# 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:** 236
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4702 "2018-05-19T02:16:49Z")
For cryin’ out loud, people, what good was it for me to extend my Ignore List if you all keep feeding the troll _ **and keep quoting him** _ when you do!? _ **Please** _ knock it off!! ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4703 "2018-05-19T10:00:05Z")
It seems the FBI informant that was in contact with the Trump campaign and that the FBI has been trying to keep under wraps and away from Nunes and his cronies has been outed. The Washington Post and the New York Times both have detailed articles on him (without naming him) and I’ve seen his name bandied about on Twitter ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4704 "2018-05-19T10:10:00Z")
Is it the guy who wrote _Bambi_? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4705 "2018-05-19T18:16:31Z")
Turns out that the Trump campaign was not only colluding with Russia, [but Saudi Arabia and UAE as well](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news): \*Erik Prince, the private security contractor and the former head of Blackwater, arranged the meeting, which took place on Aug. 3, 2016. The emissary, George Nader, told Donald Trump Jr. that the crown princes who led Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were eager to help his father win election as president. The social media specialist, Joel Zamel, extolled his company’s ability to give an edge to a political campaign; by that time, the firm had already drawn up a multimillion-dollar proposal for a social media manipulation effort to help elect Mr. Trump. … The meetings, which have not been reported previously, are the first indication that countries other than Russia may have offered assistance to the Trump campaign in the months before the presidential election. The interactions are a focus of the investigation by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, who was originally tasked with examining possible Trump campaign coordination with Russia in the election.\* ---
**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 19, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4706 "2018-05-19T22:57:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Turns out that the Trump campaign was not only colluding with Russia, but Saudi Arabia and UAE as well: > > Erik Prince, the private security contractor and the former head of Blackwater, … And brother of Betsy De Vos… ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4707 "2018-05-19T23:00:18Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And brother of Betsy De Vos… And all around scumbag. ---
**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 20, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4708 "2018-05-20T06:05:31Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Turns out that the Trump campaign was not only colluding with Russia, [but Saudi Arabia and UAE as well](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news): > > \*Erik Prince, the private security contractor and the former head of Blackwater, arranged the meeting, which took place on Aug. 3, 2016. The emissary, George Nader, told Donald Trump Jr. that the crown princes who led Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were eager to help his father win election as president. The social media specialist, Joel Zamel, extolled his company’s ability to give an edge to a political campaign; by that time, the firm had already drawn up a multimillion-dollar proposal for a social media manipulation effort to help elect Mr. Trump. > > … > > The meetings, which have not been reported previously, are the first indication that countries other than Russia may have offered assistance to the Trump campaign in the months before the presidential election. The interactions are a focus of the investigation by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, who was originally tasked with examining possible Trump campaign coordination with Russia in the election.\* That could be why he insists that he’s innocent of colluding with Russia. He’s worried about Mueller discovering UAE and Saudi Arabia, and someone showed him a shiny object, and his mind had to jettison Russia to make room for the shiny object. ---
**Author:** ![computergeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4709 "2018-05-20T11:27:11Z")
Don Jr keeps showing up in places he shouldn’t. And they say Eric is the stupid one ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4710 "2018-05-20T14:28:41Z")
I’m getting the impression Tiffany is the only one with any smarts. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4711 "2018-05-20T14:35:01Z")
Young Master Barron my be bright and alert, seeing as how miserable he appears to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4712 "2018-05-20T19:07:47Z")
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4713 "2018-05-21T16:16:19Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. “Takes one to know one!” - Homer Simpson ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4714 "2018-05-21T19:33:38Z")
“D’oh!” - Homer Simpson (attrib.) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4715 "2018-05-22T18:58:55Z")
Mueller investigators are filing their charges against Manafort as special assistant U.S. attorneys, which, according to HuffPo, means that this gives them the authority to focus on matters beyond the special counsel’s mandate. > **[Mueller lawyers seek to prevent their ouster with dual filings](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/388665-mueller-lawyers-special-status-could-block-manafort-argument-to-toss/)** > > Lawyers from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team have filed as special assistant U.S. attorneys in their case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, a move that could make it harde… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4716 "2018-05-22T20:11:55Z")
The SAUSA status basically means they are the same as other federal prosecutors in the given district where they have been so appointed. IOW, they now have two bosses: the Special Counsel and the US Attorney for the district where they have SAUSA status. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4717 "2018-05-22T20:24:50Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The SAUSA status basically means they are the same as other federal prosecutors in the given district where they have been so appointed. IOW, they now have two bosses: the Special Counsel and the US Attorney for the district where they have SAUSA status. Does this mean that even if Two-Scoops manages to get rid of Mueller, the investigators will be able to continue as unpaid attorneys and pursue the case(s)? (I am, obviously, NAL.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4718 "2018-05-22T21:27:59Z")
The President can order the AG to fire or revoke the SAUSA status of any of Meuller’s staff, if he wants. Ultimately, he has essentially unlimited control of political appointees within the executive departments; that includes the US Attorneys, the DAG, and the AG. By convention, presidents have largely held the DOJ at arms length. But we already know how conventional this administration is. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4719 "2018-05-22T21:41:52Z")
This certainly doesn’t look good for Cohen: > [@The Hill](#): > > A longtime business associate of President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen has reportedly agreed to cooperate with government prosecutors as part of a plea deal. > > The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Evgeny Freidman agreed to cooperate with state and federal prosecutors, potentially raising pressure on Cohen to assist in the special counsel investigation into Russia’s 2016 election meddling. > > In return, Freidman got five years of probation for pleading guilty Tuesday to a single count of evading $50,000 worth of taxes. Freidman, who was reportedly disbarred earlier this month, had faced four counts of criminal tax fraud and one of grand larceny, each carrying a possible sentence of up to 25 years. Cohen’s business partner was facing _up to 125 years in prison_ and got it down to five years of probation in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors. IANAL, but it strikes me that if prosecutors are willing to let him off on charges like that, they must have something _really good_ in mind for Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4720 "2018-05-22T21:49:43Z")
“Evgeny”? Probably the least surprising aspect of the above story is the presence of a Russian name. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/4721 "2018-05-22T21:56:20Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > The President can order the AG to fire or revoke the SAUSA status of any of Meuller’s staff, if he wants. Ultimately, he has essentially unlimited control of political appointees within the executive departments; that includes the US Attorneys, the DAG, and the AG. By convention, presidents have largely held the DOJ at arms length. But we already know how conventional this administration is. But that is power that comes from firing higher ups, not direct control. So it is, in theory at least, more brittle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=235) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=237)