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.