Trump Lawyers Said to Lack Security Clearance Amid Mueller Talks

[pnwmom]

Last edited Wed May 2, 2018, 06:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Bloomberg News

Donald Trump’s current team of lawyers lacks the security clearances needed to discuss sensitive issues related to a possible presidential interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Trump’s former lead lawyer John Dowd had been the only member of the president’s personal legal team with a security clearance, the people said. When Dowd quit in March over disagreements with Trump on legal strategy, Jay Sekulow became the lead lawyer on the investigation and is still waiting for his clearance.

The lack of security clearances could further complicate already sensitive talks with Mueller’s team. Prosecutors for Mueller have made clear to Trump’s lawyers that the special counsel would consider a subpoena compelling the president to testify before a grand jury if he refuses to participate in a voluntary interview, according to two current U.S. officials.

Mueller believes he has legal standing to subpoena a sitting president, even though such a move has never been fully tested, according to the officials. Unlike an interview, Trump couldn’t bring his lawyers into a grand jury room.


Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-02/trump-lawyers-said-to-lack-security-clearance-amid-mueller-talks

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This seems like a pretty big deal. Kinda hard to defend a client when you're not authorized to read the evidence.

[Sedona]

1. Wait What?

Giuliani can't get security clearance?

[True Blue American]

2. Yeah

I bet Trump could not pass a security clearance!

[videohead5]

3. Not after

Giving classified information to the Russians in the oval office.

[Duppers]

4. Was thinking the same.

Last edited Wed May 2, 2018, 08:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Should be a requirement to run for the office.

[True Blue American]

9. If Staff Needs

A Security clearance all elected officials should have ☝️.

[Duppers]

12. Yes, indeed. ALL.

I'd thought about posting that immediately after I clicked reply. Senators and Representatives often have to review sensitive national security matters. And I imagine some of their staff also see this material.

[True Blue American]

17. Do you thin

Devin Nunes could pass a background check. Jim Jordan? Jim just told a Reporter he could not remember Trump telling one lie.

Now,Meadows is coming out with an Impeachment bill against Rosenstein. Rosenstein handed their threat right back.They are all Freedom Caucus hacks.

[Nitram]

23. Requiring a security clearance before someone can be a candidate for president would give the

Justice Department too much power over the Executive branch.

[lagomorph777]

27. OK, so just require the SF-86 and the FBI report to be made public.

Let the public read and decide whether the candidate should get the job.

[Duppers]

5. Indeed, it does seem like a pretty big deal.

Thx for the info, pnwmom.

[raven mad]

6. This! Is! Freakin'! GREAT!!!!!!

pnwmom, you win the raven mad's BEST GIGGLE award!😸🏆💐🏆😸

[paleotn]

7. legal standing to subpoena a sitting president?

not fully tested? They should check with Bill Clinton about that Have the authors never heard of Clinton v. Jones? SCOTUS has already spoken on this issue.

[karynnj]

10. That would be an obvious example to check, but he might

have voluntarily complied.

[PJMcK]

11. They're different cases

Clinton's case was a civil suit for things that happened before he was president.

Trump's case, particularly any obstruction of justice charges, involve actions while he was president. (Admittedly, there are also issues that took place before Trump's presidency but they involve criminal acts unlike Clinton's civil acts).

If Robert Mueller subpoenas Trump, the validity of the subpoena will be determined, most likely, by the Supreme Court.

[Trueblue Texan]

15. Jennifer Reuben discussed this last night on Lawrence...

I can't remember the case she cited, maybe Watergate, maybe Clinton...but according to her, SCOTUS has already ruled on this with the emphasis of the ruling that no one, including the President, is above the law. Doesn't matter if the case is civil or criminal in that regard.

[NewJeffCT]

16. Trump took the 5th almost 100 times during divorce proceedings

in order to avoid admitting to adultery. I'm guessing that any testimony from Trump will involve a lot of "I am invoking my 5th amendment rights against self incrimination..." a BIGLY amount of times.


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article105178626.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-pleading-the-fifth_us_57ed79dee4b024a52d2de46d

[bluestarone]

19. This news would have been great during the election when

RUMP fired off the comment that people that take the fifth are GUILTY!!!!!

[NewJeffCT]

20. it was out there

the McClatchey article is dated 9/30/16

But, it got lost in the Bullshit Storm that Trump put out on a daily basis, and of course, the "but her emails" crowd in the media.

[bluestarone]

22. AH missed that!! Your right i'm sure all

the bullshit diversions they threw out there!!!!! That was there plan!

[paleotn]

25. Nixon v. Fitzgerald possibly.

[lagomorph777]

28. You're saying every detail has to be identical to establish precedent?

Not buying that. Paula Jones and Ken Starr set the precedent. Trump is screwed. Thanks to a Republican vendetta. Oh Karma is a BITCH!

[Xipe Totec]

8. Do the Grand Jury members hold security clearances?

I think we're heading into a pickle.

[Mc Mike]

13. Natch.

And oh, lock Hillary up, for not properly handling classified info. They're such lying hypocritical whiny traitors.

[Corgigal]

14. Almost thought this was The Onion

I know I wasn't the only one.

Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Don't pay for attorney knowledge and security clearances, well get 3rd tier attorneys.

[lark]

18. And the Klown Karr rambles on.....

I swear future generations are going to think this is made up, if we can survive long enough to purge the nation of this toxic strain of greedy racist fascists.

[Nitram]

21. So Trump is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Voluntarily answer questions and he can have

his lawyers in the room. If he's forced to testify by a subpoena, he can fight it in court but he'll not have any of his lawyers along if he loses.

[bluestarone]

24. YEA hope he chooses the latter!!

THEY will eat his lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lagomorph777]

26. It takes months to get a clearance. Hard to do with such high turnover.