# 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:** 268
**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 4, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5342 "2018-07-04T00:40:04Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Once again… there is lots and lots of evidence of collusion. It is publicly available and there is a truckload of it. And, of course, DON JR TWEETED ABOUT THE JUNE 12TH COLLUSION MEETING AND PROVIDED THE PUBLIC WITH EVIDENCE. Sorry for yelling, thought this may be relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5343 "2018-07-04T00:56:04Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I’m pretty sure that Silver lining just wants what is best for Mother Russia. I’d say 90 something percent sure. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > … I think the USA public can see this for what it is. > … You may or may not be wrong, but in either case, better English instruction for operatives posing as native-English speakers would surely be a good idea. ---
**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 4, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5344 "2018-07-04T02:23:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > And when did **dropzone** start casually coding diacriticals into his posts? > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Thank you. I thought that was a spot on my monitor. 😛 It started when my tablet’s keyboard started randomly typing endless O’s and I started using the on-screen keyboard. And yeah, I first thought it was a flyspot. Did I use the _accent grave_ correctly? My tablet hates me. Had I known my Win10 netbook was still under warranty I’d’ve sent it off months ago. But it is. And getting another year is half what I paid for it. Sometimes it pays to buy brand name. ---
**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 4, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5345 "2018-07-04T16:09:26Z")
Michael Cohen refreshed his Twitter profile today to remove the picture of him behind a “Trump” podium. He also removed “Personal attorney to President Donald Trump” from his bio. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5346 "2018-07-04T18:48:57Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > This is the one thing that so many people have wrong. What was Mueller charged to do? He wasn’t charged to find out if Trump colluded with Russia, but rather if Russia interfered with the election. That just ain’t so. **Investigating the Trump campaign is LITERALLY the first thing on the list of things the SC is charged to do.** to wit: _[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3726408-Rosenstein-letter-appointing-Mueller-special.html](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3726408-Rosenstein-letter-appointing-Mueller-special.html)_ **The Special Counsel is authorized to conduct the investigation** confirmed by then-FBI Director James B. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including: _(i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trum\*p_\*; We didn’t need to know IF “Russia interfered with the election”. **We already knew that Russkies had interfered.** That’s what started the investigation. ---
**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 6, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5347 "2018-07-06T18:41:20Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > 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. The problem is that all of this is inherently very complicated, confusing and boring. In order to even describe to voters what he did wrong, let alone lay out the evidence, you will need at least 5 minutes and a flow chart at which point they have already zoned out and are checking their phones for the latest cat video. In order for this to be the turning point you need something that they can instantly understand and will grab them emotionally, like for example, boinking an intern in the oval office. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5348 "2018-07-06T19:48:52Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > The problem is that all of this is inherently very complicated, confusing and boring. In order to even describe to voters what he did wrong, let alone lay out the evidence, you will need at least 5 minutes and a flow chart at which point they have already zoned out and are checking their phones for the latest cat video. In order for this to be the turning point you need something that they can instantly understand and will grab them emotionally, like for example, boinking an intern in the oval office. Hmmm… the agency that did that fabulous ad for [M.J. Hegar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi6v4CYNSIQ&feature=youtu.be) needs to make a video where kittens explain in speech balloons what the case is about while doing cute kittenish things. I’D watch that. It could wind up being a 12-part reality series. Appropriate for the Reality Star-in-Chief. ---
**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 6, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5349 "2018-07-06T23:27:11Z")
No clip, but a transcript: > Mueller claims to show evidence that the money laundering charges against Manafort are tied to crimes within the Trump campaign, focusing on a $6 million loan. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5350 "2018-07-07T23:59:19Z")
