# 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:** 530
**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:** [April 4, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10583 "2019-04-04T01:50:30Z")
First, this is the Pit. I’m entitled to have an opinion that public protest works, even if you disagree, without providing a cite. Second, what kind of cite do you think I could provide? What evidence could there possibly be that establishes an absolute nexus between what the administration does/doesn’t do and the number of people who stood up to protest about it? No way to prove a negative. IOW, how many things didn’t happen because of protests? Still, I can share the empirical observations that are the basis for my belief. Protests over how refugees are being treated at the Mexican border seemed to cool the ardor of Trumpites to continue to separate migrant children from their parents and provided an impetus for agencies such as the ACLU to fight against this practice. Protests over Trump threatening to fire Robert Mueller after Trump fired Sessions seemed to discourage this action from actually happening. Protests about Republican tax cuts appeared to elevate the unfairness of their distribution to the point that Republicans are now trying to stay as far away from mentioning them as possible, whereas previously they had intended to highlight their tax cuts as a basis for their reelections. The stark difference in the numbers of protestors for and against white nationalism seemed to dampen enthusiasm of white nationalists to openly pursue their agenda. Most importantly, the visual nature of protests serves to inspire others to do what they can to register their displeasure with the administration’s policies. It demonstrates very clearly that people are paying attention. In short, it gets people out to vote. Note the 2018 mid-term election voter turnout. Again, you are of course free to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10584 "2019-04-04T02:21:50Z")
I, for one, am shocked that the man who was brought in specifically to run interference for Trump ran interference for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10585 "2019-04-04T02:31:26Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > First, this is the Pit. I’m entitled to have an opinion that public protest works, even if you disagree, without providing a cite. > > Second, what kind of cite do you think I could provide? What evidence could there possibly be that establishes an absolute nexus between what the administration does/doesn’t do and the number of people who stood up to protest about it? No way to prove a negative. IOW, how many things didn’t happen because of protests? > > Still, I can share the empirical observations that are the basis for my belief. > > Protests over how refugees are being treated at the Mexican border seemed to cool the ardor of Trumpites to continue to separate migrant children from their parents and provided an impetus for agencies such as the ACLU to fight against this practice. > > Protests over Trump threatening to fire Robert Mueller after Trump fired Sessions seemed to discourage this action from actually happening. > > Protests about Republican tax cuts appeared to elevate the unfairness of their distribution to the point that Republicans are now trying to stay as far away from mentioning them as possible, whereas previously they had intended to highlight their tax cuts as a basis for their reelections. > > The stark difference in the numbers of protestors for and against white nationalism seemed to dampen enthusiasm of white nationalists to openly pursue their agenda. > > Most importantly, the visual nature of protests serves to inspire others to do what they can to register their displeasure with the administration’s policies. It demonstrates very clearly that people are paying attention. > > In short, it gets people out to vote. Note the 2018 mid-term election voter turnout. > > Again, you are of course free to disagree. While there wasn’t exactly a public protest, the outcry from many corners regarding the funding cuts to the Special Olympics certainly caused the administration to scrap that idea in a hurry. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10586 "2019-04-04T04:49:22Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I, for one, am shocked that the man who was brought in specifically to run interference for Trump ran interference for Trump. I am equally shocked that Trump who once said that the whole report should be released to the public has now apparently [changed his mind](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/02/trump-mueller-report-1249947). I never thought that would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10587 "2019-04-04T05:24:18Z")
Confirmed by [WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/limited-information-barr-has-shared-about-russia-investigation-frustrated-some-on-muellers-team/2019/04/03/c98e8a02-567a-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html?utm_term=.fc14a9d74d60). _“But members of Mueller’s team have complained to close associates that the evidence they gathered on obstruction was alarming and significant.”_ _“It was much more acute than Barr suggested,” said one person, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the subject’s sensitivity._ Notably the story also states that Mueller’s team prepared their own summaries for the public. Barr chose not to release those. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2019, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10588 "2019-04-04T05:26:08Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > While there wasn’t exactly a public protest, the outcry from many corners regarding the funding cuts to the Special Olympics certainly caused the administration to scrap that idea in a hurry. Or…Trump is the sort of person to watch handicapped people doing sports and thinks it’s hilarious, because “Looky them cripples pretending they’re real people.” ---
