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BumRushDaShow

(130,016 posts)
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 04:41 PM Jan 2019

Supreme Court rules against mystery corporation 'from Country A' fighting subpoena in Mueller invest

Source: Washington Post

The Supreme Court on Tuesday left in place a lower court order requiring an unnamed foreign-owned corporation to comply with a subpoena said to be part of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The court dissolved a temporary stay that had been put in place by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. In a short order, it did not give a reason for the decision, nor did it note any dissents.

The entity that is the subject of the cloaked legal battle -- known in court papers simply as a "Corporation" from "Country A" -- is a foreign financial institution that was issued a subpoena by a grand jury hearing evidence in the special counsel investigation, according to two people familiar with the case. It is thought to be the first time that an aspect of Mueller's wide-ranging probe into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign has reached the Supreme Court.

Last year, a federal court in Washington ordered the corporation to pay a daily fine until it complied with the subpoena, according to court records. An appeals court panel upheld that decision last month, prompting the company's lawyers to appeal to the Supreme Court. Late last month, Roberts, who receives emergency petitions from the D.C. Circuit, put the order and the fines on hold until the justices could consider the matter.

The secret nature of the case has prompted a Washington guessing-game about the information that Mueller is pursuing. In the lower courts and at the Supreme Court, details of the legal battle to get information from the corporation have been sealed. At one point an entire floor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit was closed to the public to protect the identity of the litigants.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-rules-against-mystery-corporation-from-country-a-fighting-subpoena-in-mueller-investigation/2019/01/08/a39b61ac-0d1a-11e9-84fc-d58c33d6c8c7_story.html



Full title: Supreme Court rules against mystery corporation from 'Country A' fighting subpoena in Mueller investigation

UPDATE above.

Original article -

By Washington Post Staff
January 8 at 3:38 PM

The court left in place a lower court order requiring an unnamed foreign-owned corporation to comply with a subpoena and dissolved a temporary stay that had been put in place by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. In a short order, it did not give a reason for the decision, nor did it note any dissents.

The entity that is the subject of the cloaked legal battle -- known in court papers simply as a "Corporation" from "Country A" -- is a foreign financial institution that was issued a subpoena by a grand jury hearing evidence in the special counsel investigation, according to two people familiar with the case.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/01/08/supreme-court-rules-against-mystery-corporation-from-country-a-fighting-subpoena-in-mueller-investigation/?utm_term.958016d5efcb


----

From Seth Abramson -



TEXT
Seth Abramson

@SethAbramson

Some cases are so historic, SCOTUS feels it must weigh in just to preserve the rule of law. That was the case in Bush v. Gore, and in 2019 we'll often find it to be the case in the Trump-Russia probe. So initial SCOTUS intercessions, like Roberts', shouldn't cause undue surprise.
Chris Geidner

@chrisgeidner

BREAKING: Supreme Court denies the foreign country-owned company's request to stay a contempt order resulting from its refusal to comply with a grand jury's subpoena. Chief Justice Roberts' "administrative stay" is vacated, so the result is the contempt order is back in effect.
View image on Twitter
267
3:48 PM - Jan 8, 2019



TEXT
Seth Abramson

@SethAbramson
· 17m

Some cases are so historic, SCOTUS feels it must weigh in just to preserve the rule of law. That was the case in Bush v. Gore, and in 2019 we'll often find it to be the case in the Trump-Russia probe. So initial SCOTUS intercessions, like Roberts', shouldn't cause undue surprise.