Mueller is hiring more prosecutors. Sounds like bad news for Trump. > **[Mueller is adding more prosecutors. What does it mean for Trump?](https://www.msnbc.com/brian-williams/watch/mueller-is-adding-more-prosecutors-what-does-it-mean-for-trump-1271187523717?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma)** > > There's new reporting that Robert Mueller is expanding his investigative team as the special counsel investigation plows forward. What does it mean for Trump? Nancy Cook & Joyce Vance join to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5351 "2018-07-08T00:02:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > No clip, but a transcript: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/1015366364087947264?s=19) > > Mueller claims to show evidence that the money laundering charges against Manafort are tied to crimes within the Trump campaign, focusing on a $6 million loan. Remember when people used to say that because candidate Trump was _so rich_, he had no need to be crooked? He would self-fund his campaign, and couldn’t be corrupted by the lobbyists in D.C. Those were the days. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5352 "2018-07-08T00:33:01Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Remember when people used to say that because candidate Trump was _so rich_, he had no need to be crooked? He would self-fund his campaign, and couldn’t be corrupted by the lobbyists in D.C. Those were the days. It was always just a lame excuse for voting for him. No reasonable person believed it. After all, it’s not exactly news that lots of rich people care very deeply about acquiring more and more and more money. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5353 "2018-07-08T01:44:21Z")
Well, there’s also the fairly common belief in America that there’s some sort of virtue inherent in being wealthy. It’s the root of a lot of our problems as a nation. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5354 "2018-07-08T02:09:05Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Well, there’s also the fairly common belief in America that there’s some sort of virtue inherent in being wealthy. It’s the root of a lot of our problems as a nation. “Prosperity Theology.” If you’re rich, it means God likes you. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5355 "2018-07-08T03:33:25Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Prosperity Theology.” If you’re rich, it means God likes you. Predates that - “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?” is a long time refrain in American discourse. It was of course disappointing to see Christianity warped to follow that line of discourse (even though I’m not really a Christian anymore). ---
**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:** [July 8, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5356 "2018-07-08T03:40:36Z")
It’s a subset of the “just world” philosophy. “The world is just, therefore if someone is struggling or gets hit by misfortune, they probably did something wrong to deserve it.” It’s kind of amazing how little “there but for the grace of God” goes on in these people’s heads. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5357 "2018-07-08T05:26:57Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s a subset of the “just world” philosophy. “The world is just, therefore if someone is struggling or gets hit by misfortune, they probably did something wrong to deserve it.” > > It’s kind of amazing how little “there but for the grace of God” goes on in these people’s heads. It’s kind of amazing how pervasive it is in all of our heads. If you haven’t had occasion to say and feel “but that, that’s just fair” multiple times in your life, I’d be relatively surprised. I do it reflexively every time I hear about child cancer patients, for just one instance. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2018, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5358 "2018-07-08T06:38:53Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > It’s kind of amazing how pervasive it is in all of our heads. If you haven’t had occasion to say and feel “but that, that’s just fair” multiple times in your life, I’d be relatively surprised. I do it reflexively every time I hear about child cancer patients, for just one instance. You read about kids with cancer, and among your reactions is an urge to say “but that, that’s just fair"? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5359 "2018-07-08T15:52:09Z")
Currently of the opinion that this was clumsily worded. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5360 "2018-07-08T16:24:42Z")
I think he dropped the word “not”. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/5361 "2018-07-09T18:04:12Z")
I have a question. Perhaps it deserves its own thread in GD, but I’ll try here. The press makes it sound like Michael Cohen is ready to “flip” on Trumpo. If so, _ **why did Donald Trump let this happen?** _ Let’s stipulate that Cohen has serious dirt on Trump, that Trump is evil, and that Trump has above average intelligence. In the movies, a criminal mastermind would make Cohen an offer he can’t refuse. Along with threatening Cohen with a gangster’s ‘stick’, if Trump really were a billionaire he could offer Cohen a very generous ‘carrot.’ If Trump is broke, he could still have one of his kleptocrat friends come up with a suitcase stuffed with carrots. So why is Cohen still alive and threatening to flip? Is this all a show? Is Trump so self-confident he thinks he’s invincible? Are he and his children just too stupid and narrow-minded to do what it takes? It seems unlikely, but is it possible that Cohen’s testimony wouldn’t pin any felony on Trump? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ On a separate matter: > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > … I guess it took Trump and the last election to wake up the left and make them realize that the Russians are not our natural friends. Some of us having been saying that for decades. But the idea that Trump is in bed with Putin is laughable - or at least has a lot less evidence than the claim that Obama was as well. \*\* Stone\*\*: what constipated aberration leads you to make _everything_ the fault of the “left”? I struggle to treat you as an intelligent human … and then you give us more crap like this. IIRC, it was America’s right-wing, much more than the left, that abetted the kleptocrat’s power grab in Russia, thinking of it as a great Friedmanist experiment, or some such crap. Do you have cites to the contrary? I’ll bet you don’t. Ten gallons of prune juice? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=267) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=269)