Mueller Tasks an Adviser With Getting Ahead of Pre-Emptive Pardons

[HAB911]

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has a distinctly modern problem. The president, judging by his tweets, could try to pardon people in his circle even before prosecutors charge anyone with a crime.

Mueller’s all-star team of prosecutors, with expertise in money laundering and foreign bribery, has an answer to that. He’s Michael Dreeben, a bookish career government lawyer with more than 100 Supreme Court appearances under his belt.

Acting as Mueller’s top legal counsel, Dreeben has been researching past pardons and determining what, if any, limits exist, according to a person familiar with the matter. Dreeben’s broader brief is to make sure the special counsel’s prosecutorial moves are legally airtight. That could include anything from strategizing on novel interpretations of criminal law to making sure the recent search warrant on ex-campaign adviser Paul Manafort’s home would stand up to an appeal.

"He’s seen every criminal case of any consequence in the last 20 years," said Kathryn Ruemmler of Latham & Watkins LLP, who served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama. "If you wanted to do a no-knock warrant, he’d be a great guy to consult with to determine if you were exposing yourself.”

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-03/mueller-tasks-adviser-with-getting-ahead-of-pre-emptive-pardons

[Shanti Mama]

1. I love knowing that super smart people are strategizing

While dumb and dumber, or conniving, manipulative... take your pick... have seemingly zero capability to form a strategy.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Staying one or two steps ahead of Trump.....

Is vital for the success of bringing him down to his collusion with Russia to undermine the election process and take the White House. Donald Trump did obstruct justice with the firing of former FBI Director Jim Comey regarding the Russia Investigation.

[Mr. Ected]

3. Of all the news on the Russian front, this is the most promising and relieving

Mention criminal charges and the first thing the naysayers posit is: he's going to pardon everyone anyway, so who cares?

I had a strong feeling this was a fundamental part of the prosecutorial strategy. Viva Mueller!

[Scarsdale]

10. Impeach him when he is in

Puerto Rico. Bring AF1 back without him and his "wife" I wonder if his family members are with them, too? Let him arrange his own transportation back.

[Girard442]

4. If I were Mueller, I'd do two other things...

1. Coordinate on a regular basis with state Attorneys General who might have a case against Trump et al.

2. Keep a backup of his investigative files some place out of reach of American authorities.

I suspect he's already on it.

[bluestarone]

5. this really helps to

be patient knowing that Muellers trying to think ahead for the pardons. and there will be pardons we all know this. My hats off to Mueller

[njhoneybadger]

6. But what happens when it gets appealed to Supreme Court

[Auggie]

8. Excellent point ... exactly what Im thinking too

[byronius]

9. Oh, I'm sure Gorusch will recuse himself....

[L. Coyote]

7. Trump only hires the best people .... he can get.

Which is not to say they are the best of criminals ... given they are stupid enough to work for Trump.

[raven mad]

11. I dislike Republicans. Except for this guy. n/t

[Kaleva]

12. If I was in Trump's circlr, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

I probably would have flipped awhile ago. And that's before I was asked any questions!

[ThoughtCriminal]

13. Make it clear: Get A Pardon, get a Subpoena

the pardon invalidates 5th Amendment protection again self-incrimination.