorced years ago.

[edpc]

Good news for prosecutors everywhere.  I wish I could have judges sign blank forms for me, that would have done wonders when I was getting divorced years ago.

I've heard some terrible divorce stories, but none that were at the level of federal criminal procedure.  I feel for ya.

[DB]

What does that even mean?

Is that like 70 blank checks?

[Cyber Liberty]

I've heard some terrible divorce stories, but none that were at the level of federal criminal procedure.  I feel for ya.

The fact that we consider having Judges signing blank forms "normal prosecutorial procedure" is very depressing to me.  Judges signing anything without all the facts applied upends the whole point of having Judges sign stuff off.  this bit with the FISA courts issuing surveillance orders on the basis of Democrat oppo research is just an example.

This happened in Waco when the DA decided to charge every member of two motorcycle gangs for a shooting (that the police apparently started).  They had a Judge sign all the charging documents filled out except for the names, and the DA just made copies and filled in names as necessary.  A couple hundred innocent people spent a year in jail with huge bonds.  Most of the charges were dismissed eventually, but lives were ruined.  Judges signing blank documents really rub me the wrong way, even if it's considered "normal" to do so. 

Regular people aren't allowed to do that.  We have to have every I dotted and T crossed, and lord help you if you make one mistake.

[mountaineer]

What does that even mean?

Is that like 70 blank checks?

Looks like a textbook case of "fishing expedition."

[edpc]

The fact that we consider having Judges signing blank forms "normal prosecutorial procedure" is very depressing to me.  Judges signing anything without all the facts applied upends the whole point of having Judges sign stuff off.  this bit with the FISA courts issuing surveillance orders on the basis of Democrat oppo research is just an example.

This happened in Waco when the DA decided to charge every member of two motorcycle gangs for a shooting (that the police apparently started).  They had a Judge sign all the charging documents filled out except for the names, and the DA just made copies and filled in names as necessary.  A couple hundred innocent people spent a year in jail with huge bonds.  Most of the charges were dismissed eventually, but lives were ruined.  Judges signing blank documents really rub me the wrong way, even if it's considered "normal" to do so. 

Regular people aren't allowed to do that.  We have to have every I dotted and T crossed, and lord help you if you make one mistake.

The comparison to Waco charges is apples and oranges.  Mueller is sending subpoenas to witnesses, not charging people.  Not everyone interviewed will be called, but they have to know it’s a possibility.  Giving out a list would give those being subpoenaed a heads up, along with the opportunity for them to disappear, because they get cold feet or the opposition gets to them. 

[Cyber Liberty]

The comparison to Waco charges is apples and oranges.  Mueller is sending subpoenas to witnesses, not charging people.  Not everyone interviewed will be called, but they have to know it’s a possibility.  Giving out a list would give those being subpoenaed a heads up, along with the opportunity for them to disappear, because they get cold feet or the opposition gets to them.

The analogy is imperfect, but it illustrates the thinking,  and the fact that Judges are willing to be worked around.  Keeping subpoenas secret to keep the witnesses unaware also screws the defense as soundly as not producing exculpatory evidence.  I'm sure you'll find some reason those two aren't the same, but too bad.  I don't like secretive prosecutions.

[Cyber Liberty]

Looks like a textbook case of "fishing expedition."

Net fishing is much more efficient than targeting every single fish.

[edpc]

The analogy is imperfect, but it illustrates the thinking,  and the fact that Judges are willing to be worked around.  Keeping subpoenas secret to keep the witnesses unaware also screws the defense as soundly as not producing exculpatory evidence.  I'm sure you'll find some reason those two aren't the same, but too bad.  I don't like secretive prosecutions.

The defense has to be made aware of the witnesses, hence the 70 subpoenas for 35 witnesses.  They just don’t have to announce it to the defense and world ahead of serving them.

[Cyber Liberty]

The defense has to be made aware of the witnesses, hence the 70 subpoenas for 35 witnesses.  They just don’t have to announce it to the defense and world ahead of serving them.

Then they should have waited to get the Judge's signature.  If you can't see what's wrong with signing blank forms, then I don't see any point in arguing this any further.

[edpc]

Then they should have waited to get the Judge's signature.  If you can't see what's wrong with signing blank forms, then I don't see any point in arguing this any further.

Never mind the fact subpoena power isn’t absolute.  It can be quashed if it’s found unreasonable or oppressive.  However, if you’re not going to attempt understanding the reason for the procedure on a witness subpoena and conflate it with other prosecutorial tools like criminal charges or warrants, you’re right, there’s no point in discussing it.