**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:** [April 4, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10589 "2019-04-04T13:34:06Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Believe me, we should. There are legitimate things to be withheld from the public. > > …\… > > Similarly, if releasing certain information would endanger or jeopardize ongoing investigations into, say, criminal acts by Javanka, such data should be redacted, I’m sure you’ll agree. 🙂 Of course, I agree that there are legitimate things that should be withheld from the public. But as I said earlier, I’d be surprised if anything at that level is in the Mueller report. I think there are really no surprises–that everything is something we already know or suspect, but it’s backed up by testimony, evidence, etc. I was just throwing a rock at a president who can’t stop shooting off his mouth, national security or no. Fortunately, Congress hasn’t consulted me for my strategy suggestions. 🙂 It’s moot until we see the report. I saw the headline last night about Mueller’s people leaking a teeny bit and saying the report was more damaging than Barr’s (lame) summary suggested, and like many here, my heart veritably leapt! 🙂 I tried to post it, but I couldn’t access the board from about 7 PM on! AAGGH. I was gratified to come here this morning to see much happiness and gloating. 😛 ETA: > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Or…Trump is the sort of person to watch handicapped people doing sports and thinks it’s hilarious, because “Looky them cripples pretending they’re real people.” Womp! Womp! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10590 "2019-04-04T13:42:07Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Or…Trump is the sort of person to watch handicapped people doing sports and thinks it’s hilarious, because “Looky them cripples pretending they’re real people.” Maybe he just finds it “tough to watch”, like the [Paralympics](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-to-paralympians-you-are-tough-to-watch_n_5ae4f0c9e4b02baed1babaef). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10591 "2019-04-04T15:24:18Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I mean, I was having a hard time understanding how Barr could possibly plan to misrepresent what will surely be public at some point and get away with it. I’m still having a hard time understanding it. It buys two to three weeks for the talking points to set in. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10592 "2019-04-04T15:46:27Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I mean, I was having a hard time understanding how Barr could possibly plan to misrepresent what will surely be public at some point and get away with it. I’m still having a hard time understanding it. > [@The\_Tooth](#): > > It buys two to three weeks for the talking points to set in. This. And also, with the MAGAbots, even when the TRUTH and FACTS ultimately come out, the Barr whitewash concrete will have set and nothing will erode or dislodge it. The Barr Report will be fact and the Mueller Report will be more lies and slander that the Dems have cobbled together to malign thump. Hell, they’ll probably accuse Hillary of writing the Mueller Report. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10593 "2019-04-05T02:22:02Z")
Cohen has [found more candy](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/04/04/politics/michael-cohen-letter/index.html) for SDNY, and wants to be able to delay going up the river so that he can go through the HD and find admissible content. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10594 "2019-04-05T02:38:01Z")
Lol. 1. He can just as easily be called to testify while in prison. 2. In prison, he has plenty of time to “review his hard drive”. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10595 "2019-04-05T04:07:43Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The fact that this is the first leak from those guys means a lot. Yeah. The Mueller team makes about as many public statements as Marcel Marceau. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2019, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10596 "2019-04-05T04:55:33Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Cohen has [found more candy](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/04/04/politics/michael-cohen-letter/index.html) for SDNY, and wants to be able to delay going up the river so that he can go through the HD and find admissible content. I saw a similar article earlier today and a close read makes me suspect that, actually, he got his belongings _back_ from the SDNY, and so he’s able to offer them to Congress. Nowhere does anything mention him offering to turn those materials over to the Feds and, obviously, they’re a better target to bargain with than Congress. SDNY can cut time off of his sentence. All Congress can do is delay the inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10597 "2019-04-05T05:11:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Cohen has [found more candy](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/04/04/politics/michael-cohen-letter/index.html) for SDNY, and wants to be able to delay going up the river so that he can go through the HD and find admissible content. Well, THAT’S gonna be a problem for us. He wants to go through HurricaneDitka? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10598 "2019-04-05T09:11:46Z")
I’m not sure why Cohen would be the one to review the files on the hard drive in the first place. Surely at this point that’s for the various investigative/prosecutorial bodies to do? Unless, as some of you have suspected, they already have… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10599 "2019-04-05T12:14:30Z")
Maybe he hid them all in a folder called “Financial Documents” that they just assumed was porn. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10600 "2019-04-05T13:40:20Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Maybe he hid them all in a folder called “Financial Documents” that they just assumed was porn. Hey! Have you been looking through my hard disk?!? ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10601 "2019-04-05T17:33:52Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > > Maybe he hid them all in a folder called “Financial Documents” that they just assumed was porn. > > Hey! Have you been looking through my hard disk?!? Or perhaps he hid them [even better](https://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=528). ---
**Author:** ![UnwittingAmericans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@UnwittingAmericans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwittingAmericans)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/10602 "2019-04-07T12:38:59Z")
There will be plenty of shit in the redacted version for Dems to flay Trump with while they sue to get the whole thing. Having to wait a few weeks for the redacted version isn’t going to make any difference, it’s just posturing. Barr’s statements aren’t influencing anyone, they just provide talking points. His opinion on criminal obstruction is irrelevant, except to Repubs in the Senate if obstruction was an article of impeachment. Pelosi and Nadler may have to work overtime to keep a lid on the impeachment talk. It would be fun if the Dems rang up Trump with article(s) of impeachment titled “Collusion With a Foreign Government.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=529) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=531)