WASHINGTON - MARCH 09:  F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller speaks at a news conference at the bureau's headquaters March 9, 2007 in Washington, DC. Mueller was responding to a report by the Justice Department inspector general that concluded the FBI had committed 22 violations in its collection of information through the use of national security letters. The letters, which the audit numbered at 47,000 in 2005, allow the agency to collect information like telephone, banking and e-mail records without a judicially approved subpoena.   (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Mystery company fighting Mueller: New details emerge
01:11 - Source: CNN
Washington CNN  — 

The defendant in the mystery grand jury subpoena challenge related to the Mueller investigation is being represented by the law firm Alston & Bird, a firm that has previously represented Russian entities, a lawyer working to unseal the case confirmed Wednesday.

Ted Boutrous, the lawyer for the Reporters Committee, confirmed CNN’s prior reporting that Alston & Bird represents the foreign government-owned company facing scrutiny from special counsel Robert Mueller.

That subpoena case is now before the Supreme Court, and Boutrous’ team is attempting to get parts of it unsealed.

Boutrous said in a statement that the government revealed Alston & Bird’s identity during legal proceedings, and that they “did not object to the government’s disclosure originally, and neither party has suggested to us in their emails or otherwise that we need to keep counsel’s identity a secret.”

“Given these circumstances, we believe that there are no restrictions on us and that it is appropriate for us to confirm that, based on the events described above, the identity of Petitioner’s counsel in the Supreme Court is Brian Boone of Alston & Bird,” he added.

Court documents show that the foreign government-owned company is still fighting the subpoena for information needed in a criminal proceeding from last summer.

The Supreme Court hasn’t yet agreed to consider the mystery company’s request to challenge the subpoena itself. The court agreed Wednesday to review requests related to the case, including whether to entertain Boutrous’ effort to intervene in the case, behind closed doors on February 15.

CNN previously saw a team from Alston & Bird attend a sealed court hearing related to the case opposite several prosecutors from Mueller’s office.

The firm has represented Russian interests in the past, including working for a Russian oligarch and a contractor of the Russian government. Boone lists among his prior clients the Republican National Committee regarding public records litigation.