So, what would Mueller’s ace in the (loop)hole be here? Figliuzzi thinks it’s the possibility of sealed state court cases. The former domestic spy said:

“I think there are plans being put in place. What I call prosecutorial parachute with maybe sealed cases tied up in those for certain state, U.S. state district attorney’s offices and various U.S. attorneys around the states. The clock is ticking.”

Recall: the special counsel has already referred at least one case to a state U.S. Attorney’s Office–the president’s one-time friend and fixer, Michael Cohen. This decision has reaped a hefty amount of dividends for Mueller’s broader investigation into Trump and his associates.