Politico suggests that Mueller may in fact be quietly subpoenaing Trump to a grand jury, all under everyone’s noses:
But now, thanks to Politico’s reporting (backed up by the simple gumshoe move of sitting in the clerk’s office waiting to see who walks in and requests what file), we may know what Mueller has been up to: Since mid-August, he may have been locked in proceedings with Trump and his lawyers over a grand jury subpoena—in secret litigation that could tell us by December whether the president will testify before Mueller’s grand jury.
The evidence lies in obscure docket entries at the clerk’s office for the D.C. Circuit. Thanks to Politico’s Josh Gerstein and Darren Samuelsohn, we know that on August 16th (the day after Giuliani said he was almost finished with his memorandum, remember), a sealed grand jury case was initiated in the D.C. federal district court before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. We know that on September 19, Chief Judge Howell issued a ruling and 5 days later one of the parties appealed to the D.C. Circuit. And thanks to Politico’s reporting, we know that the special counsel’s office is involved (because the reporter overheard a conversation in the clerk’s office). We can further deduce that the special counsel prevailed in the district court below, and that the presumptive grand jury witness has frantically appealed that order and sought special treatment from the judges of the D.C. Circuit—often referred to as the “second-most important court in the land.”
Nothing about the docket sheets, however, discloses the identity of the witness. Politico asked many of the known attorneys for Mueller witnesses—including Jay Sekulow, another Trump lawyer—and every one denied knowledge of the identity of the witness. (What, of course, would we expect a lawyer to say when asked about a proceeding the court has ordered sealed?)
The author goes on to point out how fast this is moving, suggesting the witness must be very high profile for this to be moving so quickly:
Back before the D.C. Circuit, this case’s very special handling continued. On October 10, the day the case returned to the court, the parties filed a motion for expedited handling, and within two days, the judges had granted their motion and set an accelerated briefing schedule. The witness was given just 11 days to file briefs; the special counsel (presumably) just two weeks to respond; and reply papers one week later, on November 14 (for those paying attention, that’s 8 days after the midterm elections). Oral arguments are set for December 14.
Back before the D.C. Circuit, this case’s very special handling continued. On October 10, the day the case returned to the court, the parties filed a motion for expedited handling, and within two days, the judges had granted their motion and set an accelerated briefing schedule. The witness was given just 11 days to file briefs; the special counsel (presumably) just two weeks to respond; and reply papers one week later, on November 14 (for those paying attention, that’s 8 days after the midterm elections). Oral arguments are set for December 14.
As Ed Morrissey points out, Kastas wouldn’t have recused himself if this was for someone like Roger Stone or Lisa Page.
So is this Trump? Morrissey believes the case laid out here by the author is compelling. But it could also be that Mueller is using this stealthy subpoena as part of his negotiations to get Trump in a room for deposition:
But is it Trump? Cunningham makes a good case here, in part by noting that none of these circumstances fits anyone else that Mueller might be targeting. Even if it is, though, that doesn’t mean Trump will be talking with a grand jury either. The subpoena might be an attempt to get Trump to negotiate in good faith for a deposition with investigators. If Mueller has that in mind, then a stealth subpoena is the right tactic to use.
I think the latter is more likely. But if Trump is forced to sit in front of a grand jury, it’ll be well after the midterms are over.