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I want to walk through the document trail (all public records!) that underpins our story today. Through these (+sources), we were able to reveal a long-hidden leg of the Mueller investigation https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/14/politics/trump-campaign-donation-investigation/index.html
Chief Judge Beryl Howell of DC District Court unsealed much of the bank subpoena fight in 2019, w the bank’s name + country obscured.
DC Circuit, SCOTUS also released redacted versions of appeals proceedings
Trial court records are here, case 18-gj-41
https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/unsealed-orders-opinions-documents/Grand%20Jury/2019
DC Circuit, SCOTUS also released redacted versions of appeals proceedings
Trial court records are here, case 18-gj-41
https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/unsealed-orders-opinions-documents/Grand%20Jury/2019
Some amazing highlights in the court record:
In hindsight, Alston & Bird lawyers may have hinted about their client. They said the US doubting a foreign govt-owned company was as offensive as another nation questioning Jerome Powell (Fed chair) or Mike Pompeo (then-CIA chief)
In hindsight, Alston & Bird lawyers may have hinted about their client. They said the US doubting a foreign govt-owned company was as offensive as another nation questioning Jerome Powell (Fed chair) or Mike Pompeo (then-CIA chief)
Another - Judge Howell was baffled in a sealed hearing just after Mueller handed in his report on Russia interference.
If the Russia investigation just ended, why was this gj subpoena case still ongoing?
Illuminating exchange w prosecutor (now Judge) Zia Faruqui
If the Russia investigation just ended, why was this gj subpoena case still ongoing?
Illuminating exchange w prosecutor (now Judge) Zia Faruqui
Quite the moment recorded in transcripts of a sealed hearing:
Howell repeating, again and again, that she believed the Egyptian bank (repped by Brian Boone of Alston) had left “glaring unexplained gaps” in what they turned over to prosecutors.
Howell repeating, again and again, that she believed the Egyptian bank (repped by Brian Boone of Alston) had left “glaring unexplained gaps” in what they turned over to prosecutors.
The court record before Howell also gave a sense of the shape of the mystery Mueller investigation and its seriousness.
We wrote about this when these records were first unsealed. The voluminous court record helped to connect dots when we looked at them again this year.
We wrote about this when these records were first unsealed. The voluminous court record helped to connect dots when we looked at them again this year.
Shoutout to @dsamuelsohn @joshgerstein for overhearing a lawyer near the clerk’s office as this mystery case moved through court, and to @laurarobinsontv, our #CNNstakeout eyes in DCD who introduced herself to an Alston & Bird atty heading to a hearing https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/politics/mueller-grand-jury-mysterious-friday/index.html
One more note on the mystery grand jury subpoena case court record: As this moved from trial court to appeals, the company (bank) became more interchangeable in court docs with its owner, "Country A," which we've now reported is Egypt.
Now about the Mueller 302s. Judge Reggie Walton, also in DC, put DOJ/FBI on a monthly production schedule to get @cnnpolitics @buzzfeednews witness interview memos. Among many topics, witnesses talked about Egypt connections, others about Trump $10M loan https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/04/politics/how-cnn-got-robert-mueller-interviews/index.html
Here are some 302s we cited in our story. Steve Bannon on the $10M loan. 2 other unnamed witnesses about Egypt connections.
Another Egypt connection that appears in 302s: that of Walid Phares, a campaign foreign policy adviser
@nytimes reported earlier this year on Mueller’s interest Phares, noting mentions of him in the 302s. No related charges were filed. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/us/politics/mueller-walid-phares.html
@nytimes reported earlier this year on Mueller’s interest Phares, noting mentions of him in the 302s. No related charges were filed. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/us/politics/mueller-walid-phares.html
As for uncovering a 4th Mueller team, we followed lots of clues. Zainab Ahmad spotted regularly by #CNNStakeout, appeared in GJ subpoena case in 2018. She had a “senior” title in the SCO, appears to have shared an office w Brandon Van Grack on calendars obtained by @JudicialWatch
Something to highlight from the Mueller Report: Remember how Mueller sent questions to Trump; Trump responded in writing?
There's a question about foreign support ~not~ from Russia, tucked at end of the set of questions about Trump Tower.
Q on left, Trump answer on right
There's a question about foreign support ~not~ from Russia, tucked at end of the set of questions about Trump Tower.
Q on left, Trump answer on right
Walton pressing DOJ to explain redactions to the Mueller Report delivered a final revelation the night of RBG's death.
What was redacted transferred investigation No.11 in Mueller Report Appendix D?
“Foreign campaign contribution,” DOJ said, showing it was no longer ongoing
What was redacted transferred investigation No.11 in Mueller Report Appendix D?
“Foreign campaign contribution,” DOJ said, showing it was no longer ongoing
This is my ode to FOIA & unsealings. These types of public records are only available now thanks to petitioners (like @CNN!) and rulings in favor of transparency. Courts have allowed access to docs that give a fuller understanding of casework. But lots still confidential
