$500/hr in DC would only get an att'y from 1-800-LAWYER, and yes it's an excellent tactic to get people to flip OR rack up legal bills. Mueller's most recent request sent to the WH came shortly after Jr spoke with the Senate Judiciary staff - he either heard something from Jr, or read something in the volumes of papers the WH gave him that needed follow up. Apparently only a few Senators on the Judiciary Comm thought it was important enough to sit in on Jr's 5-hour session with the committee's staff.