Agents involved in Mar-a-Lago search ask Judge Aileen Cannon whether gag order blocks testimony

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FBI agents who probed Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home asked Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday whether they could testify before a grand jury — or even consult their lawyers — as part of an investigation into whether former government officials conspired against the president.

According to the filing, the current and former agents were subpoenaed to testify about their work in the the sweeping South Florida investigation into whether federal officials who criminally investigated Trump participated in a coordinated effort to deprive him of his rights.

But the agents said they were unsure what they could disclose because Cannon restricted disclosure of special counsel Jack Smith’s report and non-public information associated with it.

The former agents describe being in a bind. If the agents share information that Cannon has prohibited from disclosure, they risk being held in contempt of that order, according to the filing. But they could also find themselves in legal trouble for not providing information that the grand jury is requesting, their attorneys said.

The agents’ filing adds to the uncertainty surrounding the “grand conspiracy” investigation, one of the president’s top priorities at the Justice Department.

CNN has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

Earlier this month, Joe diGenova, the attorney who oversaw the probe, resigned after clashing with senior department officials over its pace, CNN reported . His departure surprised officials who had expected charges within weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Trump admin pick to oversee a conspiracy investigation into president’s foes resigns after DOJ clashes

Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Aakash Singh last week traveled to Florida for a meeting scheduled before diGenova’s resignation, two of the sources said. Instead, after his resignation, they met with US Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones and his deputy, Yara Klukas, to discuss the investigation’s future.

The meeting produced few answers, the people said. Quiñones and Klukas would oversee the probe for now, they agreed, with assistance from McCotter and Singh in Washington, the sources said. The prosecution team continues to pursue possible individual cases against Trump political critics, sources told CNN, though charges in the immediate future were very unlikely, the officials agreed during the Florida meeting.

Still, investigators have sent grand jury subpoenas to multiple officials involved in past investigations of the president, including the agents on the Mar-a-Lago case. Former CIA Director John Brennan also received a subpoena to testify as part of the probe, his lawyers have said.

And a former supervisor in the FBI’s Russia 2016 election interference investigation recently sat for an interview with investigators, CNN previously reported. That person was given immunity by prosecutors.

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周四，调查唐纳德·特朗普在其海湖庄园处理机密文件的联邦调查局特工向法官艾琳·坎农询问，作为对前政府官员是否密谋反对总统的调查的一部分，他们是否可以在大陪审团面前作证，甚至咨询他们的律师。

根据提交的文件，现任和前任特工被传唤作证，说明他们在南佛罗里达州进行的大规模调查中的工作，该调查旨在查明对特朗普进行刑事调查的联邦官员是否参与了剥夺其权利的协调行动。

但特工们表示，他们不确定可以披露哪些信息，因为坎农限制了特别检察官杰克·史密斯的报告及其相关非公开信息的披露。

这些前特工表示他们进退两难。根据提交的文件，如果他们泄露了坎农法官禁止披露的信息，就可能因藐视法庭罪而受到起诉。但他们的律师表示，他们也可能因为拒绝提供大陪审团要求的信息而惹上法律麻烦。

特工们提交的文件加剧了围绕“重大阴谋”调查的不确定性，而这正是总统在司法部最重要的优先事项之一。

CNN已联系司法部寻求置评。

据美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）报道，本月初，负责监督调查的律师乔·迪杰诺瓦因与司法部高级官员在调查进度上发生冲突而辞职。知情人士透露，他的离职令官员们感到意外，他们原本预计几周内就会提出指控。

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特朗普政府提名的负责调查总统政敌阴谋论的官员在与司法部发生冲突后辞职

据两位消息人士透露，代理副司法部长特伦特·麦科特和首席副司法部长阿卡什·辛格上周前往佛罗里达州，参加原定于迪杰诺瓦辞职前举行的会议。然而，在迪杰诺瓦辞职后，他们转而与美国检察官杰森·雷丁·奎诺内斯及其副手亚拉·克卢卡斯会面，讨论调查的未来走向。

据知情人士透露，此次会议并未取得多少实质性进展。消息人士称，他们一致同意，奎尼奥内斯和克卢卡斯将暂时负责调查，华盛顿的麦科特和辛格将提供协助。消息人士告诉CNN，检方仍在继续调查针对特朗普政治批评者的个人案件，但官员们在佛罗里达州的会议上一致认为，近期内提出指控的可能性极小。

尽管如此，调查人员已向多名曾参与总统过往调查的官员发出大陪审团传票，其中包括负责海湖庄园案的特工。前中央情报局局长约翰·布伦南的律师表示，他也收到了传票，要求他作为调查的一部分作证。

据CNN此前报道，一名曾参与FBI 2016年俄罗斯干预美国大选调查的前主管最近接受了调查人员的问询。此人已获得检方豁免权。