# A Thread for the Mueller Investigation Results and Outcomes (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093 "2017-10-28T20:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 137
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2722 "2018-02-23T05:47:23Z")
I can’t wait to see how [this event](https://apnews.com/c303bcc5511d402b877f9555bb23bc0f/China-prosecuting-tycoon-who-considered-Kushner-investment) is entangled in the whole Trumpsia mess: > [@](#): > > The founder of one of China’s biggest insurers, who had discussed possibly investing in a Manhattan skyscraper owned by the family of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, will be prosecuted for financial offenses and regulators have taken control of his company, the government announced Friday. > > Anbang Insurance Group chairman Wu Xiaohui is charged with improper fundraising and “taking others’ money,” according to a statement by the Shanghai prosecutor’s office. It gave no details and there was no indication the charges were linked to Wu’s talks with the family of Jared Kushner, which ended last March with no deal. > [@](#): > > Regulators took control of Anbang, which owns Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, to protect its solvency and consumer rights, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission said on its website. It said the company will be run by a committee of officials from China’s central bank, foreign exchange regulator and other agencies. > > The takeover will not affect the company’s debt obligations, the statement said. > > Anbang has been under scrutiny since a multibillion-dollar string of global acquisitions raised questions about how it paid for its buying spree, including the $2 billion purchase of the Waldorf. > > Anbang’s negotiations with Kushner Cos. about a possible investment in its flagship property, 666 Fifth Ave., prompted members of the U.S. Congress to raise ethics concerns. I’m starting to think that we need to be asking “how many countries did/do the Trumps help launder money from”, not “did they do anything wrong”. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2723 "2018-02-23T07:42:58Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Yes, as in “In furtherance of the scheme to get ice cream, I propose that…”. It will drive my kids bonkers. I like it. I think it’s lacking something. How about ‘… to obtain ice cream…’ Or ‘acquire’ ? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2724 "2018-02-23T07:56:42Z")
I propose “dominate” as the dominative verb in that sentence about food. “In furtherance of the scheme to dominate ice cream, I propose…” Ah, Bucky Katt, you’ve taught me so much! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2725 "2018-02-23T08:06:11Z")
Procure. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2726 "2018-02-23T09:33:28Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Procure. Source, evaluate and procure frozen dairy-based comestibles, consumption, for the purpose of. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2727 "2018-02-23T09:44:06Z")
I think it needs a hereby. In furtherance of the scheme to source and procure ad hoc ice cream portions to be evaluated and, if appropriate, consumed, I hereby advance the proposal that… Some of us have waaay to much experience with corporate bingo and not enough ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2728 "2018-02-23T14:15:37Z")
I still don’t know how this wasn’t bigger news, but even [Manafort’s daughter described Trump](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-manafort-daughter-trump-texts_us_59f748b6e4b03cd20b832fe0) and Manafort as up to shady shit together in her leaked text messages from last year: “Dad and Trump are literally living in the same building and mom says they go up and down all day long hanging and plotting together.” and describes their relationship as ["The most dangerous friendship in America,”](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/manaforts-ukrainian-blood-money-caused-qualms-hack-suggests-235473) She seems nice though: “I hope my dad pulls it off. Then I can sell my memoir with all his dirty secrets for a pretty penny.” ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2729 "2018-02-23T15:45:30Z")
NY Times sez Gates is flipping. Possibly today. > **[Rick Gates, Trump Campaign Aide, Pleads Guilty in Mueller Inquiry and Will...](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/rick-gates-guilty-plea-mueller-investigation.html)** > > The plea deal could be a sign that Mr. Gates plans to share incriminating information against Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, or other members of the campaign. > [@](#): > > A former top adviser to Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign indicted by the special counsel was expected to plead guilty as soon as Friday afternoon, according to two people familiar with his plea agreement, a move that signals he is cooperating with the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2730 "2018-02-23T17:06:18Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I still don’t know how this wasn’t bigger news, but even [Manafort’s daughter described Trump](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-manafort-daughter-trump-texts_us_59f748b6e4b03cd20b832fe0) and Manafort as up to shady shit together in her leaked text messages from last year: > > “Dad and Trump are literally living in the same building and mom says they go up and down all day long hanging and plotting together.” > > and describes their relationship as ["The most dangerous friendship in America,”](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/manaforts-ukrainian-blood-money-caused-qualms-hack-suggests-235473) > > She seems nice though: > > “I hope my dad pulls it off. Then I can sell my memoir with all his dirty secrets for a pretty penny.” I’m going to guess that the obscure (by which I mean “completely unknown”) website that dug up the texts and the fact that the news is only about 15 days old (I see a February 8 date in the story but no dateline) are why. Reading thru it tho, I have a hard time believing Manafort won’t be pleading guilty very soon; no fucking way he (and his people) want things aired in public trial IMO. Thank you for that link, eh. This is the first I’ve heard of those texts (and I spend a lot of time reading about this) and they are, if not bombshells, surely flashbang grenades. ETA: [The original article at Krypt3ia.com](https://krypt3ia.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/the-russia-connection-paul-manafort/) is even more devastating than the Huffpost article. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2731 "2018-02-23T17:12:42Z")
