Posted on 07/17/2018 12:45:31 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Attorneys working with the Office of the Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Tuesday submitted a request for immunity for up to five witnesses his team have asked to testify against Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Trump campaign.
Mueller made the request in a court filing Tuesday afternoon, which also requests that the identity of the potential witnesses remain under seal. According to the filing, the potential witnesses have yet to be publicly identified with the ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia, and the office wishes to shield them from "undue harassment."
"The five individuals identified in the motions at issue are third parties who have not been charged in this matter, and who have not been identified publicly with the case," the filing reads.
"Disclosing the motions would reveal those individuals’ involvement in the investigation and the trial, thereby creating the risk of their undue harassment," it continues.
Manafort is charged with money laundering and lobbying violations related to his work for pro-Russia parties in Ukraine prior to joining the Trump campaign. He has denied any wrongdoing and plead not guilty last year, but a former business associate, Rick Gates, plead guilty to similar charges earlier this year.
The former top Trump aide was ordered to jail last month by a federal judge for violating the terms of his bail agreement by allegedly attempting to tamper with a witness. His trial in Virginia is scheduled for July 24, and he is set to defend himself in September against charges filed in Washington, D.C.
News of the witnesses planning to testify against Manafort comes just a day after President Trump seemed to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the conclusion of his own intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf.
He has the authority to declassify and publicly release any document in the Executive branch of government.
Trump must order the immediate release of every document related to Russia Collusion, the Awan family, the Congressional server, the DNC server, Hillary's server, the Uranium scandal, the Clinton Foundation, and DOJ and FBI political corruption.
Let the voters read the evidence.
Let the voters decide who is corrupt, and who is not.
Trump could have stopped all this before it started.
He has the authority to declassify and publicly release any document in the Executive branch of government.
Have you been asleep the past year and half? Trump does not control his own admin. That much is clear.
For immunity...
That makes it credible? People will say anything to avoid duress, or jail.
I didn’t see the names John or Tony Podesta.
How could that be? Ukraine, foreign agent registration, tax fraud...
Odd these things...
5.56mm
The DOJ, FBI, and the IC do not answer to Pres Trump. Just ask the Congressional committees investigating the coup plotters.
They do NOT follow his orders.
Trump does not control his own Administration?
Trump appointed ALL of them!
Trump can fire every political appointee at the Department of Justice, move his desk into the Attorney General’s office, and start ordering the career civil servants to release documents.
Re: “The FBI, DOJ, and IC do not follow Trump’s orders.”
What orders?
Congress and numerous Conservative Action groups have filed dozens of requests for documents.
The DOJ and FBI completely ignore those requests.
And Trump does nothing!
Please see my earlier response in Comment #46.
Trump does not control his own Administration?
Trump appointed ALL of them!
Trump can fire every political appointee at the Department of Justice, move his desk into the Attorney General’s office, and start ordering the career civil servants to release documents.
Sure Trump can fire everybody. Then the Congressional GOP will slow walk his new nominations and career DOJ Democrats will control the DOJ well past the midterms. How awesome would that be?
FRiend, you need to join us in Realville. It is clear as day that Trump doesn’t control the executive branch and his own party does not support him.
It doesn't matter.
Trump is the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Justice.
Constitutionally, Trump doesn't have to appoint anybody.
Trump can just command every civil servant executive to report directly to the President.
Congress can threaten to impeach Trump, but for what?
Releasing documents that prove the DOJ is corrupt?
Re: “Career DOJ Democrats will control the DOJ well past the midterms.”
LOL!
Career civil servant Democrats have controlled the Department of Justice since the 1960s!
What you like to end that?
I would.
But unless we light a fire under Trump, it is not going to happen.
Or a sneaky way to give blanket immunity to the worst offenders in FBI, DOJ, Clinton campaign, or Obama’s white house. Stinks to high heavens, but anyone in those groups would jump at the chance.
Number two, the President HAS ordered the FBI, DOJ to comply with Congressional requests for documents, they have not complied.
Finally, number three, the Senate Republicans/Dems have told him he MAY NOT fire Sessions, Mueller or Rosenstein. His own party has told him they WILL NOT give another hearing for a new AG.
I solved that problem a year ago.
Unconditional pardons for anyone implicated by the documents.
No prosecution? No obstruction.
Re: “The President HAS ordered the FBI, DOJ to comply with Congressional requests for documents, they have not complied.”
Can you send me a supporting link for that?
I read about this case every day. I have never read that Trump has ordered the DOJ or FBI to do anything.
Re: “The Senate Republicans/Dems have told him he MAY NOT fire Sessions, Mueller or Rosenstein. His own party has told him they WILL NOT give another hearing for a new AG.”
Trump does not need an A.G.
Trump is the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Justice.
Trump can access the entire DOJ and FBI database from the White House and release any document he wants to.
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