# 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:** 433
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8643 "2018-12-29T19:08:12Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I agree, we need to investigate the investigator of the investigation of the investigations. A Møøller once bit my sister… No realli! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8644 "2018-12-29T19:36:31Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Ah, yes. Investigate the investigations. More good use of the taxpayer’s money. > [@digs](#): > > I agree, we need to investigate the investigator of the investigation of the investigations. So, in other words, Investigations All the Way Down? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8645 "2018-12-29T21:10:42Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > So, in other words, Investigations All the Way Down? No, at the bottom there’s a turtle named Mitch. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8646 "2018-12-29T21:24:38Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > No, at the bottom there’s a turtle named Mitch. Hah! ---
**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:** [December 29, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8647 "2018-12-29T21:50:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I agree, we need to investigate the investigator of the investigation of the investigations. And we’re left with [this](http://pixdaus.com/files/items/pics/1/64/24164_618d5d8d10b8764d53db5ccd2e980857_large.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8648 "2018-12-29T22:25:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And we’re left with [this](http://pixdaus.com/files/items/pics/1/64/24164_618d5d8d10b8764d53db5ccd2e980857_large.jpg). [Moo?](https://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=685) ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8649 "2018-12-30T00:46:15Z")
They saw signs of disparation. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8650 "2018-12-30T02:08:20Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > No, at the bottom there’s a turtle named Mitch. Serve him with a subpoena ASAP! ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8651 "2018-12-30T02:10:49Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > No, at the bottom there’s a turtle named Mitch. I wish he could be indicted for something. \<_sigh_\> A girl can dream, can’t she… ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8652 "2018-12-30T04:48:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I wish he could be indicted for something. \<_sigh_\> A girl can dream, can’t she… I think the problem is that he’s standing on the elephants, not the other way around. (Discworld reference, if I need to say it) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8653 "2018-12-30T04:55:34Z")
One step at a time Thelma. Gotta start somewhere. One step at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8654 "2018-12-30T13:27:52Z")
The “Cohen in Prague” thing is confusing. The Steele Dossier said that Cohen had a secret meeting in Prague in August 2016: [DocumentCloud](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3259984-Trump-Intelligence-Allegations.html) A cellphone “traced” to Cohen pinged cell towers in Prague in “late summer 2016” according to 4 different sources in this recent McClatchy story by Stone and Gordon: [https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/investigations/article219016820.html](https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/investigations/article219016820.html) Cohen has denied and still denies being in Prague at that time. He said he was scouting colleges in California with his son that day (even though no one has pinned this meeting down to any particular day that I am aware of): [Witnesses say Michael Cohen was not in Prague for Kremlin meeting following passport tweet | Daily Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4109252/Trump-s-lawyer-Michael-Cohen-tweets-picture-cover-passport-says-s-NEVER-Prague-witnesses-say-saw-California-day-new-dossier-claims-meeting-Kremlin-officials-Czech-Republic.html) But Cohen’s a known liar. He has said he’s “never” been to Prague “in (his) life”: [https://twitter.com/michaelcohen212/status/818991277685567489](https://twitter.com/michaelcohen212/status/818991277685567489) And he has also said he did visit there once a long time ago: ““I haven’t been to Prague in 14 years. I was in Prague for one afternoon 14 years ago.”” [Michael Cohen Says He’s “Never” Been to Prague. He Told Me a Different Story. – Mother Jones](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/04/michael-cohen-says-hes-never-been-to-prague-he-told-me-a-different-story/) I’m willing to give him a pass and allow that that “one afternoon 14 years ago” is the “about the same” as “never” having been there. Cohen’s December 27th Tweet, which is in response to the McClatchy news story of the same day, says ““I hear #Prague #CzechRepublic is beautiful in the summertime. I wouldn’t know as I have never been. #Mueller knows everything!”” That’s just odd. If Cohen lied to the Mueller investigation about being in (or not being in) Prague, he will be in a whole lot more trouble with them now. Cohen “tried to offer only selective cooperation” with the SDNY investigators, but has “gone to significant lengths to assist the special counsel’s investigation.” [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/09/nyregion/michael-cohen-sentencing.