run the trap line

run the trap line
 v. phr.— «When somebody down in the—in the lower level of the operation—on the operational area wants to affect a change or doesn’t want to go along with the policy, they can run the trap line and go up through the back door and try to get somebody in your office to change it.» —“House Armed Services Committee Holds Hearing On Implementation Of Department Of Energy Reorganization” by Duncan Hunter Political Transcripts by Federal Document Clearing House Mar. 2, 2000. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)