ABC News: The DC docket shows dozens of sealed criminal indictments. Are they from Mueller?

[Julian Englis]

This analysis piece from ABC brings a smile to my face--probably has Don, Jr., staining his shorts.

There are dozens of sealed criminal indictments on the DC docket. Are they from Mueller?

More than three dozen sealed criminal indictments have been added to the federal court docket in Washington, D.C. since the start of 2018.

Sealed criminal court files are assigned a case number, but do not indicate the identity of the parties or the nature of the charges, so it is impossible for the public to discern what those sealed cases contain.

But several legal experts told ABC News the number of sealed cases awaiting action right now is unusual. Fourteen were added to the docket since late August alone, a review by ABC News has found, just as the midterm elections were drawing near and longstanding Justice Department policy precluded prosecutors from taking any public action that could appear to be aimed at influencing political outcomes.

And the inadvertent discovery on Thursday night of what appear to be secret charges pending against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has drawn fresh attention to the mystery. Legal experts told ABC News that the sealed cases could be tied to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possibly part of a quiet effort to protect his investigation from any premature effort to shut it down.

“I assume that Mueller knew that once the election was over, there could be an existential threat to his investigation,” said Matthew Miller, a former senior Justice official under former Attorney General Eric Holder. “He knew the best thing to do was act before that.”

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. And there is NO LEGAL way at all that the new KGB operator, aka Whitaker, can interfere with them?

I am asking.

We know if there is an illegal way to interfere they will but is there a legal way?

[tableturner]

4. The new KGB operator cannot undo sealed indictments.

[Jarqui]

8. Can the new AG decline to proceed for what they claim is a lack of evidence

for example or move to dismiss them for some vague/arbitrary reason?

Or lower the charges and cut a hand slap deal?

It would raise eyebrows and maybe flirt with an obstruction of justice charge but I think the AG has some powers here ...

I don't think the founding fathers fully contemplated a corrupt, low-level mafia boss as president.

[tableturner]

12. No.....what's done is done.

[California_Republic]

13. But what would trigger their release is mueller was out?

[ChoppinBroccoli]

14. Check Out The Last Paragraph Of The Article

“You can’t prevent a new AG from blocking new indictments,” Miller said. “But if you were ready to move on cases, you could return a bunch of indictments under seal. If the stumbling block is approval from Mueller’s supervisors, you get that approval while you still have a supervisor who approves of your work.”

[Jarqui]

15. For (not great) examples

House Democrats want to know why a major Russian money-laundering case was abruptly settled
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-was-russian-money-laundering-case-dismissed-house-dems-2017-7

Justice Dept. Drops a Key Objection to a Texas Voter ID Law
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/justice-dept-will-drop-a-key-objection-to-a-texas-voter-id-law.html

Sessions drops asylum protections for domestic violence, gang victims
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/sessions_domestic_violence_gan.html

AG Sessions Says DOJ to 'Pull Back' on Police Department Civil Rights Suits
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ag-sessions-says-trump-administration-pull-back-police-department-civil-n726826

The point is that if the AG decides they do not want to continue a case based upon a Mueller indictment, what is stopping them? To the best of my knowledge, they can drop any case at any time. Obviously, dropping some cases would draw more criticism than others or obstruction of justice charges down the road. But the premise is that the AG normally is sworn to do their duty to uphold the law. But that falls apart when the Trump administration is founded on breaking as many laws as they can get away with and installing people who are sworn to do Trumps bidding ahead of upholding the law.

According to Rachel, Whittaker has scant legal experience and is under investigation by the FBI for fraud. I do not think we can rely on him to do what he is supposed to do: uphold the law.

[Jersey Devil]

17. dismissal can only be ordered by a judge

The AG would have to put forth his reasons for dismissal to a judge, who would then rule on whether or not to grant the dismissal or approve any plea bargain and all would be done publicly.

[Roland99]

2. QAnon rises!!

[Stallion]

5. In Qanon's mind-that's Obama, both Clintons, Mueller, Comey et al

[C_U_L8R]

3. Dozens.

Oh my heart goes pitter patter

[Volaris]

6. If one of them is a RICO indictment, the Republican party is all but destroyed.

[byronius]

7. Happy thought.

Make it so.

[zentrum]

9. Clever Mueller.

[grantcart]

10. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

[duhneece]

11. Have a very Mueller Christmas

Jingle cuffs, jingle cuffs....

[Duppers]

16. Don, Jr.?

He knows his dad will pardon him...if he can. Counting on Pence then?

[Scurrilous]

18. K&R