# 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:** 517
**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:** [March 26, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10323 "2019-03-26T01:34:39Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Mueller is quoted by Barr in the letter, and I’ve indicated which are quotes from Mueller and which are from Barr. I’m not faulting you, I’m saying that Barr \*\*claims \*\*that’s what Mueller said… in fragments with no full context. Do you really trust him? See below: > [@Sherrerd](#): > > An interesting side-note to that observation—also via Ari Melber, if I remember correctly: \*\*the Barr memo contains ONLY sentence fragments from Mueller. All the quotations Barr asserts come from Mueller are incomplete sentences. \*\* > > On Melber’s Sunday special show on the Barr memo, someone offered some potential completions of the sentence fragments–very eye-opening. > > I’m looking for a link but so far can’t see the Sunday show available on MSNBC’s site, as it wasn’t one of their regular shows. In the meantime here’s a Slate article that mentions the ‘no complete sentences’ oddity: > > [Why did Barr share only four incomplete sentences from the Mueller Report?](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/william-barr-four-sentence-mueller-report.html) ---
**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:** [March 26, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10324 "2019-03-26T01:35:21Z")
Well… “potential openings” are still things in the realm of fantasy. All I know are four things: 1. I have a letter from a political appointee who was selected specifically to run interference w/ regards to the Mueller report, a letter which contains not a single fully-quoted sentence from this report. 2. I do not have a copy of the Mueller report. 3. The same people who refused to support Mueller or openly attacked him, are now claiming “exoneration”… while simultaneously refusing to release this report. 4. And those people in pt. # 3? I trust them as far as I can throw them. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10325 "2019-03-26T01:46:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 1. And those people in pt. # 3? I trust them as far as I can throw them. But if you could… ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10326 "2019-03-26T01:53:08Z")
Within the range of possibilities of what is currently publicly known, neither of these things can be ruled out: - There _was_ conspiracy/collusion at a level that would be a federal crime, but the evidence gathered is not yet a stage of high enough burden of proof. This could change as a result of the work of the counterintelligence investigations still active, or someone like Manafort or Stone flipping. - There _was_ obstruction of justice and Mueller has provided the evidence in his report, although declined to actually recommend indictment (since that would go against DoJ policy that a sitting President can’t be indicted). Obstruction of justice could be grounds for impeachment proceedings. It’s certainly a long way from the “complete exoneration” narrative. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10327 "2019-03-26T03:41:33Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > 1. The report does NOT exonerate him - because prosecutors don’t exonerate in the first place. There is the rare example of the Duke lacrosse players accused of rape where the N. Carolina AG declared them innocent. (The trial prosecutor is the one who went to jail, albeit for only a day) > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Further it is the truth that we need more investigation of Whitewater, Travelgate, Vince Foster, and Ben Gazi! > > CMC fnord! I keep hearing about that Ben Gazi guy. Is he a Clinton associate that “committed suicide” like Vince Foster? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10328 "2019-03-26T05:01:42Z")
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked a non-binding resolution to make special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report public. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has asked Adam Schiff to step down as House Intelligence chairman. I’m going to lay my cards on the table and reveal my current speculation on things… 🙂 I think what’s going on is a whitewash/cover-up, and that the only reason that Congressional leaders aren’t tonight holding the Mueller report in their hands and discussing potential impeachment against Trump for obstruction of justice is because of Barr, who has deviated from precedent and best practise by inserting himself into a process that should belong to Congress. Barr was appointed AG precisely because his known views would make him the “stooge” that would give the required outcome if presented with the scenario of handling the hand-off of the Mueller report - his memo predicted precisely how he would act. Republicans like McConnell know they need to block significant parts of the Mueller report from getting out at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10329 "2019-03-26T11:34:45Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > All discussion boils down to syntax, dimwit, as if you can’t agree on what words mean, then why bother? > > You used “he” to refer to Mueller. Period. Full stop. Said the NY Times quoted Mueller. But they didn’t. > > Syntax matters. Words matter. No matter how much you want to lie to us about this, we haven’t read shit about the _report_, all we’re talking about is a _letter_. You truly are a dim hack. Where did I say they quoted Mueller? ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10330 "2019-03-26T11:57:28Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Well… “potential openings” are still things in the realm of fantasy. All I know are four things: > > 1. I have a letter from a political appointee who was selected specifically to run interference w/ regards to the Mueller report, a letter which contains not a single fully-quoted sentence from this report. > 2. I do not have a copy of the Mueller report. > 3. The same people who refused to support Mueller or openly attacked him, are now claiming “exoneration”… while simultaneously refusing to release this report. > 4. And those people in pt. # 3? I trust them as far as I can throw them. Meanwhile, the right-wing media is screaming at a fever pitch that this is proof positive that the Muller report exonerates Trump - even though Barr wasn’t shameless enough to lie about that - and more importantly, that this is proof that it was a witch hunt. The attack here is not merely on the Muller investigation - it’s on the very concept of an impartial investigation. They’re acting as if attempts to investigate the president are fundamentally invalid. That’s… fucking terrifying. I will reiterate - anyone claiming that this is a “witch hunt” is not arguing in good faith and should be ignored, laughed at, or (if they’re a major cable fixture) beaten to death with a crowbar. After so many indictments and convictions, there is simply no argument to be made that the investigation was anything but valuable and important, even if all it found was that Trump was surrounded by criminals. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2019, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10331 "2019-03-26T11:59:52Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Most reports are saying he found no collusion. Reason to dispute the NYT? Holy shit, Will, since you are so fucking stupid you can’t find your own cite where you said the NYTimes is saying Mueller found no collusion, here it is for you. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10332 "2019-03-26T12:04:04Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Holy shit, Will, since you are so fucking stupid you can’t find your own cite where you said the NYTimes is saying Mueller found no collusion, here it is for you. Okay, so I’m sure you’re pretty happy with how you use the forum now, but did you know it could be better? Let me show you [One Cool Trick](https://imgur.com/a/sUW7v9U)™ to improve your forum enjoyment! ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10333 "2019-03-26T12:18:13Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But the Republicans have made it clear that “technically legal” is good enough for them, look at the Stormy Daniels scandal. I think you are being too generous here. Even some illegal acts seem good enough for them. E.g., those claiming that the campaign finance violations in relation to this scandal do not constitute real crimes. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10334 "2019-03-26T12:27:20Z")
I found a video that manages to encapsulate everything Farnaby and the rest of the republicans are saying right now. [13 second Youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNOrp_83RU) The funny part is that they don’t even know what they’re trying to cover up. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10335 "2019-03-26T15:01:44Z")
[Mike Huckabee](https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/1110156445373382656): > [@](#): > > There WAS a CONSPIRACY, a COVER-UP, and attempted COUP. It was done by Comey, McCabe, Ohr, Clapper, Brennan, Rice, Strzok, Page, Yates, et al. None of those ppl are in @realDonaldTrump world. Not ONE. Hold them accountable for abuse of power. No one should be above the law. The conspiracy/cover-up/coup that’s going on right now is being carried out by people in Trump world and Republicans. No one should be above the law. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10336 "2019-03-26T15:20:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Holy shit, Will, since you are so fucking stupid you can’t find your own cite where you said the NYTimes is saying Mueller found no collusion, here it is for you. Where did I say they quoted Mueller? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10337 "2019-03-26T15:24:23Z")
“The investigation led by Robert S. Mueller III found no evidence that President Trump or any of his aides coordinated with the Russian government’s 2016 election interference, according to a summary of the special counsel’s key findings made public on Sunday by Attorney General William P. Barr.“ NYT headline “Mueller Finds No Trump-Russia Conspiracy, but Stops Short of Exonerating President on Obstruction” Yes they (NYT) said he (Mueller) found no collusion. Their source is the Barr report. You’ve really hit rock bottom. It is hard to read when frothing at the mouth so I will give you some slack. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10338 "2019-03-26T15:26:12Z")
Yes all the legitimate mainstream outlets with any sense of propriety are moving on. There are a deranged few on the fringes who will ride this out for years like the Republicans who still talk about Clinton stuff from decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10339 "2019-03-26T15:31:00Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes all the legitimate mainstream outlets with any sense of propriety are moving on. There are a deranged few on the fringes who will ride this out for years like the Republicans who still talk about Clinton stuff from decades ago. Well, as pointed before, that is enough talk about the deranged Trump administration… > **[Bolstered By Mueller Synopsis, Republicans Go On Offense Over Investigations](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/26/706634402/bolstered-by-mueller-synopsis-republicans-go-on-offense-over-investigations)** > > President Trump and his allies in Congress are seeking a new wave of investigations that will target their opponents after embracing findings from the Justice Department they said vindicated Trump. > [@](#): > > Bolstered By Mueller Synopsis, Republicans Go On Offense Over Investigations [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/22/trump-barr-clinton-investigation-1232147](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/22/trump-barr-clinton-investigation-1232147) > [@](#): > > Trump: I hope Barr will ‘do what’s fair’ with regards to investigating Hillary Clinton ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10340 "2019-03-26T15:34:05Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Well, as pointed before, that is enough talk about the deranged Trump administration… > > [Trump, Republicans Want New Investigations Into Opponents, Investigators : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/26/706634402/bolstered-by-mueller-synopsis-republicans-go-on-offense-over-investigations) > [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/22/trump-barr-clinton-investigation-1232147](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/22/trump-barr-clinton-investigation-1232147) > **[Mueller Report Doesn't Find Russian Collusion, But Can't 'Exonerate' On...](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/24/706318191/trump-white-house-hasnt-seen-or-been-briefed-on-mueller-investigation-report)** > > Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein prepared a summary of the special counsel's findings after learning on Friday from Robert Mueller that his work was complete. NPR headline. “Mueller Report Doesn’t Find Russian Collusion, But Can’t ‘Exonerate’ On Obstruction” “Special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence that President Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election, according to a summary of findings submitted to Congress by Attorney General William Barr.” ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10341 "2019-03-26T15:34:44Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yes all the legitimate mainstream outlets with any sense of propriety are moving on. There are a deranged few on the fringes who will ride this out for years like the Republicans who still talk about Clinton stuff from decades ago. The Republicans who still beat the Clinton drum are far, _ **far** _ more than “a deranged few.” The NYT (correctly) states that this is all from Barr’s summary. Not a great hill for Trumpistas to die on. Might want to wait for the full report to be released. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10342 "2019-03-26T15:36:04Z")
Perhaps NPR can now abandon their Russia chatter and get back to real journalism. A sad chapter in their history. I suggest they take down Trump on dangerous anti-Russia policy and continuing Obama’s war on Yemen. Both have been ignored for 2 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=516) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=518)