Mueller's team questioning Russian oligarchs

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

originally posted by: soberbacchus

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

Or you are still fishing.

He's going to be interviewing Greys next, and indicting elves. Is Santa one of the sealed indictments?

Honestly?

Oh boy once trump hears about this he’s gonna scream bloody murder

a reply to: soberbacchus

No you don't. All you need is the absolute power of a Grand Jury behind you. The Grand Jury is one of most abused elements in our legal system. Prosecutors know this and take advantage of the rules every day. You are not allowed legal representation in front of a Grand Jury nor allowed to not answer their questions. It is a desperate fishing expedition which is what the Grand Jury is all about

originally posted by: Lumenari

originally posted by: soberbacchus

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

Or you are still fishing.

He's going to be interviewing Greys next, and indicting elves.

Honestly?

To date, Mueller hasn't made a move without already knowing the outcome.

That is why so many have flipped or been prosecuted.

He already knew the answers via other evidence when he searched their homes, electronics, and questioned them.

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

originally posted by: DJMSN
a reply to: soberbacchus

No you don't. All you need is the absolute power of a Grand Jury behind you.

Nope. He still needs a judge to sign a search warrant and presents evidence to that judge warranting that search warrant.

If you are stopping and searching Foreign National Billionaires at JFK, no judge would OK that without compelling evidence.

To do it without substantial evidence would invite a few dozen lawyers with bottomless pockets of their boss to sue the US Gov. into oblivion.

Now who could it be... Rybolovlev, Deripaska, Abramovich, Vekselberg?

originally posted by: crtrvt
Now who could it be... Rybolovlev, Deripaska, Abramovich, Vekselberg?

I have to bet Derispaska is one of them.

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

Seem he missed the object of the investigation....Trump.

originally posted by: liveandlearn

Seem he missed the object of the investigation....Trump.

Trump is not "the object of" the investigation? Never was.

Russians interfering with and potentially colluding with Americans in the 2016 Campaign is the subject of his investigation.

If one of those Americans ends up being the President, then so be it. If not, just as well.

Let the evidence lead where it leads.

a reply to: soberbacchus

Perhaps you should read a little.

Federal grand jury subpoenas are almost never quashed on grounds that they call for irrelevant information or go beyond the grand jury's authority. Under the seminal Supreme Court case of United States v. R Enterprises, Inc., federal grand jury subpoenas are presumed to be reasonable and the burden of showing unreasonableness is on the recipient. A motion to quash a federal grand jury subpoena on relevancy grounds must be denied unless, “there is no reasonable possibility that the category of materials the Government seeks will produce information relevant to the general subject of the grand jury's investigation.

They can ask and will always receive. There is an old saying...a prosecutor could get a Grand Jury to indict a ham sandwich because they will always give a prosecutor an indictment they ask for, hence why the Grand Jury is the most abused element of our legal system.

corporate.findlaw.com...

Very low threshold for a subpoena and at an airport, your electronic items are subject to a search without warrant, this includes you and I thanks in part to the Patriot Act. I repeat...the Grand Jury is THE MOST ABUSED ELEMENT OF THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM.

://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/12/tsa-surveillance-laptops-cellphones-domestic-flights

CBP has also claimed it has the authority to conduct warrantless searches of electronic devices at international border crossings, without probable cause, sparking an ACLU challenge.

Keeping the above in mind, beware that there are numerous reports of TSA agents asking for electronic devices from individuals on domestic flights which they are not suppose to do but hey...if you give it to them and it's unlocked...whats to stop them.

Another reason that Prosecutors LOVE a Grand Jury, and especially in this case, is that they must operate in absolute secrecy. Testim9ny is sealed and indictments are sealed unless you want to leak out tidbits here and there to influence potential witness testimony as we have seen.

originally posted by: soberbacchus

originally posted by: Lumenari

originally posted by: soberbacchus

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

Or you are still fishing.

He's going to be interviewing Greys next, and indicting elves.

Honestly?

To date, Mueller hasn't made a move without already knowing the outcome.

That is why so many have flipped or been prosecuted.

He already knew the answers via other evidence when he searched their homes, electronics, and questioned them.

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

To date, he hasn't actually found anything to attach Russians to Trump, according to him.

If you haven't seen him miss yet, perhaps you should read up on his work record. He seemed to miss Hillary all over the place.

Look, there is a portion of the US that turns on CNN to know what they feel and think for the day.

There is a portion of the US that turns on Fox news to know what they feel and think for the day.

The REST of the US, the 60% one party or the other needs to actually get elected in most districts, see the Mueller investigation for what it is.

It is two-fold... the first part is to run interference for Hillary and Obama to keep them out of the fray.

The second part is for the investigation to remain relevant enough to muddy the waters for the midterm elections to hopefully pull the House to a Dem majority again, so they can start articles of impeachment against Trump because... he's orange and he's not a Progressive and they hate him. Not exactly a high crime there, but keep dreaming.

So the way I see it, Mueller and the Dems are so invested in the battle that they have already lost the war.

As an independent, I didn't vote for Trump, didn't care. I thought both candidates sucked.

