# 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:** 470
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9383 "2019-02-08T00:04:25Z")
Bobot, you are truly a sage for the age, because option 3 is what Pecker chose, too! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9384 "2019-02-08T00:21:01Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, you’re David Pecker, cooperating with the US on the Trump investigation. And, in the spirit of cooperation, you and your team decide that it is best if you try to squash investigative reporting into Trump dealings with the Middle East, reporting coming from the Washington Post. > > What way do you think this was done, gentle reader? > > 1. Pecker called Bezos himself, asked him to stop? > 2. Peckers legal team sends the WaPo legal team a strongly worded letter? > 3. Pecker and his legal team try to blackmail the richest man in the world by threatening to publish dick picks, only to have said Richest Man in the World [expose the scheme, including the threatening emails, on Medium?](https://medium.com/@jeffreypbezos/no-thank-you-mr-pecker-146e3922310f) > > I mean, anytime you can blow up your sweetheart cooperation deal in the biggest counterintelligence investigation in American history by committing other crimes aimed at the richest man in the world, you gotta take the chance, right? This story appeared on the AP 32 minutes ago and is taking off like a SpaceX rocket. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9385 "2019-02-08T00:28:26Z")
This is great. “Hey, everybody! A tabloid is trying to blackmail me! Here’s what they said!” It really is the best way to stick it to their faces. Very cool he actually published the letter from the dickwad attorney. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9386 "2019-02-08T00:37:31Z")
So, apparently nobody… even his own attorneys… knew Bezos was going to do this. Also, [this is the lawyer that wrote the letter.](https://twitter.com/Rschooley/status/1093663587082526720?s=19) Accused of sexual harrassment himself, his self-given nickname was “Dildo”. So… Pecker used Dildo to threaten the publishing of dick pics of the CEO of a company named “Amazon”. What a time to be alive! ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9387 "2019-02-08T00:44:26Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > …(Flounder: Oh boy, is this great!) I think I love you. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9388 "2019-02-08T00:44:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, you’re David Pecker, cooperating with the US on the Trump investigation. And, in the spirit of cooperation, you and your team decide that it is best if you try to squash investigative reporting into Trump dealings with the Middle East, reporting coming from the Washington Post. > > What way do you think this was done, gentle reader? > > 1. Pecker called Bezos himself, asked him to stop? > 2. Peckers legal team sends the WaPo legal team a strongly worded letter? > 3. Pecker and his legal team try to blackmail the richest man in the world by threatening to publish dick picks, only to have said Richest Man in the World [expose the scheme, including the threatening emails, on Medium?](https://medium.com/@jeffreypbezos/no-thank-you-mr-pecker-146e3922310f) > > I mean, anytime you can blow up your sweetheart cooperation deal in the biggest counterintelligence investigation in American history by committing other crimes aimed at the richest man in the world, you gotta take the chance, right? Could I have laughed any harder? Why, no. No, I couldn’t. 😃 I can’t wait to see these corrupt creeps get taken down!!! ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9389 "2019-02-08T00:46:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, apparently nobody… even his own attorneys… knew Bezos was going to do this. > > Also, [this is the lawyer that wrote the letter.](https://twitter.com/Rschooley/status/1093663587082526720?s=19) Accused of sexual harrassment himself, his self-given nickname was “Dildo”. > > So… Pecker used Dildo to threaten the publishing of dick pics of the CEO of a company named “Amazon”. > > What a time to be alive! Dildo better guard his bar license. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9390 "2019-02-08T00:56:58Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t blackmail a crime? Who could we expect to see going to jail over this? ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9391 "2019-02-08T00:58:09Z")
What do the Duke of Wellington and Jeff Bezos have in common? “Publish and be damned!” Well done, Mr Bezos! ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9392 "2019-02-08T00:59:53Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Dildo better guard his bar license. That was my immediate thought as well. Being a party to blackmail sure sounds like “conduct unbecoming” to me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9393 "2019-02-08T01:05:43Z")
I’d love to see Mr. Pecker declared a flight risk and denied bail for this extortion attempt. Let him sit in jail for the 4-5 years it will take for this to come to trial. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9394 "2019-02-08T01:08:32Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, apparently nobody… even his own attorneys… knew Bezos was going to do this. That’s quite smart of Bezos, and actually considerate of his lawyers. You know there’s going to be fall-out, and a lawyer named Dildo would likely try to make allegations against Bezos’s lawyers, just to muddy the waters. This is Bezos, the world’s richest man, essentially saying, “Don’t worry, guys, I’ve got this.” ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9395 "2019-02-08T01:09:39Z")
Real richest man, not that fake billionaire stuff that someone has been peddling. 😉 ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9396 "2019-02-08T01:12:59Z")
Problem with coming at a man worth $100 billion is that if he spends half his fortune on revenge, he still has $50 billion to _really_ make it hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9397 "2019-02-08T01:16:17Z")
David Pecker just happens to be blackmailing his buddy Donald Trump’s nemesis (OK, one of his nemesises), and I’m sure Trump had nothing to do with it. Also, anyone want to take bets that Pecker is behind other blackmail. Say of certain Senators from South Carolina who are inexplicably nice to Trump now? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9398 "2019-02-08T01:25:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > This story appeared on the AP 32 minutes ago and is taking off like a SpaceX rocket. Or a Blue Origin rocket… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9399 "2019-02-08T01:28:09Z")
Stolen from Twitter: _ **Lucius Fox:** Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands; and your plan, is to blackmail this person? **Lucius Fox:** Good Luck_ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9400 "2019-02-08T01:41:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Stolen from Twitter: > > _ **Lucius Fox:** Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands; and your plan, is to blackmail this person? > **Lucius Fox:** Good Luck_ Aye; I keep hearing that in my head too. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9401 "2019-02-08T01:44:02Z")
Just a reminder of an old news story, one that deserved to get more play than it did. In this case, the Trump Administration was directly involved in the blackmail. And it didn’t work back then,either. Joe told them to go ahead and run the story. > **[Morning Joe co-hosts accuse White House of blackmail over tabloid story](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/30/mika-brzezinski-joe-scarborough-donald-trump)** > > Pair say Trump’s people said they could arrange for an unflattering story to be pulled – if they called Donald Trump to apologize for negative coverage ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9402 "2019-02-08T01:56:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t blackmail a crime? Who could we expect to see going to jail over this? Yes, but…it’s complicated, according to the law-talking blogs and tweets I’m reading.[Here’s an unrolled Twitter thread from](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1093658366583422978.html) Renato Mariotti, CNN legal analyst and former Federal Prosecutor. Summing up, it’s despicable, and extortion in the common sense of the word, but prosecutors are unlikely to seek prosecution. The idea appears to be that AMI will argue that this is an attempt at a legal settlement - see numbers 11, 12, and 13. [Here’s another one from Popehat, discussing the precedents in this sort of case, and the line between discussing a settlement, and (criminal) extortion.](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1093686028081061888.html?refreshed=yes) And yeah, however the courts turn out, it is not wise to piss off one of the world’s richest people, and it looks like AMI managed that quite nicely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=469) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=471)