If Mueller was trying to protect the investigation, he might want delegate certain cases to lower courts. Once done, there might not be a legal mechanism to 'regain custody' of said cases if he discovered that his investigation would not be hampered by the White House. He also could've left sealed indictments with the instruction to open if he gets hampered in any way by Barr or Whittaker.
I don't believe that SDNY, for example, would have to return any unopened indictments at Barr's request. If true, the illusion of safety would be created in the WH even as the hammer is about to drop on Trump's kids.
Or not.
This investigation, if followed to it's logical conclusion, might bring down the entire governmental structure while we watch. Would every investigative body involved let that happen?
We'll soon see.
