Grand Jury (updated)

There's much to talk about today. I had not planned to write a post until late tonight, but the WSJ just published a headline that could signal the way toward an end to our long, national Trumpmare.

Special Counsel Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe
Expansion beyond Flynn grand jury is a sign the investigation in election meddling is ramping up

Since I do not have a WSJ subscription, I cannot give you anything beyond that. Still, this news is very encouraging. If Mueller has empaneled a grand jury -- well. That goes somewhat beyond the "ramping up" of an investigation, does it not? In the case of (say) a serial killer, a grand jury is not empaneled until after the cops have caught the guy and prosecutors have built a case.

I cannot imagine why a grand jury would be empaneled unless an indictment is being seriously considered. But an indictment of whom? Mueller must have built a criminal case against a specific individual or group of individuals. In other words, this investigation is not going to end with a simple report about Russian shenanigans.

This new grand jury isn't about Flynn. Mueller has targeted someone else. Maybe someone...orange.

You know the old saying: A prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.

Expect a truly INSANE reaction from Trump. Now comes the test of the claim that Kelly has taken control of Trump's tweeting.

More. From Business Insider:

The grand jury has been working for several weeks already, according to the Journal, and marks an escalation of the probe into last year's election meddling and whether President Donald Trump's campaign team had anything to do with it.

This may explain why Trump has seemed wackier than usual.

Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas who specializes in national security law, told the Journal that the grand jury is "a further sign that there is a long-term, large-scale series of prosecutions being contemplated and being pursued by the special counsel."

Emily Pierce, a former Justice Department official in the Obama administration, told Business Insider that impaneling a grand jury "does not necessarily mean Mueller will bring charges. But it certainly ups the ante for anyone who may be a target of this probe."

"Not necessarily..." Okay, that's true. But realistically, what are the chances that this move won't lead to an indictment of...of someone?

Still more: Here is the Reuters version of the WSJ story. It adds nothing we don't already know.

Added: The commentary on various liberal sites has begun. The observation that means the most to me is this one:

I've served on a federal grand jury...

The prosecutors had nearly irrefutable evidence. They were 100% professional and had their shit together.

The cases that were presented had a mountain of evidence.

I have no doubt Bob Mueller has a strong case.

Does this news validate Louise Mensch and Claude Taylor? No. Business Insider says that the Grand Jury has been operational -- in DC -- for "several weeks." Mensch and Taylor said that a Grand Jury was in place in early May, in New York, and had already delivered secret indictments. (Why secret? You tell me!) Nevertheless, lovely Louise is taking a victory lap right now.

It just occurred to me: The Grand Jury is in DC. Doesn't that mean that the Trump administration's fate is -- in all likelihood -- largely in the hands of black people? If so -- superb!