# 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:** 471
**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, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9403 "2019-02-08T01:58:11Z")
National Enquirer is hosted by… [Amazon Web Services](https://twitter.com/ryanhuber/status/1093665718464327680?s=19) ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9404 "2019-02-08T02:01:30Z")
I didn’t think I’d be getting on a billionaire’s side this week, but here we are… I have to admire him. Even though he’ll still be rich and still getting divorced, most people are cowards and cave. I like how he decided nothing could be ruined further for him and the whole world might be better if he fought. Maybe it was more selfish, but I want to just pretend in altruistic, principle stands for a few minutes. ---
**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, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9405 "2019-02-08T02:12:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > National Enquirer is hosted by… > > [Amazon Web Services](https://twitter.com/ryanhuber/status/1093665718464327680?s=19) “Marty, this is Jeff Bezos. Fine, thank you. Listen, Marty, when AMI’s contract next runs out, cut 'em off. No, Marty, I don’t care how much they pay us. Okay, fine, I’ll cut you a check.” I’ve been amusing myself thinking of all the ways Mr. Bezos can screw - legally - with them, aside from burying them in lawyers. H’m - not publicly traded, so Jeff can’t just buy the stock… ---
**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, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9406 "2019-02-08T02:19:47Z")
Best. Infrastructure. Week. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9407 "2019-02-08T02:19:47Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > 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? Oh, interesting speculation! > [@Chronos](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t blackmail a crime? Who could we expect to see going to jail over this? I was wondering the same. They tried to cover it with legalese, but not very well to my eye (IANAL). I suppose they thought he’d be so keen to suppress the release, they didn’t have to worry about staying well on the side of “not committing the crime of extortion”. That was a miscalculation. I will never forgive Bezos for killing the IMDb boards, nor will I stop boycotting Amazon (previous to that, I had been a Prime member for years), but this was undeniably badass. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9408 "2019-02-08T02:23:26Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I will never forgive Bezos for killing the IMDb boards, nor will I stop boycotting Amazon (previous to that, I had been a Prime member for years), but this was undeniably badass. I’m with you on all counts. It’s heartening to see the sleazeballs get a dose of comeuppance. (And the thought of the consternation that’s no doubt rampant in the White House tonight, is just as pleasant.) ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9409 "2019-02-08T02:23:31Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > 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. Hear, hear! ---
**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, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9410 "2019-02-08T02:32:26Z")
“You’re right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars next year. You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I’ll have to close this place in… 60 years.” [https://t.co/krN5ivXzwe](https://t.co/krN5ivXzwe) ---
**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, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9411 "2019-02-08T02:36:46Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > National Enquirer is hosted by… > > [Amazon Web Services](https://twitter.com/ryanhuber/status/1093665718464327680?s=19) EVERYTHING is hosted by AWS. It’s amazing how ubiquitous they are. > [@Fair\_Rarity](#): > > I didn’t think I’d be getting on a billionaire’s side this week, but here we are… > > I have to admire him. Even though he’ll still be rich and still getting divorced, most people are cowards and cave. I like how he decided nothing could be ruined further for him and the whole world might be better if he fought. Maybe it was more selfish, but I want to just pretend in altruistic, principle stands for a few minutes. Brilliant move, I see why he’s the richest guy in the world. By describing the compromising information in detail, he got out it front of it and somewhat neutralized the content. Plus, he’s been out of favor with the liberal wing lately due to the tax breaks they get and large number of low wage workers they employ. It’s been especially contentious in my neighborhood, I live near one of the HQ2’s. But this will get him back in, he’s now the liberal flavor of the moment. AMI might be in real trouble due to their non-prosecution agreement in the election fraud case. > **[AMI May Lose Non-Prosecution Deal | Law & Crime](https://lawandcrime.com/legal-analysis/if-amis-jeff-bezos-shakedown-was-criminal-they-can-kiss-their-non-prosecution-agreement-goodbye/)** > > Amazon's Jeff Bezos took to Medium on Thursday to describe an "extortion" and "blackmail" threat sent his way by American Media Inc. (AMI), the parent company of the National Enquirer. DOJ takes these agreements really seriously and they are probably getting sick and tired of the Trump cronies signing then blatantly ignoring them. While this may technically not be a crime, it is exactly the kind of shenanigans that got them in trouble in the first place, and I don’t think the DOJ will take kindly to their attempts to dance around it. Oh God, I hope they pull one of those predawn guns blazing raids on Pecker. ---
**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, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9412 "2019-02-08T02:39:48Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > \<\\> > > I will never forgive Bezos for killing the IMDb boards, nor will I stop boycotting Amazon (previous to that, I had been a Prime member for years), but this was undeniably badass. Don’t be too sure you’re completely boycotting Amazon… [Here’s an article, part of a series,](https://gizmodo.com/i-tried-to-block-amazon-from-my-life-it-was-impossible-1830565336#_ga=2.52350880.882275658.1548823260-1494158073.1547676718) wherein the writer decides to remove the “Big 5” from here life - Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple. She tackled them, one each week, and then all of them for a week. That article is from when she (tried to) cut Amazon, including AWS, from her life. [Here’s the final article,](https://gizmodo.com/i-cut-the-big-five-tech-giants-from-my-life-it-was-hel-1831304194)entitled “I Cut the ‘Big Five’ Tech Giants From My Life. It Was Hell” (Of course, if you’re just boycotting Amazon the store, that’s pretty easy.) I’ve just been reading this series - fortuitous timing, wot? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9413 "2019-02-08T03:08:33Z")
I’m not particularly a fan of Bezos, but I also have to say I question AMI’s decision to try to blackmail him. What are they going to do to him? He’s already getting divorced, so threatening his marriage is off the table. He’s worth, what, $150B? His livelihood is in no danger. What’s left? Embarassing him for sending dick pics to his girlfriend, in an apparently mutually consensual and enjoyable exchange? Sure, cheating on your wife is bad, and we’d all get a good snicker at seeing a brazillionaire humbled a little, but sexting isn’t exactly a big deal anymore. My reaction is more along the lines of, “An insanely wealthy guy, who’s reasonably good looking and is a thorn in Trump’s side, has a girlfriend who likes sex? Uh…good show!” ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9414 "2019-02-08T03:19:45Z")
I can only assume from all of this that Bezos is hung. If he’s not, then well played, Bezos. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9415 "2019-02-08T03:50:25Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > Don’t be too sure you’re completely boycotting Amazon… > [Here’s an article, part of a series,](https://gizmodo.com/i-tried-to-block-amazon-from-my-life-it-was-impossible-1830565336#_ga=2.52350880.882275658.1548823260-1494158073.1547676718) wherein the writer decides to remove the “Big 5” from here life - Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple. She tackled them, one each week, and then all of them for a week. That article is from when she (tried to) cut Amazon, including AWS, from her life. > [Here’s the final article,](https://gizmodo.com/i-cut-the-big-five-tech-giants-from-my-life-it-was-hel-1831304194)entitled “I Cut the ‘Big Five’ Tech Giants From My Life. It Was Hell” > (Of course, if you’re just boycotting Amazon the store, that’s pretty easy.) > I’ve just been reading this series - fortuitous timing, wot? Yeah, just the store. I’m not going to be able to get away from everything. But at least I have actually registered my displeasure with them. They contacted me to try to woo me back to Prime, seeing as I’d been such a longstanding heavy user. As soon as I told them I would come back just as soon as they restore the IMDb boards, they presumably made that notation in my file and have never again even tried—so I’m assuming they know they lost a certain chunk of their customer base for that reason. Not that it will likely change anything, but at least it may have registered slightly with them. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9416 "2019-02-08T05:48:48Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > 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? JFYI, the plural is _nemeses_. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9417 "2019-02-08T08:21:50Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I’m not particularly a fan of Bezos, but I also have to say I question AMI’s decision to try to blackmail him. What are they going to do to him? He’s already getting divorced, so threatening his marriage is off the table. He’s worth, what, $150B? His livelihood is in no danger. What’s left? Embarassing him for sending dick pics to his girlfriend, in an apparently mutually consensual and enjoyable exchange? Sure, cheating on your wife is bad, and we’d all get a good snicker at seeing a brazillionaire humbled a little, but sexting isn’t exactly a big deal anymore. My reaction is more along the lines of, “An insanely wealthy guy, who’s reasonably good looking and is a thorn in Trump’s side, has a girlfriend who likes sex? Uh…good show!” It appears that the blackmail has something to do with AMI’s connection to the Saudis. Are the Saudis paying for puff pieces? AMI seems to be in financial difficulty. Perhaps Pecker is worried that he’ll get invited to the Saudi Embassy. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9418 "2019-02-08T08:41:33Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Are the Saudis paying for puff pieces? Probably. A little while back, AMI published a big, glossy, expensive, ad-free [magazine](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-publisher-pal-puts-saudi-propaganda-magazine-in-us-supermarkets) that was full of praise for the Saudi regime and the crown prince. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9419 "2019-02-08T08:54:49Z")
I will say, in the silver lining department, the Trump era has helped the scales fall from my eyes in terms of what the National Enquirer is all about. I (like, I think, many people) had always thought it was simply a sensationalistic rag with no real agenda beyond whatever piece of gossip will sell the most soap. But they are, it turns out, actively _evil_. And not just “we don’t care if our nasty gossip ruins people’s lives” callously evil out of greed, but apparently intent on furthering a Trumpian evil agenda. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9420 "2019-02-08T09:26:43Z")
Going through a divorce really puts a man in a mellow, forgiving mood. Good plan, guys. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2019, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9421 "2019-02-08T11:52:47Z")
> [@John T](#): > > National Enquirer is hosted by… > > Amazon Web Services [Not any more.](https://youtu.be/yR0DUdCJbx0?t=143) (Substitute hosted for living where applicable.) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/9422 "2019-02-08T12:54:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > National Enquirer is hosted by… > > [Amazon Web Services](https://twitter.com/ryanhuber/status/1093665718464327680?s=19) Somewhere out there an Azure salesman is crying with joy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=470) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=472)