Judge Says Parties Can Defend Shielding Documents During Sussmann Probe

The Epoch Times ^ | April 26, 2022 | John Haughey

[T Ruth]

United States District Judge Christopher “Casey” Cooper on April 26 granted five petitions seeking to intervene in former Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann’s upcoming trial for allegedly making a false statement to the FBI.

Special Counsel John Durham, in April 6 court filings, sought to compel the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Hilary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, Fusion GPS, the Perkins Coie law firm, and former Neustar senior vice president Rodney Joffe to provide documents and communications they’ve refused to hand over, claiming attorney-client privilege.

Durham maintains there were 1,455 documents and communications between the parties that were withheld from federal prosecutors as “privileged” attorney-client communications even though only 18 involved what could be described as legal advice.

His motion seeks to have the five parties and Sussmann produce 38 “privileged” communications and email exchanges for Cooper to review.

Attorneys representing the DNC, Clinton campaign, Perkins Coie, Joffe, and Fusion GPS—the “opposition research” firm hired by Clinton’s campaign—filed petitions last week seeking to intervene and to argue against their clients’ communications being used as evidence in Sussmann’s trial, scheduled to begin on May 16.

Cooper, an Obama appointee, granted those petitions April 26 and gave attorneys until April 29 to “re-file their proposed oppositions” to Durham’s motion in anticipation of making their arguments in a May 4 hearing.

Despite Cooper’s rulings, the evidentiary hearing scheduled for April 27 at 2 p.m. in his Washington, D.C., courtroom “will go forward as scheduled,” US Department of Justice Deputy Director of Public Affairs Wyn Hornbuckle confirmed in an email.

[Philo1962]

Hold them in contempt with a $10,000 per day fine until they comply.

Remember, this judge was nominated by Barack Obama, so that isn't going to happen. In fact, Judge Cooper is going to find any way he can to honor the petitioners' claims of attorney-client privilege. In the Democratic Party, one hand washes the other. I'm from Chicago, so I know all about how that works.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with you. Our nation is turned upside down.

We both know how it is supposed to work. Neither of us is
very happy at what is going on in a number of areas.

Take care itsahoot...