# 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:** 266
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5302 "2018-07-02T21:12:11Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Uhoh, Michael Cohen has earned the wrath of Fox News. > [Fox News Suddenly Questions Michael Cohen’s ‘Credibility’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-suddenly-questions-michael-cohens-credibility/?via=twitter_page) "Fox News Suddenly Questions Michael Cohen’s ‘Credibility’ Once a welcome and trusted Trump surrogate for Fox News, the network’s hosts are now seemingly starting to turn on Michael Cohen after his ABC interview. … Following an off-camera interview in which Cohen pledged his loyalty not to President Trump but to his family and his country" Not that i believe Cohen is capable of any patriotism or loyalty either, but HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ---
**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:** [July 2, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5303 "2018-07-02T21:44:55Z")
Buzzfeed has posted what it says are documents that federal investigators reconstructed from Michael Cohen’s shredder. There’s not much there. Maybe investigators weren’t able to piece much back together, or maybe Buzzfeed only acquired a portion of what the investigators have. Either way, here’s the article – [Here Are The Documents Recovered From Michael Cohen’s Shredder](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/here-are-the-documents-recovered-from-michael-cohens?utm_term=.kjbnDvDBa#.tkdOXDX3l) – and Document Cloud link – [DocumentCloud](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4568861-Michael-Cohen-s-Reconstructed-Shredded-Documents.html) – if you want to try to make heads or tails of it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5304 "2018-07-03T04:36:52Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > But I’ll probably be **champing at the bit** to see what Cohen says. The pedant in me thànks you. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5305 "2018-07-03T08:16:58Z")
You know how I read that? At first I thought **Bayard** was quoting Michael Cohen using that phrase and I thought, how the fuck would Michael Cohen know how to use that phrase correctly, followed immediately by, oh, it was a Doper using it; that make’s sense. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5306 "2018-07-03T13:34:33Z")
Ah - Gauder’s Law - the gift that keeps on giving. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5307 "2018-07-03T13:49:16Z")
Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Wasn’t that the point of the investigation? The investigation seems to be politically motivated. Nearly 2 years later, I think the USA public can see this for what it is. A smear campaign against the President and an unchecked legal power to investigate people connected with Trump. This is politics, if you dig deep enough you’ll find something. To frame into a different context, if a similar force were to investigate the Clinton’s and their foundation, who also meet with many world leaders and took millions Iran for their campaign and at least $500,000.00 for a speech in Russia, the reaction from the left would be what? The quid pro quo is a bit higher here, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5308 "2018-07-03T13:49:42Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Ah - Gauder’s Law - the gift that keeps on giving. Wow, self demonstrating concept! \*Gaudere (or was I whooshed? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5309 "2018-07-03T13:54:28Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Wasn’t that the point of the investigation? > > The investigation seems to be politically motivated. Nearly 2 years later, I think the USA public can see this for what it is. > > A smear campaign against the President and an unchecked legal power to investigate people connected with Trump. > > This is politics, if you dig deep enough you’ll find something. > > To frame into a different context, if a similar force were to investigate the Clinton’s and their foundation, who also meet with many world leaders and took millions Iran for their campaign and at least $500,000.00 for a speech in Russia, the reaction from the left would be what? The quid pro quo is a bit higher here, isn’t it? Going for the dumb post of the day, aren’t you? Seriously, you’re not even trying. Here is evidence of collusion, a confession from Don Jr. Please, if you wish us to take you seriously, refute this: > All y’all whiners on the right have done nothing but investigate HRC, and y’all come up with shit… for **25 years**. But Mueller, in 14 months (not 2 years - don’t try to gaslight us, guy), has 5 criminals (including the NSA head, the campaign chairman, the foreign policy expert, Rick Gates, more) and 20 ppl indicted. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5310 "2018-07-03T13:58:34Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Wasn’t that the point of the investigation? > > The investigation seems to be politically motivated. Nearly 2 years later, I think the USA public can see this for what it is. > > A smear campaign against the President and an unchecked legal power to investigate people connected with Trump. > > This is politics, if you dig deep enough you’ll find something. > > To frame into a different context, if a similar force were to investigate the Clinton’s and their foundation, who also meet with many world leaders and took millions Iran for their campaign and at least $500,000.00 for a speech in Russia, the reaction from the left would be what? The quid pro quo is a bit higher here, isn’t it? You don’t even have to dust Trump to find criminal activity. No digging needed. I’m glad Mueller is getting all his ducks in a row. He will be facing a corrupt congress, and a base of support for Trump that don’t care about his ongoing life of crime. Impeachment will be difficult. Republicans investigated Hillary for years. They got nothing. How many indictments do we have against Trumps team do we have now? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5311 "2018-07-03T14:00:53Z")
