# 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:** 309
**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:** [August 2, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6162 "2018-08-02T18:17:48Z")
Can we talk about $900,000 plus Manafort spent on antique rugs? > **[The Paul Manafort indictment: His personal expenses, by the numbers](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/10/30/paul-manafort-indictment-his-personal-expenses-numbers/813032001/)** > > The money was spent on antique rugs, real estate, clothing, expensive cars and home improvements. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6163 "2018-08-02T19:49:34Z")
> [@Project\_Patahhh](#): > > I’m going to be honest, I actually kind of like the python jacket. I’d wear it. Ostrich one looks like hell though… Is your real life name Sailor Ripley? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6164 "2018-08-02T21:32:08Z")
> [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](#): > > He’d still be a prosecution witness regardless of who calls him - you’re not limited to direct examination if you call one of the other sides’ witnesses in your case in chief. Is that in the Federal Rules of Evidence? I would have thought that if you call him, he’s your witness so your examination is covered by the rules for exam-in-chief (unless you can get the witness declared a hostile witness). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6165 "2018-08-02T21:36:28Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > The very idea of a three-quarter sleeved jacket is kind of perplexing to me… Horrible fashion sense. I’d prefer the full monty to the python. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6166 "2018-08-02T21:42:44Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Is that in the Federal Rules of Evidence? > > I would have thought that if you call him, he’s your witness so your examination is covered by the rules for exam-in-chief (unless you can get the witness declared a hostile witness). Rule 611. . . . (c) Leading Questions. Leading questions should not be used on direct examination except as necessary to develop the witness’s testimony. Ordinarily, the court should allow leading questions: (1) on cross-examination; and (2) when a party calls a hostile witness, an adverse party, or a witness identified with an adverse party. If Manafort’s team called Gates he’d be both hostile and identified with the prosecution, so leading questions would be fine. Although now the government says they’re planning on calling him anyway, so it’s probably a moot point. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6167 "2018-08-02T21:55:28Z")
Thanks. Different from what I’m used to. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6168 "2018-08-02T22:53:02Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Yup. Trump is guaranteed to say something stupid and incriminating. Speaking of… [Trump Thinks He Can Convince Mueller’s Team Their Own Investigation Is a Witch Hunt](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-convince-robert-mueller-investigation-witch-hunt-1053547): > [@](#): > > President Donald Trump reportedly wants to meet with investigators working on special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe because he believes he can convince them it is actually a “witch hunt.” If he wants to stick his head in the lion’s mouth, I say we should encourage him. Tell him Obama would never be brave enough to sit down with the investigators for a no-preconditions interview on live TV. Tell him only low-energy losers would say this is a bad idea. It’s his idea, isn’t it? So it must be great. Everyone else thinks so. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6169 "2018-08-02T23:06:44Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Speaking of… > > [Trump Thinks He Can Convince Mueller’s Team Their Own Investigation Is a Witch Hunt](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-convince-robert-mueller-investigation-witch-hunt-1053547):If he wants to stick his head in the lion’s mouth, I say we should encourage him. Tell him Obama would never be brave enough to sit down with the investigators for a no-preconditions interview on live TV. Tell him only low-energy losers would say this is a bad idea. It’s his idea, isn’t it? So it must be great. Everyone else thinks so. See, here’s what I don’t get. If he can make the “witch hunt” disappear with his manly powers of persuasion over Mueller, why does he tweet for Jeff Sessions to make it go away? Like, if the “witch hunt” doesn’t have merit and he has the power to fire Mueller, why doesn’t he just, you know, fire him? It’s all so baffling. I must not know how to think right. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6170 "2018-08-02T23:17:51Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > See, here’s what I don’t get. If he can make the “witch hunt” disappear with his manly powers of persuasion over Mueller, why does he tweet for Jeff Sessions to make it go away? Like, if the “witch hunt” doesn’t have merit and he has the power to fire Mueller, why doesn’t he just, you know, fire him? > > It’s all so baffling. I must not know how to think right. If you were a Stable Genius playing multi-dimensional chess like Trump💩, this would be easy for mere mortals. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6171 "2018-08-02T23:20:44Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > If you were a Stable Genius playing multi-dimensional chess like Trump������, this would be easy for mere mortals. I guess I’m more of a Coop Genius. :dubious: ---
**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:** [August 2, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6172 "2018-08-02T23:23:37Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Speaking of… > > [Trump Thinks He Can Convince Mueller’s Team Their Own Investigation Is a Witch Hunt](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-convince-robert-mueller-investigation-witch-hunt-1053547):If he wants to stick his head in the lion’s mouth, I say we should encourage him. Tell him Obama would never be brave enough to sit down with the investigators for a no-preconditions interview on live TV. Tell him only low-energy losers would say this is a bad idea. It’s his idea, isn’t it? So it must be great. Everyone else thinks so. I think it’s a fake-out. Trump does NOT want to sit down with Mueller, but he knows that if he says that, he’ll look like a scared guilty little weakling. So he says ‘sure, with certain conditions, I’ll meet’ and then everyone starts speculating how he’s so confident and all. Meanwhile, his lawyers forbid the meeting, and Trump can say ‘hey, I wanted to—but I have to listen to my lawyers.’ ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6173 "2018-08-02T23:42:47Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > See, here’s what I don’t get. If he can make the “witch hunt” disappear with his manly powers of persuasion over Mueller, why does he tweet for Jeff Sessions to make it go away? Like, if the “witch hunt” doesn’t have merit and he has the power to fire Mueller, why doesn’t he just, you know, fire him? > > It’s all so baffling. I must not know how to think right. I wonder if this is just a tactic. If he goes through with his meeting - I doubt it ever happens, but let’s entertain the thought - then he can say, “_See, I met with him. I told him everything. I did what they wanted, and they still won’t leave me alone. I’m trying to be president here._” Or maybe he wants to get Mueller alone, one and one, and try to intimidate him, like he did Comey. Who knows? Trump’s instincts are to fire him, but I’m guessing multiple people have issued stern warnings, threatening not to support him. It’s not that Republicans care about the rule of law but they don’t want to jeopardize the Senate. Assuming we have drama free elections, if the Repubs lose the Senate, Trump is in serious jeopardy. They will revolt against Trumpism. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6174 "2018-08-03T00:14:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think it’s a fake-out. Trump does NOT want to sit down with Mueller, but he knows that if he says that, he’ll look like a scared guilty little If Mueller wanted to meet with Trump without any preconditions, he should have become the head of Iran or North Korea. Is Iraq still on the Axis of Evil? Might be his last chance. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6175 "2018-08-03T00:47:54Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think it’s a fake-out. Trump does NOT want to sit down with Mueller, but he knows that if he says that, he’ll look like a scared guilty little weakling. > > So he says ‘sure, with certain conditions, I’ll meet’ and then everyone starts speculating how he’s so confident and all. Meanwhile, his lawyers forbid the meeting, and Trump can say ‘hey, I wanted to— **but I have to listen to my lawyers.** ’ Even his most fanatical followers will see through that one. Not that they’ll admit it. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6176 "2018-08-03T00:59:49Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I wonder if this is just a tactic. If he goes through with his meeting - I doubt it ever happens, but let’s entertain the thought - then he can say, “_See, I met with him. I told him everything. I did what they wanted, and they still won’t leave me alone. I’m trying to be president here._” Or maybe he wants to get Mueller alone, one and one, and try to intimidate him, like he did Comey. Or like Vlad did him? 😃 ---
**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:** [August 3, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6177 "2018-08-03T01:06:20Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > \ > Meanwhile, his lawyers forbid the meeting, and Trump can say ‘hey, I wanted to—but I have to listen to my lawyers.’ First time for everything, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6178 "2018-08-03T23:36:16Z")
[https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/03/paul-manafort-trial-2018-761300](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/03/paul-manafort-trial-2018-761300) Looks like Manaforts former associates showed up in court wearing some flippers – 'cause they’re flipping on him bigly. > [@](#): > > They never told us about any income deposited in foreign accounts,’ Manafort’s accountant told jurors. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6179 "2018-08-04T01:03:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I think it’s a fake-out. Trump does NOT want to sit down with Mueller, but he knows that if he says that, he’ll look like a scared guilty little weakling. > > So he says ‘sure, with certain conditions, I’ll meet’ and then everyone starts speculating how he’s so confident and all. Meanwhile, his lawyers forbid the meeting, and Trump can say ‘hey, I wanted to—but I have to listen to my lawyers.’ > [@Morgyn](#): > > First time for everything, I suppose. He _has_ listened to his lawyers in the past–every time he settled one of the lawsuits against him, for example. His own instinct was to Fight Fight Fight, but someone convinced him he couldn’t win (or that some other circumstance made a settlement the best possible option). He also has experience with his own performance at a deposition coming back to bite him: > [@](#): > > I’ve Watched Trump Testify Under Oath. It Isn’t Pretty. > In a 2007 deposition in my libel case (which he lost), he was underprepared and overconfident. > By Timothy L. O’Brien January 25, 2018 > … Trump ultimately had to admit 30 times that he had lied over the years about all sorts of stuff: how much of a big Manhattan real estate project he owned; the price of one of his golf club memberships; the size of the Trump Organization; his wealth; his speaking fees; how many condos he had sold; his debts, and whether he borrowed money from his family to avoid going personally bankrupt. He also lied during the deposition about his business dealings with career criminals. … [https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-01-25/i-ve-watched-trump-testify-under-oath-it-isn-t-pretty](https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-01-25/i-ve-watched-trump-testify-under-oath-it-isn-t-pretty) He has reason to genuinely fear what could come of a sit-down with Mueller–not just humiliating facts that would come to light, but, of course, charges that would only start with perjury. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Even his most fanatical followers will see through that one. > Not that they’ll admit it. A capacity for doublethink is crucial to the daily functioning of the average Trumpite\*. \*I’ve been using this term lately, for its obvious parallels to the Sam Raimi/Evil Dead concept. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6180 "2018-08-04T03:10:41Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/03/paul-manafort-trial-2018-761300](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/03/paul-manafort-trial-2018-761300) > > Looks like Manaforts former associates showed up in court wearing some flippers – 'cause they’re flipping on him bigly. Another said that Manafort told her to falsify records. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/6181 "2018-08-04T03:58:11Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Another said that Manafort told her to falsify records. I hear flippers allow you to swim (away) faster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=308) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=310)