Courthouse Fun
Anyone in the Federal courthouse where the Mueller grand jury is sitting could have told reporters that Mueller had submitted a sealed indictment on Friday. When the special prosecutor and the foreman of his grand jury meet with a Federal judge, it is almost certain that the grand jury has issued a ‘true bill’, indictment. A glance at the docket in the clerk’s office would show the addition of an indictment for arraignment. There would be no indication of any of the details of the indictment, and the arraignment date would be the date information would probably be public. A member of the cleaning staff could have tipped off the press, or a reporter who covers the courthouse.
Popehat [Ken White] who is regularly referenced on Techdirt for his free speech efforts has a couple of explainers for people who are interested: The George Papadopoulos Guilty Plea and The Manafort/Gates Indictment.
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Apparently there have been three other indictments filed under seal at that Federal courthouse at the same time as the two that were made public Monday.
Popcorn munching time….
Without indications of arrests, they could be people “helping the police with their inquiries” as they say in British mystery novels. 🙂
Clovis just withdrew his name from consideration for appointment that required Senate confirmation. I don’t think he wants to give any more testimony under oath at the moment.