# 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:** 230
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4582 "2018-05-11T08:31:32Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I rise to speak on behalf of F-P. > > I think asahi and F-P serve as guard rails for this discussion. Asahi on the left is the boundary, beyond which is tin-foil-hat left-wing paranoia. F-P is kind of a devil’s advocate, always giving the not-completely-unreasonable (although usually wrong) right-wing interpretation of the days’ events. Guard rails? More like gutters the ball keeps rolling into. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4583 "2018-05-11T09:04:04Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _Canis emptor_. “Let the dog beware.” Wouldn’t that be _caveat canis_. You wrote _dog buyer_, I think. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4584 "2018-05-11T09:25:35Z")
And when you loose control, you’ll reap the harvest you have sown And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone And it’s too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone Dragged down by the stone (stone, stone, stone, stone, stone) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4585 "2018-05-11T12:18:00Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Wouldn’t that be _caveat canis_. You wrote _dog buyer_, I think. Forget it, he’s rollin’. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4586 "2018-05-11T17:20:57Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Guard rails? More like gutters the ball keeps rolling into. More like the Slough of Despond and the Hedge of Thorns. You want to avoid getting entangled with either of them. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4587 "2018-05-11T17:35:29Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Which of course _YOU’d_ be in favor of… They might drive better than some people I know. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4588 "2018-05-11T17:37:23Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > “My chauffeur is [del]Jesus[/del] Toonces” Nice! 😃 ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4589 "2018-05-14T14:52:02Z")
The Mueller investigation has its one-year birthday on Thursday. Shall we have cake? What kind of cake would be appropriate? **‘Buckle up’: As Mueller probe enters second year, Trump and allies go on war footing** > **[‘Buckle up’: As Mueller probe enters second year, Trump and allies go on war...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/buckle-up-as-mueller-probe-enters-second-year-trump-and-allies-go-on-war-footing/2018/05/13/e3d15fbe-546b-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html)** > > The Russia controversy forms the cloudy backdrop of Trump’s presidency, enraging the commander in chief. > [@](#): > > … > The investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, which hits its one-year mark Thursday, has formed the cloudy backdrop of Donald Trump’s presidency — a rolling fog of controversy, much of it self-inflicted, that is a near-constant distraction for the commander in chief. > > The Mueller operation, like the former Marine Corps platoon commander who leads it, is secretive and methodical. Ten blocks west in the White House, President Trump combats the probe with bluster, disarray and defiance as he scrambles for survival. > > The president vents to associates about the FBI raids on his personal attorney Michael Cohen — as often as “20 times a day,” in the estimation of one confidant — and they frequently listen in silence, knowing little they say will soothe him. Trump gripes that he needs better “TV lawyers” to defend him on cable news and is impatient to halt the “witch hunt” that he says undermines his legitimacy as president. … > > The probe is a steaming locomotive, already delivering indictments or guilty pleas involving19 people and three companies, while soliciting interviews with most of the president’s closest aides and outside associates. Players have departed, including most of Trump’s original legal team, while others have joined — including, most recently, Cohen, adult-film actress Stormy Daniels and her attorney, Michael Avenatti. > > “This has moved at a lightning speed,” said Christopher Ruddy, a Trump friend and chief executive of Newsmax. “They’re not messing around. They’re going very quickly. The number of indictments, pleas and other moves is just amazing. I think it will come to a head quicker than other investigations.” > … It doesn’t seem like “lightning speed” up here in the peanut gallery. We just have to keep calm and carry on. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4590 "2018-05-14T15:03:24Z")
From that WaPo article-- gotta love this: > [@](#): > > … > The biggest challenge for the White House is that the special counsel is conducting an investigation properly, which is not commenting publicly, only making known its activities by virtue of bringing cases or executing legal process in a manner that is publicly observable,” said Jacob S. Frenkel, who worked in theindependent counsel’s office in the late 1990s. > … Yeah, I can see where doing things properly and by the book would thoroughly confound this White House. 😃 Not to mention, royally piss them off. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4591 "2018-05-14T15:26:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The Mueller investigation has its one-year birthday on Thursday. Shall we have cake? What kind of cake would be appropriate? > > **‘Buckle up’: As Mueller probe enters second year, Trump and allies go on war footing** > [https://wapo.st/2rE2LLe](https://wapo.st/2rE2LLe) > > It doesn’t seem like “lightning speed” up here in the peanut gallery. We just have to keep calm and carry on. “Yellow” seems appropriate ---
**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:** [May 14, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4592 "2018-05-14T21:18:51Z")
[Russian company attacks Mueller indictment as baseless](https://apnews.com/b62bd5c25c624809a4b1a6667f9abee5/Russian-company-attacks-Mueller-indictment-as-baseless) Some key takeaways: > [@](#): > > Lawyers for the company argued in their new court filing that the Justice Department had never before alleged a conspiracy by a foreign corporation to interfere in American politics “by allegedly funding free speech.” > > “The obvious reason for this is that no such crime exists in the federal criminal code,” the lawyers wrote. > > The lawyers say Mueller has charged a “case that has absolutely nothing to do with any links or coordination between any candidate and the Russian Government.” > > “The reason is obvious, and is political: to justify his own existence the Special Counsel has to indict a Russian — any Russian,” the lawyers wrote, including as a footnote a line from the movie “Casablana” in which the character of Captain Renault, a police official says, “Major Strassor (sic) has been shot. Round up the usual suspects.” > > The company says there is no allegation in the indictment that it intended to break the law, even though the specific federal campaign and foreign agent registration laws at issue require the government to show willfulness. > > The company wants the judge to review the instructions that prosecutors gave to the grand jury that issued the indictment to “determine whether or not they include information that would support a motion to dismiss” the case. Looking forward to reading about this on Popehat and/or Lawfare. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4593 "2018-05-14T22:04:46Z")
Flail, flail, flail! Fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4594 "2018-05-14T23:11:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The Mueller investigation has its one-year birthday on Thursday. Shall we have cake? What kind of cake would be appropriate? This [cake](https://imgur.com/a/zELYOB7), of course. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4595 "2018-05-14T23:56:51Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This [cake](https://imgur.com/a/zELYOB7), of course. I like that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4596 "2018-05-14T23:58:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > What kind of cake would be appropriate? My favorite kind, of course…Im-peach-mint! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4597 "2018-05-15T00:04:20Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > My favorite kind, of course…Im-peach-mint! I’ve always thought that peach mint was more of an [iced tea](http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/peach-mint-iced-tea) thing. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4598 "2018-05-15T00:40:27Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This [cake](https://imgur.com/a/zELYOB7), of course. [hijack]One of my proudest moments as a baker came when two of my friends held a combined graduation party, him for receiving his math Ph.D., and her for her JD. I baked two things for the party: for her, a torte, and for him, a pie.[/hijack] ---
**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:** [May 15, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4599 "2018-05-15T00:56:23Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This [cake](https://imgur.com/a/zELYOB7), of course. WHOA! That is a beaut! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4600 "2018-05-15T00:58:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > [hijack]One of my proudest moments as a baker came when two of my friends held a combined graduation party, him for receiving his math Ph.D., and her for her JD. > > I baked two things for the party: for her, a torte, and for him, a pie.[/hijack] Very good! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4601 "2018-05-15T22:00:11Z")
DC District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has [rejected](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000163-6599-d92c-a17f-eddde22f0001) Manafort’s argument that Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial authority in indicting Manafort. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=231)