Special counsel Robert Mueller is asking a judge to limit what evidence is given to a Russian firm indicted for election meddling — because intelligence operations are still ongoing in regard to the case.
Mueller’s office is asking Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington to issue an order to limit what documents are shared with Concord Management and Consulting, a company that allegedly financially backed a Russian troll-farm.
Disclosing information would help foreign intelligence services — especially Russia — in “future operations against the United States,” Mueller’s prosecutors wrote in a filing Tuesday.
“The substance of the government’s evidence identifies uncharged individuals and entities that the government believes are continuing to engage in interference operations like those charged in the present indictment,” they explained.
Concord Management and Consulting has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy against the U.S. and asked the federal government to turn over troves of information as it prepares for trial.
According to federal prosecutors, the case involves thousands of communications and documents involving U.S. residents “who were, as alleged in the [February] indictment, unwittingly recruited by certain defendants and co-conspirators to engage in political activity inside the United States, such as attending Russian-organized rallies inside the United States.”
Mueller’s team is also worried that “certain foreign individuals” might try to intercept any information sent beyond law offices in the U.S.
“The evidence in this case will also include numerous reports and affidavits filed in connection with this investigation that describe investigative steps, identify uncharged co-conspirators, and disclose various law enforcement and intelligence collection techniques,” the filing reads.
The two attorneys representing Concord, Eric Dubelier and Katherine Seikaly, have accused the special counsel of a “make-believe” charge. Concord was one of two Russian companies charged by Mueller in February.
“The reason is obvious, and is political: to justify his own existence the Special Counsel has to indict a Russian — any Russian,” they wrote in a court filing last month.
Robert Mueller warns of active Russian intelligence operations in U.S. by Washington Examiner on Scribd