Seth Abramson

@SethAbramson

2/ In other words we may at times in 2019 hear of an "administrative stay" coming out of SCOTUS that makes us think the Court is going to rule a certain way, when in fact it's simply taking hold of a case so that it can be the one to issue the case's final, determinative holding.
29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Supreme Court rules against mystery corporation 'from Country A' fighting subpoena in Mueller invest (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jan 2019 OP
Trump is not having a good day C_U_L8R Jan 2019 #1
Good because he is not a good person. Nt helpisontheway Jan 2019 #9
Karma. It's not just a good idea. It's the law. WheelWalker Jan 2019 #24
I'm dreaming of his "Code Red" moment NewJeffCT Jan 2019 #18
I'm dreaming of his "Code Blue" moment volstork Jan 2019 #20
Only if Pence goes to help him, falls and breaks his neck. Cold War Spook Jan 2019 #22
No kidding! volstork Jan 2019 #23
OTOH azureblue Jan 2019 #25
I am not a Christian. Cold War Spook Jan 2019 #26
Now THIS.... does bring a smile to my face. PubliusEnigma Jan 2019 #2
If anything, I think what will shock most of the country louis-t Jan 2019 #3
Corrupt KGOP republican knees knocking in fear Achilleaze Jan 2019 #4
BREAKING: Supreme Court denies the foreign country-owned company's request to stay a contempt order mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2019 #5
Mr. Mueller does not saidsimplesimon Jan 2019 #6
K & R for visibility MFGsunny Jan 2019 #7
They are already hinted over hundreds of thousands of dollars. BigmanPigman Jan 2019 #8
And now, for a weather report from Country A: sandensea Jan 2019 #10
Woohoo, woohoo. iluvtennis Jan 2019 #11
Wow...so even Dump's illegitimate appointments couldn't tip the scales for him Dopers_Greed Jan 2019 #12
Is there any good idea who the corp. is? I am HOPING Deutsche Bank, with evidence of years of crime malchickiwick Jan 2019 #13
"I am HOPING Deutsche Bank" BumRushDaShow Jan 2019 #16
Between those two, I don't know which one to hope is the subject of investigation. BobTheSubgenius Jan 2019 #21
It can't be Deutsche Bank Jose Garcia Jan 2019 #27
This message was self-deleted by its author JPK Jan 2019 #14
Mr. Undefeated wins again. Whoot! ffr Jan 2019 #15
Great News! orangecrush Jan 2019 #17
Good to hear. Many on DU were worried about Roberts initial stay. 33taw Jan 2019 #19
The article speaks of the NRA. Well known traitor, Ollie North, heads up the NRA. NT Progressive Jones Jan 2019 #28
Country A... Rik von Beer Jan 2019 #29

NewJeffCT

(56,829 posts)
18. I'm dreaming of his "Code Red" moment
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 06:25 PM
Jan 2019

where he says Mueller can't handle the truth and admits to ordering the Code Red (Russian Collusion)

volstork

(5,403 posts)
20. I'm dreaming of his "Code Blue" moment
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 06:56 PM
Jan 2019

where he blows a gasket on national TV.

What a sweet dream that is...

 

Cold War Spook

(1,279 posts)
22. Only if Pence goes to help him, falls and breaks his neck.
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 07:09 PM
Jan 2019

I hope Schumer doesn't waste any time bringing the Bible and the Chief Justice over to Pelosi.

azureblue

(2,158 posts)
25. OTOH
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 10:06 PM
Jan 2019

Jesus was a socialist and taught the rich are obligated to help the poor. and see Matthew 25:31 -46 for Jesus' dire warning.

So it will be fun to hammer Pence with the teachings of Jesus and ask him why if he is a Christian, he is refusing to do what Jesus taught? That sort of makes Pence anti Christian, doesn't it...

From what little I know about Pence, he is blindly dogmatic. And those people who fall back on the Bible, the word of God, etc., can be induced into a crisis of faith, when they are confronted with matters like "why aren't you doing what Jesus tells you to do?"

 

Cold War Spook

(1,279 posts)
26. I am not a Christian.
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 10:40 PM
Jan 2019

I do try to follow Matthew 25: 35-39. Even in the Tanakn there are some good laws to follow.

louis-t

(23,313 posts)
3. If anything, I think what will shock most of the country
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 04:46 PM
Jan 2019

when Mueller's report comes out is the level of foreign interference in our elections, the amount of classified info given to Russia by Republicans, and the staggering amounts of cash owed to Russia by MF-45.

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)
4. Corrupt KGOP republican knees knocking in fear
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 04:48 PM
Jan 2019

...as more and more of their vile treason moves toward EXPOSURE.



mahatmakanejeeves

(57,754 posts)
5. BREAKING: Supreme Court denies the foreign country-owned company's request to stay a contempt order
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 04:48 PM
Jan 2019

I can't keep all these trials straight.

MilitaryEminentDomainHat Retweeted

BREAKING: Supreme Court denies the foreign country-owned company's request to stay a contempt order resulting from its refusal to comply with a grand jury's subpoena. Chief Justice Roberts' "administrative stay" is vacated, so the result is the contempt order is back in effect.


saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
6. Mr. Mueller does not
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 04:51 PM
Jan 2019

suffer fools lightly. If this Special Counsel issues a subpoena, a challenge is only going to provide a brief delay in the march to the guillotine.