As a result of over a year of screaming and vagina hats and a complicit media trying to tear down the guy, I am registering Republican for the first time in my life. My family are Dems since forever... they are all swapping.

Because we can see through the BS.

So have fun with "this is all going to magically make Hillary president because she deserves it."

Dems have lost the war. And they deserved to. Look at their current platform. Keeping Mueller going is just making it worse, because you can't win anything with just the Dem's base.

originally posted by: soberbacchus

originally posted by: Lumenari

originally posted by: soberbacchus

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

Or you are still fishing.

He's going to be interviewing Greys next, and indicting elves.

Honestly?

To date, Mueller hasn't made a move without already knowing the outcome.

That is why so many have flipped or been prosecuted.

He already knew the answers via other evidence when he searched their homes, electronics, and questioned them.

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

Star for that. The FBI isn't going to ask you a question unless they already know the answer.

a reply to: DJMSN

!0 stars for you on that post, you are entirely correct on the low/no bar for prosecutors and granting indictments.

People just don't understand the process.

a reply to: crtrvt

Those are good guesses. Agalarov is another possibility.

originally posted by: soberbacchus

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has taken the unusual step of questioning Russian oligarchs who traveled into the US, stopping at least one and searching his electronic devices when his private jet landed at a New York area airport, according to multiple sources familiar with the inquiry.

A second Russian oligarch was stopped during a recent trip to the US, although it is not clear if he was searched, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mueller's team has also made an informal voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch who has not traveled to the US recently.

The situations have one thing in common: Investigators are asking whether wealthy Russians illegally funneled cash donations directly or indirectly into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and inauguration.

www.cnn.com...

You have to have some compelling evidence to stop, question and search Billionaires as well as seize their electronics at the airport.

Interesting.

Uhm no you dont. Not when they are entering the US. It falls under the border search exception to the 4th amendment.

and like the other poster stated - Ahab is still hunting for his white whale.

a reply to: DJMSN

Scotus has ruled searches of electronics are subject to a warrant or consent requirement. They do not fall under the standard search incident to arrest. However a different standard applies at a US port of entrance and falls under a border search exception under the 4th.

The only exception is the border search exception under the 4th.

* - Customs and Border Patrol Search Authority

Unless exempt by diplomatic status, all travelers entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, participate in routine Customs processing. We may also examine your baggage, including electronic equipment, or your car, which we have the legal authority to do. The authority to delay and speak with travelers derives from the United States Code (section citations below) enables CBP to prevent the entry of persons who are inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and to prevent the smuggling of merchandise, including narcotics and other contraband items, into the United States.

The exact legal citation for our search authority can be found in Title 19 of the United States Code, Sections 482, 1467, 1496, 1581 and 1582. All persons, baggage, and other merchandise arriving in or leaving the United States are subject to inspection and search by CBP officers. Various laws (including 8 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1357, 19 U.S.C. 482, 1581, 1582) enforced by CBP authorize such searches.

The Supreme Court decisions have upheld the doctrine that CBP's search authority is unique and does not violate the fourth amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, with this authority, CBP expects all of its officers to conduct their duties in a professional manner, and treat each traveler respectfully.

CBP understands that such searches are unpleasant and invasive, we have developed strict guidelines for the conditions under which such a search would be conducted.

For further information, please see CBP Search Authority under the Travel section of this Website.

If you wish to receive automatic updates to this Q&A, select "Subscribe to Updates" on the left side of this screen.

* - ***PDF*** Protecting the U.S. Perimeter: Border Searches Under the Fourth Amendment
Yule Kim Legislative Attorney June 29, 2009

The latest update came in January of 2018 -
U.S. Customs And Border Protection Sets New Rules For Searching Electronic Devices

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents need to have "reasonable suspicion" to carry out "advanced" searches on electronic devices, including smartphones and tablets, that belong to individuals entering or exiting the country, the agency announced Friday.

The updated rules allow agents to continue to inspect information that's stored on a device, not in the cloud. But from now on, they can't copy that information or connect to an external device to analyze the contents, unless they have reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior.

"In this digital age, border searches of electronic devices are essential to enforcing the law at the U.S. border and to protecting the American people," John Wagner, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, said in a statement.

"CBP's authority for the border search of electronic devices is and will continue to be exercised judiciously, responsibly, and consistent with the public trust," he added.

The new directive instructs agents to demonstrate reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity or show that there is a "national security concern" in order to conduct advanced searches.

click link for entire article...

This stems from the ACLU getting their panty's in a bunch. Note this is a policy change and not a legal requirement by the courts.


* - 4th Amendment - searches, definitions and exceptions - Cornell Law

The only people that use that term oligarch are wing nuts.

And the source was CNN.

Case proven.

originally posted by: soberbacchus

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

All he's been so far is a Lambkiller.

No big fish. All small frys that were set up after they got silently discovered by the "target".

Maybe next he'll try to kill Bambi too 👋🤓👋

originally posted by: soberbacchus

He doesn't fish, he hunts, and I haven't seen him miss yet.

and Mueller is so deep in the woods he will find a candy house and an old lady before collusion.