特朗普刚刚展示了他的下一步行动……

本周早些时候，特朗普总统表示，他有机会追责拜登、奥巴马和克林顿，但他选择不这么做，因为他认为总统办公室“神圣不可侵犯”。

然后，在周五，特朗普向最高法院提出申请，试图重启他对希拉里·克林顿、詹姆斯·科米以及其他人的诉讼，该诉讼涉及2016年俄罗斯“通俄门”指控。

这是在克拉伦斯·托马斯大法官批准延长期限之后。

现在注意其中的区别。

特朗普作为总统，指示司法部开展刑事调查是一回事。

唐纳德·特朗普作为私人身份的民事诉讼当事人，提起RICO诉讼则是完全不同的事。

前者涉及行政部门行使起诉权。

后者涉及私人个体通过司法部门行使其合法权利。

而这里就是有趣的地方。

如果最高法院重启这一民事诉讼，它可能会重新打开发现程序的大门。

文件。 通信记录。 传票。 证人质询。 宣誓证词。

如果通过民事发现程序揭露了犯罪行为的证据，这些证据可能会被移交联邦检察官，进行独立的刑事调查，受适用的诉讼时效法规限制。

民事诉讼无法判定某人有罪。

但民事诉讼中发现的证据可以成为刑事调查的证据。

特朗普是否在区分使用总统权力追责政治对手，与作为私人公民通过法院寻求问责的权利？

两种完全不同的法律机制。

两种完全不同的政府部门。

以及可能通往揭露证据的两种截然不同的路径。

Trump Just Showed His Next Move...

Earlier this week, President Trump said he had opportunities to go after Biden, Obama, and Clinton but chose not to because he believes the Office of the President "is sacred".

Then, on Friday, Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to revive his lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and others over the 2016 Russia collusion allegations.

This was after after Justice Clarence Thomas granted an extension of the deadline.

Now pay attention to the distinction.

Trump, acting as President, directing the DOJ to pursue criminal investigations is one thing.

Donald Trump, acting in his private capacity as a civil litigant, pursuing a RICO lawsuit is something entirely different.

One involves the executive branch exercising prosecutorial authority.

The other involves a private individual exercising his legal rights through the judicial branch.

And here's where it gets interesting.

If the Supreme Court revives the civil lawsuit, it could potentially reopen the door to discovery.

Documents. Communications. Subpoenas. Depositions. Sworn testimony.

And if evidence of criminal conduct is uncovered through civil discovery, that evidence could potentially be referred to federal prosecutors for an independent criminal investigation, subject to applicable statutes of limitations.

A civil lawsuit cannot convict someone of a crime.

But evidence uncovered in civil litigation can become evidence in a criminal investigation.

Could Trump be distinguishing between using the power of the presidency to pursue political adversaries and exercising his rights as a private citizen to seek accountability through the courts?

Two entirely different legal mechanisms.

Two entirely different branches of government.

And potentially two very different paths to uncovering evidence.