Dopers_Greed

(2,640 posts)
12. Wow...so even Dump's illegitimate appointments couldn't tip the scales for him
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 05:06 PM
Jan 2019

He's going to be rabid this evening during his address

malchickiwick

(1,474 posts)
13. Is there any good idea who the corp. is? I am HOPING Deutsche Bank, with evidence of years of crime
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 05:35 PM
Jan 2019

The lack of leaks from an investigation that has reached into so many venues is a true testament to Mr. Mueller's professionalism and complete neutrality, everything the dotard lacks. Similarly, in my opinion, it speaks to the strength and stability of our judicial branch, and encourages me that it will be the wall we all think of when we look back on this shit-show of a "presidency"

BumRushDaShow

(130,016 posts)
16. "I am HOPING Deutsche Bank"
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 05:55 PM
Jan 2019

I keep thinking that one or possibly the somewhat notorious Alfa Bank (with its data communications to the campaign server).

EDIT TO ADD - see this little thread on that - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211642921

You had DeVos and brother Erik Prince involved with a Russian back-channel meeting... and then this connection in terms of server communications -

Only one other entity seemed to be reaching out to the Trump Organization’s domain with any frequency: Spectrum Health, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Spectrum Health is closely linked to the DeVos family; Richard DeVos, Jr., is the chairman of the board, and one of its hospitals is named after his mother. His wife, Betsy DeVos, was appointed Secretary of Education by Donald Trump. Her brother, Erik Prince, is a Trump associate who has attracted the scrutiny of Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Trump’s ties to Russia. Mueller has been looking into Prince’s meeting, following the election, with a Russian official in the Seychelles, at which he reportedly discussed setting up a back channel between Trump and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. (Prince maintains that the meeting was “incidental.”) In the summer of 2016, Max and the others weren’t aware of any of this. “We didn’t know who DeVos was,” Max said.

<...>

The D.N.S. records raised vexing questions. Why was the Trump Organization’s domain, set up to send mass-marketing e-mails, conducting such meagre activity? And why were computers at Alfa Bank and Spectrum Health trying to reach a server that didn’t seem to be doing anything? After analyzing the data, Max said, “We decided this was a covert communication channel.”

<...>

One remarkable aspect of Foer’s story involved the way that the Trump domain had stopped working. On September 21st, he wrote, the Times had delivered potential evidence of communications to B.G.R., a Washington lobbying firm that worked for Alfa Bank. Two days later, the Trump domain vanished from the Internet. (Technically, its “A record,” which translates the domain name to an I.P. address, was deleted. If the D.N.S. is a phone book, the domain name was effectively decoupled from its number.) For four days, the servers at Alfa Bank kept trying to look up the Trump domain. Then, ten minutes after the last attempt, one of them looked up another domain, which had been configured to lead to the same Trump Organization server.

<...>

Alfa Bank was founded by Mikhail Fridman, in the last years of the Soviet Union. Fridman was born in western Ukraine and studied metallurgy in college. Like many others of his generation, he was introduced to the market economy through hustle. He sold theatre tickets, washed windows, and ran a student discothèque. After the Soviet Union collapsed, in 1991, Fridman joined the scramble to befriend members of the new government and amass a fortune with help from the state. Along with an economist named Petr Aven, who had previously served as the country’s minister for foreign economic relations, Fridman built Alfa Bank into one of the most successful businesses in the new Russia. Its parent company, Alfa Group, now controls the country’s largest private bank, along with financial institutions in several European nations.

Refresher stuff on this - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/15/was-there-a-connection-between-a-russian-bank-and-the-trump-campaign


Some more on Alfa - https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/maria-butina-paul-erickson-suspicious-bank-money-russia

Dutch just raided the subsidiary in their country - https://www.reuters.com/article/netherlands-russia-bank/corrected-dutch-subsidiary-of-russias-alfa-bank-raided-in-money-laundering-investigation-idUSL8N1OC4SM

BobTheSubgenius

(11,580 posts)
21. Between those two, I don't know which one to hope is the subject of investigation.
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 07:08 PM
Jan 2019

More investigation, I should say.

Those two are easily the two leading candidates, at least in my mind, but it could also be a private equity firm belonging to one of the Russian oligarchs. That would be OK,. too.

Whatever causes the most disruption of their operations, and that of their "client" (co-conspirator) and the worst PR nightmare is fine by me.

Jose Garcia

(2,612 posts)
27. It can't be Deutsche Bank
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 10:53 PM
Jan 2019

Deutsche Bank is a publicly traded corporation. The company involved in this litigation is owned by a foreign government.

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

ffr

(22,681 posts)
15. Mr. Undefeated wins again. Whoot!
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 05:47 PM
Jan 2019


Mueller is damn good at what he does. He may help save the union yet.

33taw

(2,448 posts)
19. Good to hear. Many on DU were worried about Roberts initial stay.
Tue Jan 8, 2019, 06:34 PM
Jan 2019

I am glad this worked out. Sometimes we need to wait out the procedural stuff.

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