Geller Report: This just keeps getting better and better.
The key here is “discovery.” BTW, Buzzfeed did the same thing as these Russians are accused of doing. Why aren’t they indicted?
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The Biglaw Firm Behind The Russian Trolls Indicted In The Mueller Probe
The decision to go with Biglaw is already paying dividends.
By Kathryn Rubino, Above the Law, May 7, 2018 (thanks to Van):
If you’ve been following along with the legal twists and turns of the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller, you know that one of the more interesting aspects was the indictment of 13 Russian citizens and three Russian businesses on crimes related to interference in the 2016 presidential election. Conventional wisdom has generally been that none of these entities would ever make an appearance or otherwise acknowledge the proceedings. However, one of the Russian businesses, Concord Management, has tapped a Biglaw firm to rep them in court.
Concord Management has hired Reed Smith as their legal team. Partners Eric A. Dubelier (who according to his firm profile has a practice that focuses on international and domestic regulatory compliance and enforcement matters, white-collar criminal litigation, and civil false claims litigation) and Katherine J. Seikaly (her practice is in government and internal investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters, and related litigation, with particular focus on the False Claims Act (FCA)) made their appearance on behalf of Concord Management last month. They’ve made a bunch of discovery requests seeking non-public information — and, as Politico reports, the requests seem to be a calculated move:
[T[he move appeared 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. read more
Be nice and tastily ironic if the Russians put a stop to this crap
Plaintiffs, in this case the United States, never voluntarily seek to “research” service of process unless the defendant moves to quash or otherwise contests the service. There is actually no need for service of process if the defendant shows up in court and enters a general appearance, which is apparently what happened here.
This is a brilliant move if the defendant believes the prosecutor is playing the indictment as a political ploy or doesn’t have the nuts. There is little doubt the prosecutors will try to delay providing the discovery requested, but criminal matters have stricter guidelines due to Sixth Amendment considerations. The court normally doesn’t allow delay moves by prosecutors, and courts do not allow prosecutors to withhold evidence. Watch Mueller look for a quiet time to dismiss this case.
I can imagine Mueller muttering, “well shit, that didn’t go well.”
@wyatt: “Watch Mueller look for a quiet time to dismiss this case”
My money is on the Friday before Memorial Weekend!
Maybe this, and Manafort’s lawsuit, will take the edge off Mueller’s appetite for show indictments. When the judges, and now the defendants, are calling your bluff, it’s time to reassess.
Mueller probably regrets his decision to get advice from The Law Office of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe.
And all that because Obama, Hillary, and LGBTWEIIT…Z lost the election!
quick! …. MORE POPCORN!!!
Just another example of collusion & obstruction of justice by Trump! //sarc off
Insert “Harper Valley PTA” video here.
@joe6pak May 7, 2018 at 6:29 pm
He should have hired instead to the law firm of Barkmore & Wagless.
I’m sure the MSM is falling all over themselves trying to find some connection, no matter how tenuous between Concord management’s law firms and President Trump.
To Mueller: Never go into a battle of wits with someone much, much smarter than you.
I hope the tables are properly turned here.
Also, why would Trump ever fire Mueller when he (Mueller) is screwing up his own (Mueller’s) lynch-mob so badly.