AP: Justice Dept. opposes House request for Mueller materials

[Laura PourMeADrink]

https://apnews.com/cf9ee3b20fcd40a393158e56bf648616

Justice Dept. opposes House request for Mueller materials
By MICHAEL BALSAMO
today

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department told a judge Friday that the House Judiciary Committee shouldn’t get access to secret grand jury material amassed during the special counsel’s Russia investigation, even as it weighs whether to pursue impeachment.

The response comes nearly two months after the committee filed a petition in federal court arguing that lawmakers need to obtain the grand jury material in order to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment.

In court papers filed in federal court in Washington, the Justice Department argued the committee hadn’t provided a sufficient explanation about how the material would help in the panel’s investigations of President Donald Trump . The government also argued that any potential impeachment proceeding in Congress wouldn’t be considered a “judicial proceeding” under law, for which the information could be disclosed.

“What may come of this investigation — if anything — remains unknown and unpredictable,” the department said in the filing.

More at link

[StarfishSaver]

3. It's also a violation of the rules of Civil Procedure for a lawyer to file a pleading not well-based

in fact and law, i.e., not frivolous.

Rule 11. Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions

(b) Representations to the Court. By presenting to the court a pleading, written motion, or other paper—whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating it—an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the person's knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances:

(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation;

(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a non-frivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;

(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and

(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.

Lawyers who violate Rule 11 are subject to serious monetary sanctions.

[dlk]

2. Of Course, Barr & His DOJ Oppose Releasing the Mueller Materials

There are too many facts in them.

[dlk]

5. Would you prefer the word crimes?

No doubt they are hiding evidence (facts) of crimes.

[dlk]

7. The Entire Trump Administration Belongs Behind Bars

Lock them all up and throw away the key!