# 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:** 441
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8803 "2019-01-08T21:03:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Manafort defense lawyers say the former Trump campaign chairman suffers from depression, anxiety, gout Well, shit, I’d be pretty depressed and anxious too if I got caught breaking the law and thrown in jail. What does he want? Dancing girls? Fresh grapes? What? ---
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8804 "2019-01-08T21:03:49Z")
n/m ---
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8805 "2019-01-08T21:06:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Why? Quiet, you. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8806 "2019-01-08T23:47:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Quiet, you. But Daaaaad! (Mom? Dunno…everyone’s a genderless dog on the Internet.) ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8807 "2019-01-09T00:29:13Z")
With the revelation that Team Trump was passing campaign data to the Kremlin, this tweet verges on confession. It’s easy to be “100x” her when much of your campaign budget is dark, paid for by foreign agents. > > [@Brad Parscale](#): > > I bet we were 100x to 200x her. We had CPMs that were pennies in some cases. This is why @realDonaldTrump was a perfect candidate for FaceBook. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8808 "2019-01-09T14:10:12Z")
Rod Rosenstein to step down from DoJ within the next month: > **[Rod Rosenstein, who oversaw Mueller probe, leaving DOJ after investigation...](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/rod-rosenstein-plans-leave-justice-department-after-new-attorney-general-n956571?cid=public-rss_20190109)** > > The No. 2 official is set to depart once the special counsel finishes his work, according to a source. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8809 "2019-01-09T16:45:01Z")
Now that we know Manafort was talking to Russians. How did the Trump campaign and the Russians communicate on a regular basis? The Alfa Bank story may hold clues. A _The Young Turks_ refresher from a few weeks before the elections by host Cenk Uygar: [PROOF Trump Campaign Colluded With Russia?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJCnSD0DSpo) Not familiar with the story? Synopsis: A Trump server was talking to a Alfa Bank server and a server owned by a DeVos family company and pretty much no other server. In very suspicious patterns that excuses like spam emails and “glitches” can’t explain. When a reporter asked about it (to Alfa Bank), someone on the Trump side shut it down, so it must have been totally legit, right? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8810 "2019-01-09T17:20:55Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Rod Rosenstein to step down from DoJ within the next month Does that tell us when Mueller will no longer need to be protected from firing? ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8811 "2019-01-09T17:59:17Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Does that tell us when Mueller will no longer need to be protected from firing? Personally, I do think that’s what it means. Everything seems to be pointing to mid-February as when Mueller will have accomplished his main task. Of course the investigations and reverberations will continue for a long time after, perhaps years. But I think he is prepared to offer a significant report by mid February, even if it is incomplete. If TrumpCo tries to block it, I expect the House will summon Mr. Mueller to appear and testify as to his findings. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8812 "2019-01-09T18:37:06Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > But Daaaaad! > > (Mom? Dunno…everyone’s a genderless dog on the Internet.) If I were female, I’d be **Elendil’s Heiress**. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8813 "2019-01-09T23:50:26Z")
Now, this news comes as a shock: [Trump will not answer any more questions from Mueller](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/president-trump-will-not-answer-any-more-questions-from-mueller-giuliani-idUSKCN1P32FW?il=0). (Reuters) > [@](#): > > Lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump have told special counsel Robert Mueller that he will not answer any more questions in the probe of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters on Wednesday. > > \ > > “As far as we’re concerned, everything is over,” Giuliani told Reuters. “We weren’t convinced they had any questions they don’t know the answer to.” > > Giuliani said the ball was now in the special counsel’s court. “They could try to subpoena him if they want,” he said. “But they know we could fight that like hell.” > > Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment. Stunning revelation Giuliani-wise, for sure. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8814 "2019-01-09T23:54:10Z")
> [@](#): > > “We weren’t convinced they had any questions they don’t know the answer to.” Hehe. Does Rudy have any idea how incriminating that sounds? 🙂 ETA: It sounds like, “Mueller doesn’t need us to make his case.” ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8815 "2019-01-09T23:57:25Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Hehe. Does Rudy have any idea how incriminating that sounds? 🙂 > > ETA: It sounds like, “Mueller doesn’t need us to make his case.” LOL, that’s _exactly_ what it sounds like. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8816 "2019-01-10T00:08:38Z")