I’m wondering if Cohen is taking this opportunity to pull an Ollie North on us. Instead of portraying himself as a patriotic loyal American soldier, he’s using the interview to paint himself as an innocent bystander who loves his family and was just following the president’s orders like a nice loyal servant. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5312 "2018-07-03T14:01:56Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Do you think Mueller would agree with that statement? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5313 "2018-07-03T14:02:52Z")
Nah, Cohen is openly fishing for pardon/lawyer funding. If he wanted to cooperate, all he has to do is call the SDNY office. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5314 "2018-07-03T14:09:12Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Wasn’t that the point of the investigation?[ > > The investigation seems to be politically motivated. Nearly 2 years later, I think the USA public can see this for what it is. > > A smear campaign against the President and an unchecked legal power to investigate people connected with Trump. > > This is politics, if you dig deep enough you’ll find something. None of the above is true, but even if there were no evidence of collusion known to the public so far, it doesn’t mean there is no evidence, just that none has been leaked to the press. Which is as it should be, no? And what ‘smear campaign’? What specific public statements has Mueller ever made that could possibly be interpreted as smearing Trump? As for the rest of your post, I am fascinated by your theory that there is some sort of mandated time limit for investigations of this nature. Did you, by any chance, ever publicly object to the length of time taken for the various investigations of Bill and Hillary Clinton? If not, why not? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5315 "2018-07-03T14:21:14Z")
Right wingers claiming that this investigation has gone on long enough is simply laughable. The situation being investigated is far more serious, leagues more serious than anything the Clintons were ever accused of. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5316 "2018-07-03T14:36:03Z")
And far more successful, with far more indictments, and far more criminals than anything and everything that the clintons have been investigated on. I would also like to note that not a single one of them has even bothered to respond when I post the evidence of Don junior himself confessing to collusion. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5317 "2018-07-03T14:52:55Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Right wingers claiming that this investigation has gone on long enough is simply laughable. The situation being investigated is far more serious, leagues more serious than anything the Clintons were ever accused of. Yup. Conspiracy with a hostile foreign government to interfere with a US presidential election is a bit serious. Some (including myself) would call it treason. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5318 "2018-07-03T15:14:48Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Trump isn’t even a suspect and there is zero evidence of collusion. Wasn’t that the point of the investigation? > > The investigation seems to be politically motivated. Nearly 2 years later, I think the USA public can see this for what it is. > > A smear campaign against the President and an unchecked legal power to investigate people connected with Trump. > > This is politics, if you dig deep enough you’ll find something. If this is a witch hunt, it has already found plenty of witches, including a bunch of indictments and several plea deals. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5319 "2018-07-03T15:33:41Z")
If if wasn’t on Fox, it didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5320 "2018-07-03T15:45:26Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I found it interesting and amusing that Manafort aide and Ruddian connection Konstatin Kilimnik was one of the donors He gave $5. > > And Joesph Misfud, the “mystery” professor in the Russian probe, gave $10. > > These guys are cheapskates. Does gofundme require people to use their real names when donating? If not, I kind of doubt that those are real. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5321 "2018-07-03T15:50:15Z")
I wonder if, at the end of Mueller’s investigation, any shady or illegal actions on the part of Donald Trump and family/associates are _ **not** _ the biggest take-away. I wonder if it will be the complex web of money movement between foreign governments, go-betweens, real estate deals, etc. I would not be at all surprised if the Mueller investigation uncovers evidence of money-laundering, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, campaign finance violations, bribery, etc. How firm that evidence is, how close it gets to the President and his family - who knows? I think it will, however, end up being one of the most thorough and wide-reaching investigations into shady money that we’ve seen in a long time. Paul Manafort’s trial alone will, I think, be revelatory in detailing who paid whom for what when. In my most optimistic moments I believe that when this entire process reaches something resembling a conclusion, enough people will be shocked enough at the dirty deals that have gone down that there might actually be something resembling change to root out and prevent the worst of the corruption in our banking and political systems. I think we may reach a turn-on-the-lights-and-watch-the-cockroaches-scurry moment. I’m not holding my breath, and I’m not betting any money. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. Still, seems like a reasonable possibility to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=265) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=267)