Posted on 05/06/2018 5:54:42 PM PDT by TBP
A federal judge on Saturday handed special counsel Robert Mueller his first courtroom defeat since being appointed to investigate Russian interference and the Trump campaign last year.
The defeat, while only small, may have huge implications in the future.
What happened? Federal District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich rejected Mueller’s motion to delay the first hearing of a criminal case charging that three Russian companies and 13 Russians interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Mueller indicted the companies and persons in February, in what is now known as the Russian “troll farm” case.
The judge offered no explanation as to why she denied Mueller’s request.
As TheBlaze reported on Saturday, Mueller filed a motion in court on Friday to delay the initial hearing. Because those charged are outside U.S. jurisdiction, it was widely believed the charges wouldn’t be challenged. That theory was crushed last month when two attorneys representing one of the companies — Concord Management — made a “slew” of information requests from Mueller’s team.
The sudden requests were believed “to be a bid to force Mueller’s team to turn over relevant evidence to the Russian firm and perhaps even to bait prosecutors into an embarrassing dismissal in order to avoid disclosing sensitive information,” Politico reported.
Arraignment for Concord Management and Consulting — the company whose lawyers are now challenging Mueller — is scheduled for Wednesday. Mueller asked for the delay because the lawyers said Mueller’s court summons was defective and he needed time to ensure it was done legally.
How did the lawyers representing Concord respond? They took Mueller to task for his actions so far in the case. They claimed Mueller is trying “to usurp the scheduling authority of the court” by waiting until Friday afternoon to request a delay in a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
The lawyers also complained that Mueller’s team has refused to provide them with the evidentiary documents they are entitled to as Concord’s counsel, according to Politico. In addition, the lawyers said Concord plans to exercise its speedy trial rights, which further pressures Mueller to turn over the documents.
What are the implications? If Concord’s attorneys continue to earn small victories in and outside of the courtroom, Mueller’s team will be forced to turn over documents the lawyers requested, giving them an insight into Mueller’s intentions and where his investigation actually stands.
But if he refuses to play ball, the losses will continue to stack up for the special counsel.
LANGUAGE WARNING - Loads of F-bombs and other cursing.
It's an awesome dissection in spite of the language.
The Mueller Indictments Are A F**king Joke & It's Dangerous [Web Exclusive] (15:09)
The bottom line is this company in Russia is a click-bait farm. They had no interest in interfering with our election or creating any chaos here.
It exists to make money through the cyber equivalent of creating and selling client lists.
Federal judges, doing the job the Attorney General doesn’t want to.
PRAY PRAY PRAY Wednesday’s hearing will be dismissed against the Russian! If the judge dismisses the case TRUMP will be home free and will have more leverage to fire the whole freakin swamp bastards!!!
This is the part that raises a flag. Even if Mueller's little Gauleiters weren't expecting the suit to be defended in January, they've had three months knowing otherwise. Denying the accused's counsel access to evidence is a good way to get the entire thing thrown out of court with a judicial footprint on the butts of the prosecution team, and deservedly so.
The Mueller investigation is collapsing...Ya just knew that’s where this entire criminal charade was headed.
I know I’m way behind on these cases, but......what laws are alleged to have been broken?
HOORAY Federal District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich. Thank you, sir.
I took a quick look at the papers.
To be fair to the Special Counsel, it looks like this was something of a misunderstanding.
When lawyers for the Russian company Concord made an appearance in the case, the Special Counsel lawyer assumed that they were coming to court in merely a limited-purpose appearance to object that there was no jurisdiction over this Russian company.
The Special Counsel lawyer then tried a ‘gotcha’ move of serving the criminal complaint on the lawyer, to try to argue that as a result of the gotcha move they now have jurisdiction over this Russian company. She then moved for a delay to prepare to argue over her gotcha move.
But in fact it appears the Russian company is coming into court to enter a “not guilty” plea and contest the case on the merits. They will demand and are entitled to the evidence that the Special Counsel has against them in order to prepare their defense. And they want to exercise their right to a speedy trial in order to get on with it.
Caught the Special Counsel lady (who happens to be a former lawyer for the Clinton Foundation) off-guard. And Mueller probably never expected any of the defendants to show up in court, plead not guilty and demand to see his evidence.
Looks like Mueller has finally run into some Americans who have read the Constitution, understand the limits of government, love this country, and don’t think he’s above the law. And they’re not afraid to say so.
It’s amazing, the truth seems to have finally caught up to Mueller’s (and the Deep State’s) lies.
“...with a judicial footprint on the butts of the prosecution team”
VERY WELL PUT! Also, if the case is tossed, that would be a PERFECT OPENING for Trump to throw out Mueller and his gang, as that is the only Russian link even being discussed...possibly ending this whole charade.
“Looks like Mueller has finally run into some Americans who have read the Constitution, understand the limits of government, love this country, and don’t think he’s above the law. And they’re not afraid to say so.”
And the BEST PART is that the Russians are paying this law firm (I assume). As Mueller is learning, you can only prod a bear so much.
I'm on the side believing that this was a colossal screw up by Mueller. The Government has filed charges, so it must put up or shut up. The accused have the right to a speedy trial, and I hope that if Mueller asks for even ONE continuance that the judge tosses the case with prejudice and sanctions Mueller and his team.
Hi PGalt, I hope you are well. Please know that the Sir is a Ma’am. Its always proper to use “Your Honor” when not sure. She was appointed by POTUS.
Gwjack
He’s going down and getting desperate
Trying to do anything to get fired
Trump will just let him twist in the wind
Thanks very much gwjack. I did not know that. I’m doing well and hope that you are also.
Much appreciated.
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