I parse “Mueller doesn’t have any questions they didn’t already know the answers to” as “Mueller pointed out that some of our previous answers didn’t match known facts.” ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8817 "2019-01-10T00:24:07Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I parse > > “Mueller doesn’t have any questions they didn’t already know the answers to” > > as > > “Mueller pointed out that some of our previous answers didn’t match known facts.” Rudy is aware that every good lawyer knows to not ask any question to which he/she doesn’t already have the answer. And Mueller is the best. My translation: “Why should we give you more ammunition to lay lying-to-the-FBI charges?” Which is basically the same conclusion as yours. 🙂 I’m trying to remember how long ago I concluded that Mueller never needed any more answers from Trump. Damn long time, I know that. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8818 "2019-01-10T02:51:21Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Personally, I do think that’s what it means. > > Everything seems to be pointing to mid-February as when Mueller will have accomplished his main task. Of course the investigations and reverberations will continue for a long time after, perhaps years. But I think he is prepared to offer a significant report by mid February, even if it is incomplete. If TrumpCo tries to block it, I expect the House will summon Mr. Mueller to appear and testify as to his findings. I’m starting to get the feeling that Trump’s doing whatever he can to keep the government shutdown in a bid to have the Mueller investigation finally unfunded and then no longer (in his pathetic excuse for a mind) a threat to him. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8819 "2019-01-10T03:13:11Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m starting to get the feeling that Trump’s doing whatever he can to keep the government shutdown in a bid to have the Mueller investigation finally unfunded and then no longer (in his pathetic excuse for a mind) a threat to him. I’m not worried about that. Mueller’s investigation is already funded through September and the government shutdown doesn’t have any impact on it. Still, the shutdown will affect other US Attorneys’ offices and also some other things, and those things are of some concern. E.g., Amy Klobuchar just said in an interview that she was denied a meeting with William Barr in advance of his confirmation hearing next week “because shutdown.” More generally, I’ll revise my predictions for Mueller’s report from mid-February to early to mid-March, based on more current reporting. To quote Rudy Giuliani, he expects the report as regards Trump’s future will be “horrific.” Can’t wait. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8820 "2019-01-10T14:43:26Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Rudy is aware that every good lawyer knows to not ask any question to which he/she doesn’t already have the answer… That cliche is really only true about cross examination. In depositions and in discovery, good lawyers ask lots and lots of questions to which they don’t already know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8821 "2019-01-10T16:57:33Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I’m not worried about that. Mueller’s investigation is already funded through September and the government shutdown doesn’t have any impact on it. Still, the shutdown will affect other US Attorneys’ offices and also some other things, and those things are of some concern. E.g., Amy Klobuchar just said in an interview that she was denied a meeting with William Barr in advance of his confirmation hearing next week “because shutdown.” The shutdown does not in any way prevent Barr from conducting meetings with senators: [already taken place](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gop-senators-promise-ag-nominee-barr-wont-touch-muellers-probe/2019/01/09/8280c4f4-145d-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html): > [@](#): > > Top Senate Republicans emerged Wednesday from meetings with attorney general nominee William P. Barr… You don’t suppose that Barr and/or his flunkies might have – horrors! – said _“the thing which was not”_? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/8822 "2019-01-10T17:23:57Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The shutdown does not in any way prevent Barr from conducting meetings with senators: [already taken place](https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gop-senators-promise-ag-nominee-barr-wont-touch-muellers-probe/2019/01/09/8280c4f4-145d-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html): > > You don’t suppose that Barr and/or his flunkies might have – horrors! – said _“the thing which was not”_? You’re not understanding. Meetings with Republican’s are free. There are non-funded charges associated with meeting with a Democrat, so those meetings are on hold. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=440) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=442)