# 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:** 571
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11403 "2019-05-09T18:54:33Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I hope all of the Democrats who voted to confirm Barr get primaried out in their next elections. I hope their primary opponents make these votes a cornerstone of their election campaigns. There were three, and only Doug Jones of Alabama is defending his seat in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11404 "2019-05-09T19:13:54Z")
I’m a little slow so help me with this. Trump asserts executive privilege to keep the Muller report under wraps. Executive Privilege exists so that that the president can confer with his advisors without worrying that these conversations will be made “public”. Have I got this correct so far? But these conversations have already been released to Muller. Even if Muller quotes whoever said what Trump said, isn’t it too late to assert the privilege? Shouldn’t have he asserted it before they talked to Muller? I just don’t understand how the privilege applies to this whole report. Also, if I understand it correctly, wasn’t there an offer to let committee members view the report without making copies? Were there strings attached? Granted, its almost pointless to view a 400 page report with being able to take notes (I assume that’s the case). But not completely pointless. I think it would be shrewd move to fight tooth and nail to not release a report or whatever, have a court force you to do so and then have nothing noteworthy in the report. “See. I told you so! Witch hunt!” ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11405 "2019-05-09T20:03:12Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I’m a little slow so help me with this. Trump asserts executive privilege to keep the Muller report under wraps. Executive Privilege exists so that that the president can confer with his advisors without worrying that these conversations will be made “public”. Have I got this correct so far? But these conversations have already been released to Muller. Even if Muller quotes whoever said what Trump said, isn’t it too late to assert the privilege? Shouldn’t have he asserted it before they talked to Muller? I just don’t understand how the privilege applies to this whole report. Also, if I understand it correctly, wasn’t there an offer to let committee members view the report without making copies? Were there strings attached? Granted, its almost pointless to view a 400 page report with being able to take notes (I assume that’s the case). But not completely pointless. I think it would be shrewd move to fight tooth and nail to not release a report or whatever, have a court force you to do so and then have nothing noteworthy in the report. “See. I told you so! Witch hunt!” :dubious: Hmmm… your questions sound suspiciously… um… _reasonable_. Sorry, but logic, reason, rationality, being sensible, _making_ sense, hell, even being \*civil \*have no place in these proceedings. Next! ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11406 "2019-05-09T23:18:08Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Ah yes, the Donald Trump theory that bluster and the appearance of strength is more important than the real thing. Way to mischaracterize what I said. I’m urging the Democrats to show real strength and show a real win, not simply capitulate because “it’ll be difficult” or “there’s no guarantee it’ll work”. Fucking grow up, make decisions and then act on them, Democrats. Stop being lame-ass weaklings. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11407 "2019-05-09T23:22:37Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Those of us outside the decision-making group (and I wonder who those are?) can debate whether the Democrats have a good strategy, bad strategy, or any strategy at all. Aye; I thought that’s what we were doing. > [@jsc1953](#): > > IMHO, they’re playing their hand as well as they could. Not sure I’d go that far. > [@jsc1953](#): > > An actual impeachment vote is pointless as long as the R’s are in charge of the Senate – it will only produce party line votes and give Trump more fodder to whine about at his rallies (partisan witch hunt!). I agree. > [@jsc1953](#): > > That being the case, the House should work to present all the damning evidence they can find by using all their investigative bodies. By 2020 the bloated stinking corpse of the Trump Administration will be tainting all Republican candidates, not just the one at the top of the ticket. Don’t give any Republican a chance to cast a vote against him – let him take the whole party down. I agree. I just don’t think that anyone should be given a pass. Hound them. Don’t stop. Don’t let up. There need to be recriminations or there will be repetitions (and possibly even bigger transgressions). ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11408 "2019-05-09T23:26:06Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Should the Republicans have arrested Eric Holder? > [@Slash1972](#): > > Upon re-reading the Holder contempt charge, it does seem similar and I am also interested in the answer. Maybe. But look at it this way: why should Democrats feel burdened by the GOP’s previous actions? The GOP certainly doesn’t feel burdened by any sort of precedent, whether set by themselves or their opposition. ETA: It’s very difficult to win a game when the other side has no regard for the rules. At some point, IMO, you have to recognize that the game has changed and play with the new rules/conditions. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11409 "2019-05-09T23:30:14Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > And let’s face it: the reason Democrats are threatening Barr with contempt and arrest is because they’re incensed that he didn’t do more to lay the groundwork for impeachment. You’ve moved into bizzarre-o territory here. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11410 "2019-05-09T23:30:30Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Is it just me or does anyone else think Trump’s description of his tax returns is an admission to tax fraud? He says he listed profits as losses because that’s the way the tax code works. I don’t buy that. One lists things as tax write-offs. I’d be interested in seeing what happens to his CPA. If it doesn’t constitute an admission of tax fraud, it should at least constitute an admission that he can’t be trusted to coherently explain even a summary of his tax return situation, and that the HoR has a legitimate purpose behind their demand to look at them. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11411 "2019-05-09T23:34:21Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You’ve moved into bizzarre-o territory here. Yeah, no kidding. I thought they were threatening him with contempt of congress because he’s refusing their summons. It ain’t like they just targeted him out of the blue. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11412 "2019-05-09T23:42:52Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Way to mischaracterize what I said. I’m urging the Democrats to show real strength and show a real win, not simply capitulate because “it’ll be difficult” or “there’s no guarantee it’ll work”. Fucking grow up, make decisions and then act on them, Democrats. Stop being lame-ass weaklings. Out of curiosity, do you draw a distinction between “there’s no guarantee it’ll work” “there’s a guarantee that it WON’T work”? ---
**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:** [May 9, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11413 "2019-05-09T23:49:38Z")
Trump’s opinion of the Mueller report has changed yet again, and it is [now "the Bible.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7SqlBmZRI&feature=youtu.be&t=62)" ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11414 "2019-05-10T11:17:19Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Trump’s opinion of the Mueller report has changed yet again, and it is [now "the Bible.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7SqlBmZRI&feature=youtu.be&t=62)" Given how little of the Bible he knows, I feel safe in predicting he doesn’t really know what’s in the report either. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11415 "2019-05-10T11:34:46Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Trump’s opinion of the Mueller report has changed yet again, and it is [now "the Bible.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7SqlBmZRI&feature=youtu.be&t=62)" > [@Monty](#): > > Given how little of the Bible he knows, I feel safe in predicting he doesn’t really know what’s in the report either. This simply means that you read it occasionally (somewhere between once a week or once a year), quote the parts you agree with, and disregard the rest. So, yes, indeed, just like the Bible. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11416 "2019-05-10T15:05:02Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > This simply means that you read it occasionally (somewhere between once a week or once a year), quote the parts you agree with, and disregard the rest. > > So, yes, indeed, just like the Bible. Or that you’ve heard of it. The way people might refer to The Koran when they have never held one or opened one and have no idea what’s in it. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11417 "2019-05-10T15:12:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Out of curiosity, do you draw a distinction between “there’s no guarantee it’ll work” “there’s a guarantee that it WON’T work”? Yes. Out of curiosity, do you draw a distinction between “stupid questions” and “stupid questions that are obviously trying to lead somewhere”? 😃 ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11418 "2019-05-10T20:21:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Or that you’ve heard of it. The way people might refer to The Koran when they have never held one or opened one and have no idea what’s in it. It can be difficult to figure out what is in the Bible with all those goddam redactions. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11419 "2019-05-10T20:38:11Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It can be difficult to figure out what is in the Bible with all those goddam redactions. Might want to re-read Barr’s memo again: > [@](#): > > [redacted] answered, “[Individual 1] is the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Individual 1]. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11420 "2019-05-10T22:07:35Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Given how little of the Bible he knows, I feel safe in predicting he doesn’t really know what’s in the report either. “_Many people are saying that Your favorite President is TOTALLY cleared by a passage in Two Collusions_.” ---
**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:** [May 10, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11421 "2019-05-10T22:21:53Z")
The first book of the Trump Version Mueller Report Bible wouldn’t be “Genesis”, it would be “Oranges”. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11422 "2019-05-10T22:26:14Z")
Trump tried to obstruct the obstruction case by getting McGahn to publicly declare that there was no obstruction. McGahn declined. It’s like meta obstruction. > **[White House Asked McGahn to Declare Trump Never Obstructed Justice (Published...](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/us/politics/mcgahn-trump-obstruction.html?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app)** > > Two requests by presidential advisers show how far the White House has gone to try to push back on accusations that the president obstructed justice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=570) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=572)