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/09/nyregion/michael-cohen-sentencing.html) . Cohen’s Tweet ending in “#Mueller knows everything” seems to reinforce his cooperation with the Mueller probe. So, what is Cohen up to here? Is his “#Mueller knows all” Tweet a very public-secret message to someone like Trump’s “Russia, if you’re listening” statement was a very public-secret message to Trump’s fellow travelers/Wikileaks/Russian allies? How could Cohen’s phone be in Prague if Cohen was not? There were some jokes above about inept criminals and “burner” phones. Cohen had several phones confiscated when he was raided- sixteen of them according to this report: [Michael Cohen: 16 mobile phones seized in FBI raid of Trump lawyer's home, office and hotel room | The Independent | The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michael-cohen-fbi-raid-trump-lawyer-mobile-phones-seized-home-office-latest-a8324966.html) So Cohen does know how to use burner phones. So all of this means that what? That Cohen is lying in his recent Tweet where he denies being in Prague? (Which seems dumb. Why bother? Just to mislead or needle someone not named “Mueller”?) Or that Cohen is telling the truth about never having been to Prague (in regards to Trump, and not the short day trip of 14 years ago)? I think that despite the Steele Dossier (which has been mostly correct so far, or at least none of it has been proven wrong so far) report that says Cohen took a meeting in Prague, that perhaps Cohen had to ditch that meeting as things were getting “too hot” right then. The Steel Dossier says the meeting was supposed to take place in Russia but got moved to a “soft EU country” because meeting in Russia was becoming “too compromising”. The Steele Dossier also says that the meeting was about how to “clean up the mess” of “western media revelations” regarding Trump and Co’s links to Russia and to also pay off hackers. Cohen went to Europe three times in 2016 ([Investigators probe European travel of Trump associates - POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/trump-europe-russia-travel-281134)). Did Cohen go to Europe in August, or just to California like he said? If Cohen did travel to Europe in August, did he go alone? Did Cohen give one of his burner phones to someone else to use in Europe while Cohen went to California? If so, did Cohen take the phone back after they used it? Did Cohen travel with someone who took the burner phone to the meeting so Cohen didn’t have to actually go to Prague himself but could still speak directly to other meeting attendee(s) thereby making it “true” that Cohen never went to Prague? So many questions… ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8655 "2018-12-30T13:41:39Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > … > > Cohen’s December 27th Tweet, which is in response to the McClatchy news story of the same day, says ““I hear #Prague #CzechRepublic is beautiful in the summertime. I wouldn’t know as I have never been. #Mueller knows everything!”” > > That’s just odd. … > > Cohen’s Tweet ending in “#Mueller knows everything” seems to reinforce his cooperation with the Mueller probe. > > So, what is Cohen up to here? > > Is his “#Mueller knows all” Tweet a very public-secret message to someone like Trump’s “Russia, if you’re listening” statement was a very public-secret message to Trump’s fellow travelers/Wikileaks/Russian allies? > > … I find this equally odd. I would have expected his plea agreement, or at least advice from his lawyers, would have required him to shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8656 "2018-12-30T13:54:03Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > And we’re left with [this](http://pixdaus.com/files/items/pics/1/64/24164_618d5d8d10b8764d53db5ccd2e980857_large.jpg). Excellent depiction: The illusion of progress without getting anywhere. The ability to look as if something is being done without actually inconveniencing any of the miscreants. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8657 "2018-12-30T14:03:16Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > There were some jokes above about inept criminals and “burner” phones. Cohen had several phones confiscated when he was raided- sixteen of them according to this report: [Michael Cohen: 16 mobile phones seized in FBI raid of Trump lawyer's home, office and hotel room | The Independent | The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michael-cohen-fbi-raid-trump-lawyer-mobile-phones-seized-home-office-latest-a8324966.html) So Cohen does know how to use burner phones. If he kept them in his office, I don’t think he was too clear on the “burning” part. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8658 "2018-12-30T14:27:42Z")
I can’t see a trip to California to scope out colleges being something that he could manage exclusively with an impressive bankroll. Hotels and rental cars require credit cards, and unless I’m mistaken, many college campuses require visitors to sign in. If it took place, THAT trip should be able to be corroborated. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8659 "2018-12-30T14:44:46Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Cohen went to Europe three times in 2016 ([https://www.politico.com/story/2017/](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/)…-travel-281134). > Did Cohen go to Europe in August, or just to California like he said? The dates he was in Europe can be found through careful reading of the _Politico_ article you linked to: > [@Politico](#): > > His passport stamps show that he traveled twice to London in 2016 and once to Italy, from July 9 to July 17. By following a link from the _Politico_ article to an earlier _Buzzfeed_ article displaying the contents of Cohen’s passport, it appears the UK trips were in October and November, respectively. …i.e not in August. My opinion? We’re chasing our tails here. Cohen may or may not have met with Russians during the campaign for some nefarious purpose, but probably not in Prague, and almost certainly not in August. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8660 "2018-12-30T15:12:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > One step at a time Thelma. Gotta start somewhere. One step at a time. Thank you for that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8661 "2018-12-30T17:08:55Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > My opinion? We’re chasing our tails here. Cohen may or may not have met with Russians during the campaign for some nefarious purpose, but probably not in Prague, and almost certainly not in August. Of course, this is assuming that Cohen only has one passport (and a number of other assumptions, but let’s just go with that one.) I know he denies having a second (non-US) passport, but who the hell knows. I don’t know how easily verifiable this is. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8662 "2018-12-30T17:52:21Z")
Assuming Cohen doesn’t have an associate who used one of his phones, for reasons, in Prague. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=432) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=434)