Missed my edit window; [there’s a 2nd article at Krypt3ia](https://krypt3ia.wordpress.com/2017/02/27/about-that-manafort-leak/) ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2732 "2018-02-23T17:13:40Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m going to guess that the obscure (by which I mean “completely unknown”) website that dug up the texts and the fact that the news is only about 15 days old (I see a February 8 date in the story but no dateline) are why. Reading thru it tho, I have a hard time believing Manafort won’t be pleading guilty very soon; no fucking way he (and his people) want things aired in public trial IMO. > > Thank you for that link, eh. This is the first I’ve heard of those texts (and I spend a lot of time reading about this) and they are, if not bombshells, surely flashbang grenades. > > ETA: [The original article at Krypt3ia.com](https://krypt3ia.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/the-russia-connection-paul-manafort/) is even more devastating than the Huffpost article. Check out the year. It was February of 2017. These texts have been out for over a year now. And, as you note, I picked a few choice quotes, but there is more and it paints Manafort as a murderer for hire. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2733 "2018-02-23T17:25:11Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Check out the year. It was February of 2017. These texts have been out for over a year now. And, as you note, I picked a few choice quotes, but there is more and it paints Manafort as a murderer for hire. Okay, I went back and looked and it took me a couple of minutes to find it in the upper corner of the first image. It was squished so much on my screen that I couldn’t read the text until I clicked the image and it embiggened itself. In that case, I’d guess that Mueller’s folks have known about this for months now; they really don’t seem like the type of people that ignore details. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2734 "2018-02-23T17:32:16Z")
I mean, when your own daughter states: "Don’t fool yourself. That money we have is blood money.” “You know he has killed people in Ukraine? Knowingly. As a tactic to outrage the world and get focus on Ukraine. Remember when there were all those deaths taking place. A while back. About a year ago. Revolts and what not. Do you know whose strategy that was to cause that, to send those people out and get them slaughtered." You’re probably in a lot of trouble. So, either he flips because that’s his only option, or he doesn’t flip because he’s scared of being killed. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2735 "2018-02-23T17:52:27Z")
AFAIK, the first rule is still “You do not talk about Fight Club”. If Manafort has any brain in his head at all, he’ll know that even if he has to plead guilty, opening his mouth is not an option if he wants to live past his next birthday; he knows what kind of people he’s been dealing with. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2736 "2018-02-23T18:09:58Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > NY Times sez Gates is flipping. Possibly today. > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/rick-gates-guilty-plea-mueller-investigation.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/rick-gates-guilty-plea-mueller-investigation.html) [Definitely today; 2pm in fact](https://apnews.com/d783c2fdba7642c290eddd965452603a/Ex-Trump-campaign-aide-agrees-to-guilty-plea-in-Russia-probe): > [@](#): > > Rick Gates is set to appear at 2 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Washington for a plea agreement hearing. A court filing shows Gates has agreed to plea to charges accusing him of conspiring against the U.S. government related to fraud and unregistered foreign lobbying as well as lying to federal authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2737 "2018-02-23T19:58:51Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Definitely today; 2pm in fact](https://apnews.com/d783c2fdba7642c290eddd965452603a/Ex-Trump-campaign-aide-agrees-to-guilty-plea-in-Russia-probe): Yup, it’s officially official! Two counts - conspiracy and lying to the FBI. That’s quite a bit down from what was filed yesterday… > **[Former Trump campaign official Rick Gates pleads guilty to 2 charges](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-trump-campaign-official-rick-gates-expected-to-plead-guilty-and-cooperate-with-special-counsel-in-probe-of-russian-election-interference/2018/02/23/ceaaeac8-16b4-11e8-b681-2d4d462a1921_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_gates-11a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.fd5f46ab7aa0)** > > Gates, who also served on Trump’s inaugural committee, admits to conspiracy and lying to the FBI and will cooperate with special counsel. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2738 "2018-02-23T20:01:19Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > Yup, it’s officially official! > > Two counts - conspiracy and lying to the FBI. That’s quite a bit down from what was filed yesterday… > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-trump-campaign-official-rick-gates-expected-to-plead-guilty-and-cooperate-with-special-counsel-in-probe-of-russian-election-interference/2018/02/23/ceaaeac8-16b4-11e8-b681-2d4d462a1921\_story.html?hpid=hp\_hp-top-table-main\_gates-11a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm\_term=.fd5f46ab7aa0](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-trump-campaign-official-rick-gates-expected-to-plead-guilty-and-cooperate-with-special-counsel-in-probe-of-russian-election-interference/2018/02/23/ceaaeac8-16b4-11e8-b681-2d4d462a1921_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_gates-11a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.fd5f46ab7aa0) IANAL but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Gate’s lawyers need more time to look at yesterday’s charges before they’d advise him to plead (or not plead) guilty to all that as well. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2739 "2018-02-23T20:05:03Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > IANAL but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Gate’s lawyers need more time to look at yesterday’s charges before they’d advise him to plead (or not plead) guilty to all that as well. Oh granted I’m skimming articles between meetings at work, but I took it to mean that Gates took a plea deal and is gonna do like 6 months at Country Club Prisons Inc in exchange for the goods on Manafort and probably Trump\* - Seeing as how Gates was deputy campaign muckity-muck and deputy inaugural committee thingy … or how the Post puts it: > [@Washington Post](#): > > Unlike Manafort, who resigned from his position as Trump’s campaign chairman in August 2016, Gates remained with the campaign until Election Day, working at one point for the Republican National Committee. He then joined the inaugural committee as deputy chairman. Once Trump took office, Gates helped launch an allied group to support the president’s agenda and was a regular visitor at the White House. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2740 "2018-02-23T20:19:59Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > Oh granted I’m skimming articles between meetings at work, but I took it to mean that Gates took a plea deal and is gonna do like 6 months at Country Club Prisons Inc in exchange for the goods on Manafort and probably Trump\* > > - Seeing as how Gates was deputy campaign muckity-muck and deputy inaugural committee thingy … or how the Post puts it: Thump says he never met the man and doesn’t have any idea who he is… in three… two… one… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2741 "2018-02-23T20:25:17Z")
It’ll be Sarah first: “Rick Gates wasn’t even an official ‘official’ member of the campaign. He was just some kid who came in occasionally and made copies for people. He was friends with that Papadapolous kid, I think and that’s the only reason he was there.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=136) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=138)