# 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:** 434
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8663 "2018-12-30T17:54:55Z")
If the Trump Crime Family was able to supply fake IDs & docs for the illegal aliens working at their golf clubs, we should assume that every one at Cohen’s org chart level has fake passports. That said, this thing about Cohen’s phone taking a solo vaca to Prague seem kind of shaky to me. We should probably reserve judgement. I think Cohen’s right when he says Mueller Knows All, though, but I’m not entirely sure that means what Cohen thinks it means. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8664 "2018-12-30T18:48:30Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > 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. There is so much to keep track of and this is probably a common misunderstanding, but remember that Cohen never had a cooperation agreement with Mueller or the SDNY. He specifically avoided taking one for personal reasons. Although we can probably make some educated guesses about what his reasons are. Cohen pleaded to the charges offered in hope that if he cooperated further, he might be granted additional leniency. But there is no formal agreement requiring him to shut the fuck up. You’re right for sure that his lawyers would have implored him to do so, and he’s an idiot not to listen to them. More generally, I believe something happened in Prague, with or without Cohen’s actual physical presence. I’ve heard for nearly 2 years that evidence exists of direct payments from Team Trump to Russian hackers, just as we heard at least a year and a half ago about Trump signing a letter of intent with Russians to build Trump Tower Moscow but only recently saw direct evidence of this. Team Trump worked hard to discredit Christopher Steele because Steele is deadly good at what he does. The tenor of Cohen’s tweets do have a trolling tone. I imagine he enjoyed some shadenfreude at the notion of Trump shitting his drawers when he read that “#Mueller knows everything.” And I agree with **Merneith** that it’s likely true. 2019 is going to be… busy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8665 "2018-12-30T19:24:23Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > …2019 is going to be… busy. I certainly hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8666 "2018-12-30T19:50:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. I’ve stayed in hotels and rented cars without a credit or debit card. It’s a bit more hassle but doable. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8667 "2018-12-30T22:12:31Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’ve stayed in hotels and rented cars without a credit or debit card. It’s a bit more hassle but doable. Without showing ID? ID which would be entered into the business records of the hotel and rental-car companies? Seems unlikely in 2016 America. Cohen could well have paid cash, but if he was dealing with overnight-accommodation and vehicle-rental companies that didn’t care about ID, then he’d be limited to some very down-scale possibilities. Would Cohen have taken his kid college-hunting via Craig’s List ‘sleep in my back bedroom for $30’-type options? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8668 "2018-12-31T02:38:49Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Without showing ID? ID which would be entered into the business records of the hotel and rental-car companies? > > Seems unlikely in 2016 America. Cohen could well have paid cash, but if he was dealing with overnight-accommodation and vehicle-rental companies that didn’t care about ID, then he’d be limited to some very down-scale possibilities. Would Cohen have taken his kid college-hunting via Craig’s List ‘sleep in my back bedroom for $30’-type options? I did not say without ID. I said without credit card. ---
**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 31, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8669 "2018-12-31T06:09:24Z")
And a suitcase fulla Euros. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8670 "2018-12-31T07:01:56Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The tenor of Cohen’s tweets do have a trolling tone. I imagine he enjoyed some shadenfreude at the notion of Trump shitting his drawers when he read that “#Mueller knows everything.” And I agree with **Merneith** that it’s likely true. 2019 is going to be… busy. The #MuellerKnowsEverything bit is the most confusing part of this event. Is he trolling the folks who (IMHO rightfully) want Trump’s head? Is he sending a coded message to Trump? If so, is he dumb enough to think that message might be coded enough to keep him out of Manafort levels of hot water? If not, does he just figure that he’s already screwed himself, so have fun? Maybe he knows he’s caught, so he just tags his denial with that in a weird negation of that? I honestly don’t know, but my mind kind of boggles when I try to figure that one out. Then I realize I probably have put more thought into it than he did, and move on for the time being. That doesn’t keep my mind from returning to the myriad possibilities when I see it mentioned again, and it’s really only 1/300 millionth or so really my problem to address. I can’t imagine what reading that did to someone who is as dumb, paranoid and very likely as guilty Trump is. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8671 "2018-12-31T13:29:29Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I did not say without ID. I said without credit card. The point is that most of these places require an ID so there is still a record, even with cash. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8672 "2018-12-31T13:50:18Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > The point is that most of these places require an ID so there is still a record, even with cash. I suppose, but one of the easiest things in the world is to have one person or organization pay for a room or rooms and just give a room key to whoever. Technically, an occupant of the room should register their name with the hotel, but there are a lot of things people shouldn’t technically that they somehow do anyway, including many things that would interest law enforcement. Point is, it’s not especially hard to get to the Czech Republic and leave a minimal or nonexistent paper trail even for an overnight stay. And it’s even easier for people with oodles of money. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8673 "2018-12-31T14:37:58Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Point is, it’s not especially hard to get to the Czech Republic and leave a minimal or nonexistent paper trail even for an overnight stay. And it’s even easier for people with oodles of money. This conversation thread is about there being a record of his supposed California college trip alibi. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8674 "2018-12-31T15:20:03Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > This conversation thread is about there being a record of his supposed California college trip alibi. Ah well, same difference. We mostly stayed with family friends on college trips. And while we did have to sign in at a lot of college campuses, it’s not like they were checking IDs. And as far as I know, the visitor log for campus tours at my alma mater (but perhaps not others) would be useless for corroborating visits. They don’t really keep verifiable records of visits, only caring about contact information (to pester the parents with snail- and e- mailings later). If he’s got corroborating evidence, great. But it’s entirely possible little to none actually exists. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8675 "2018-12-31T15:27:49Z")
Did they drive to California? Wouldn’t airlines have a record? I mean, sure, I guess it’s possible to by an airline ticket with cash and use a fake name, but why it the hell would he do that? ---
**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:** [December 31, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8676 "2018-12-31T15:56:40Z")
In 2 months, Butina will be back in Russia. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8677 "2018-12-31T16:07:39Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > The #MuellerKnowsEverything bit is the most confusing part of this event. Is he trolling the folks who (IMHO rightfully) want Trump’s head? Is he sending a coded message to Trump? If so, is he dumb enough to think that message might be coded enough to keep him out of Manafort levels of hot water? If not, does he just figure that he’s already screwed himself, so have fun? Maybe he knows he’s caught, so he just tags his denial with that in a weird negation of that? > > I honestly don’t know, but my mind kind of boggles when I try to figure that one out. Then I realize I probably have put more thought into it than he did, and move on for the time being. That doesn’t keep my mind from returning to the myriad possibilities when I see it mentioned again, and it’s really only 1/300 millionth or so really my problem to address. I can’t imagine what reading that did to someone who is as dumb, paranoid and very likely as guilty Trump is. I guess we’ll find out soon enough. All I can say is, you are aptly named, my friend. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8678 "2018-12-31T16:24:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > In 2 months, Butina will be back in Russia. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-15/u-s-fears-for-safety-of-russian-cooperator-butina-filing-says](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-15/u-s-fears-for-safety-of-russian-cooperator-butina-filing-says) They’re trying to get her under Witness Protection. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8679 "2018-12-31T16:38:43Z")
She’ll be exchanged for Paul Whelan. The fix is in, just watch. 🙂 > **[Russian security agency arrests 'US spy' in Moscow](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46720262.amp)** > > The FSB security agency says a US man named Paul Whelan has been charged with spying. If I’m wrong, I’ll gladly own it. But I doubt it. ---
**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 31, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8680 "2018-12-31T16:51:34Z")
Neither you nor I could prove it easily, but I was in the Czech Republic a few years ago. I was in Vienna and paid cash for a train ticket to Brno. I had a lovely outdoor lunch, which I paid for in Euro (despite the official currency being koruna), as I also paid admission to a Capuchin crypt. I had no electronics with me and collected no receipts. I took no photos. I spent several hours walking around and chatting with strangers who could have been my contact, had I had a contact. I then took the train to Bratislava, Slovakia for coffee and a walk; then back to Vienna by dinner. ---
**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 31, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8681 "2018-12-31T17:02:37Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I did not say without ID. I said without credit card. > [@Ruken](#): > > The point is that most of these places require an ID so there is still a record, even with cash. But for the purposes of investigating the validity of an alibi, the records hop from the credit card statements (which can be subpoenaed) to the place(s) that accepted the cash (which has to be hunted down). ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8682 "2018-12-31T17:09:01Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Neither you nor I could prove it easily, but I was in the Czech Republic a few years ago. I was in Vienna and paid cash for a train ticket to Brno. I had a lovely outdoor lunch, which I paid for in Euro (despite the official currency being koruna), as I also paid admission to a Capuchin crypt. I had no electronics with me and collected no receipts. I took no photos. I spent several hours walking around and chatting with strangers who could have been my contact, had I had a contact. I then took the train to Bratislava, Slovakia for coffee and a walk; then back to Vienna by dinner. The owl flies at midnight, but the early bird gets the worm. Repeat: _The early bird gets the worm!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=433) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=435)