A federal judge in DC appointed by President Trump rejected a Russian company’s challenge to the legitimacy of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Concord Management and Consulting asked that U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich dismiss criminal charges brought by Mueller for alleged interference in the 2016 election. Friedrich refused on Monday in a 41-page opinion.
She found Mueller an “inferior officer” (meaning he does not need presidential appointment or senate confirmation) and that he was acting under supervision of the acting Attorney General.
Concord is own by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, dubbed Putin’s chef because he is a caterer with links to Putin. Concord was charged with conspiracy for allegedly funding the troll farms that flooded US social media during the 2016 election campaign.
Concord was indicted along with two other Russian companies and 13 Russian individuals.
Friedrich said the appointment order for Mueller does not limit him to investigating individuals and entities that are part of the Russian government. Mueller may investigate the Russian government’s interference “efforts, which involved non-governmental third parties.”
“Because the investigation of Concord was authorized, so was the prosecution,” she wrote.
Case: US v. Concord Management & Consulting, No. 18-cr-32 (DC Dist. Court)
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