Mueller has made frequent use of "Speaking indictments" - a colloquial term used by attorneys and legal experts to describe indictments that go into more detail, and provide more facts, than what is required under law.
"A speaking indictment comes from the idea that the indictment does more than that - it speaks, it tells a story," said Jack Sharman, a former special counsel to Congress during the Whitewater investigation.
It is unclear precisely why Mueller is using speaking indictments, but people familiar with their use suspect he wants to use them to tell the public more about what his investigation believes happened in the 2016 election.
Speaking indictments are generally used in very complex cases, often those alleging conspiracy to commit a crime, where prosecutors must prove that co-conspirators committed at least one overt act to commit the underlying offense.
Mueller has used these detailed indictments to charge Russian nationals in the hacking conspiracy, as well as those allegedly involved in the Russian troll farm that spread divisive content on social media - both of which are linked to a broader plot to interfere in the election.
Mueller has also used speaking indictments to allege crimes committed by 's former campaign aides and Richard Gates.
Prosecutors' use of speaking indictments is a source of debate, particularly in cases that are unlikely to be tried in court.
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/402902-muellers-speaking-indictments-offer-clues-to-strategy
"A speaking indictment comes from the idea that the indictment does more than that - it speaks, it tells a story," said Jack Sharman, a former special counsel to Congress during the Whitewater investigation.
It is unclear precisely why Mueller is using speaking indictments, but people familiar with their use suspect he wants to use them to tell the public more about what his investigation believes happened in the 2016 election.
Speaking indictments are generally used in very complex cases, often those alleging conspiracy to commit a crime, where prosecutors must prove that co-conspirators committed at least one overt act to commit the underlying offense.
Mueller has used these detailed indictments to charge Russian nationals in the hacking conspiracy, as well as those allegedly involved in the Russian troll farm that spread divisive content on social media - both of which are linked to a broader plot to interfere in the election.
Mueller has also used speaking indictments to allege crimes committed by 's former campaign aides and Richard Gates.
Prosecutors' use of speaking indictments is a source of debate, particularly in cases that are unlikely to be tried in court.
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/402902-muellers-speaking-indictments-offer-clues-to-strategy
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