Ex-FBI agents subpoenaed in 'grand conspiracy' probe ask the judge a simple question: Am I even allowed to answer?

Here is the knot, plainly tied. According to the Associated Press, former FBI employees who worked the Mar-a-Lago classified-documents investigation have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, in the Justice Department's broad "grand conspiracy" probe of the president's perceived foes. On Thursday their lawyers asked Judge Aileen Cannon whether her earlier order barring release of non-public information about that case keeps them from testifying. Without an answer, they say, their choices are contempt, incomplete testimony, or invoking the Fifth. AP reports the department has floated immunity but not formally offered it. The witnesses say they broke no law and will "readily provide" a full account if the court allows it. Scripture warns about a house divided against itself. When one arm of government subpoenas witnesses that another arm's order may forbid from speaking, the people deserve a court to settle it in daylight. Whatever this probe finds, the rules ought to be clear before the questions are asked.