# 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:** 576
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11503 "2019-05-29T15:53:22Z")
The new headline on the New York Times story: “Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump”. The media is slowly catching on to the real story. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11504 "2019-05-29T15:56:00Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Mueller : > > ``` > 'If we had confidence the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not,' > > ``` I think this is a bigger deal than most will recognize, largely because Mueller is not given to high emotion or hyperbole. At any other time in our history this sentence alone would be considered very damaging for any President. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Sounds like he said that he laid out the evidence without conclusion and Congress (and the American people) have to take it from there. Pretty much. “Nancy, the ball is in your court.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11505 "2019-05-29T15:57:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And he spelled (and used) “insufficient” correctly. He’s well familiar with that word. He’s seen it a lot. Banks mail him documents featuring that word followed by “funds”. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11506 "2019-05-29T16:03:35Z")
Here’s the transcript of his statement: [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/us/politics/robert-mueller-transcript.html?module=inline](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/us/politics/robert-mueller-transcript.html?module=inline) I agree that in Mueller-speak it is pretty damning. He really hits all of the points, i.e., we could, but the evidence does not allow us, to say that the President did not commit a crime; the Constitution and DOJ policy don’t allow me to say that the President did commit a crime. “And from them, we concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime.” That is pretty freaking damning. In the report he made some statement about how determining if the President did commit a crime would involve resolving some difficult issues but he did not even repeat that part here. He chose to emphasize only that he was prevented from saying that a sitting President committed a crime. And, included in that is the statement that “the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing.” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11507 "2019-05-29T16:06:01Z")
Anybody want to take one for the team and find out how this is being spun in the alt-right fair 'n balanced media-Trumposphere? I’m guessing it’s not “Mueller declines to exonerate Trump.” ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11508 "2019-05-29T16:08:43Z")
Brett Baier of Fox News said that Mueller’s statement was the “exact opposite” of Barr’s rendering of it. Chris Christie, on ABC, said the same: that Mueller directly contradicted Barr’s letter. Booker and Harris are now pro-impeachment, just releasing statements to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11509 "2019-05-29T16:09:01Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > He’s well familiar with that word. He’s seen it a lot. Banks mail him documents featuring that word followed by “funds”. Followed by the word “satisfaction”, it’s probably a term women use to describe him. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11510 "2019-05-29T16:14:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Brett Baier of Fox News said that Mueller’s statement was the “exact opposite” of Barr’s rendering of it. Yeah, Baier specifically said: “This was not ‘No Collusion, No Obstruction’”. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11511 "2019-05-29T16:16:02Z")
Well, if I’ve learned one thing in this whole investigation, it’s that literally nobody in government can effectively investigate a President. Not just Trump, any President. Congress is made up of buffoons who won’t say night is dark if it impacts their chances of re-election, which often depend on supporting a President of their own party to the bitter end. The Justice Department has the rules stacked so that it can never find that any President ever violates the law. Nixon could have murdered a nun on TV, and under the policies carried out under the Muller report, the most an AG could conclude was that he can’t clear Nixon of the charges, but can’t comment any further. This is a serious problem. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11512 "2019-05-29T16:18:56Z")
> [@Individual 1](#): > > Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you. This is new spin: it’s gone from “NO COLLUSION! NO OBSTRUCTION!” to “Insufficient evidence!”. And it’s still a lie. There’s a shit-ton of evidence; DOJ policy prohibited Mueller from acting on it, so he wrapped it in a bow and handed it to Congress. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11513 "2019-05-29T16:19:05Z")
Not too sure where he stood prior to this, now Beto is urging impeachment. I feel that, not too long from now, all 43^13^2 people running for the Dem nomination will release statements supporting impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11514 "2019-05-29T16:20:47Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Now we have the cure for insomnia. Muller’s speech. Will pass out before two minutes have passed, guaranteed. BO-RING! If the most respected man in America speaking for 10 minutes on the topic that’s absorbed the nation for 2 years and has huge ramifications for the country doesn’t hold your attention … go back to watching the Kardashians. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11515 "2019-05-29T16:23:17Z")
Justin Amash gave a town hall, where he urged impeachment. The crowd’s reaction? A standing O. > ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11516 "2019-05-29T16:26:05Z")
If nothing else, Mueller’s statements should put an end to any possible rational argument that Barr didn’t wilfully and significantly misrepresent the findings of the Mueller team in his written and public statements on the subject. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11517 "2019-05-29T16:27:23Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I got four takaways: > > - Trump was not charged with obstruction because he is the president. This is the only reason. > > - Mueller’s report speaks for itself, and he won’t make any other comments beyond the report, to the public or to congress > > - The investigators and the FBI did a great job, they are patriots, and any “investigation of the investigators” is wrong. > > - The Russians made systematic efforts to interfere in the US election, and this should be taken VERY seriously by everyone. Great summary. Mueller did not say he wouldn’t speak further. He said he hoped he wouldn’t have to, because everything is in the report. Out of interest, how many people commenting in this thread have actually read the whole report? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11518 "2019-05-29T16:27:51Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Mueller : > > ``` > 'If we had confidence the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not,' > > ``` I get what he means with his double-negative conditional, but goddammit, Mueller, how about using the no-negative declarative? “We found evidence indicating that the president committed a crime.” ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11519 "2019-05-29T16:33:06Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I get what he means with his double-negative conditional, but goddammit, Mueller, how about using the no-negative declarative? > > “We found evidence indicating that the president committed a crime.” He can’t. What he’s telling you is, “I have to stay in my lane. We have done the investigation, which is our job. But it is for Congress to try this case.” ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11520 "2019-05-29T16:34:21Z")
Another thought regarding Mueller’s motivation for this statement. He may see it as the best way to convince the white house to drop the investigation of the investigators. Basically if Republicans drop their investigation, the whole case is closed Mueller rides off into the sunset. But if they continue their investigation then Mueller will be forced to respond and answer more detailed questions about the investigation. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11521 "2019-05-29T16:36:56Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > This is new spin: it’s gone from “NO COLLUSION! NO OBSTRUCTION!” to “Insufficient evidence!”. And it’s still a lie. This is why I believe there is no way in hell that Trump wrote that tweet. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/11522 "2019-05-29T17:04:46Z")
The press conference reminded me of this: Dorothy: Oh will you help me? Can you help me? Glinda: You don’t need to be helped any longer. You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=575) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=577)