# 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:** 92
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1821 "2018-01-22T20:54:15Z")
If this comes to fruition, it could be one of the larger developments in the Russia investigation: > **[“Another Nut Job”: Trump Fumes That Kelly “Thinks He’s Running Things”](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/are-trump-and-kelly-heading-for-divorce)** > > With the president and his chief of staff arguing in public, Ivanka Trump takes charge of finding a replacement. Kelly is the only thing that’s been keeping Trump from making more dumbass moves like firing James Comey, the last many months. (Not to say that he hasn’t been a dumbass even still, but it has been noticably less than the early months of his presidency.) If Kelly leaves, the odds that Trump goes into hardcore Obstruction of Justice mode increases dramatically. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1822 "2018-01-22T21:16:16Z")
Not only that, but Kelly would naturally become the new key witness. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1823 "2018-01-22T21:49:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Not only that, but Kelly would naturally become the new key witness. I sense that, regardless of how he might feel about Trump, he would still choose to fall on his sword than hurt the administration by testifying against it. I don’t think that he would lie, per se, but he might stonewall to such an extent that it’s just a waste of taxpayer money to try and force him to admit something. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1824 "2018-01-22T22:44:44Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I sense that, regardless of how he might feel about Trump, he would still choose to fall on his sword than hurt the administration by testifying against it. I don’t think that he would lie, per se, but he might stonewall to such an extent that it’s just a waste of taxpayer money to try and force him to admit something. What a time for the Democrats to be against water boarding. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1825 "2018-01-22T22:58:36Z")
Can you be in contempt of grand jury? Some time in jail, perhaps? ---
**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:** [January 22, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1826 "2018-01-22T23:16:06Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > [“I’ve Got Another Nut Job Here Who Thinks He’s Running Things”: Are Trump and Kelly Heading for Divorce? | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/are-trump-and-kelly-heading-for-divorce/amp) Who is the guy front row, second from left, with a bad haircut staring at the young woman’s bosom? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1827 "2018-01-22T23:24:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Can you be in contempt of grand jury? Some time in jail, perhaps? Refusal to obey a grand jury subpoena can be prosecuted as criminal contempt of court. Such prosecutions are very rare. Civil contempt is a thing, though. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1828 "2018-01-23T00:12:13Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Readers: > > I would like to declare this action to be called: “Writing”. Call me crazy, but I think this definition works. > > You may even stretch “(writing) exactly what you intended to write and (omitting) what you intended to omit” into the definition of: “Debating”. (Even crazier still, I admit!) > > Thoughts? (Just be sure to include the things you want to omit, and not write what you intend to write, else you may give F-P more problems of yours to diagnose.) I try to write what I intend to say too. Is that a bad thing now? roflmao lollerskates lollercoasters roflcopters etc etc etc. The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain (omit this sentence). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1829 "2018-01-23T00:17:43Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Mueller is investigating the NRA’s connection to Putin. > [The Arena Group – Where the Action is](https://www.themaven.net/beingliberal/room/fbi-investigating-whether-nra-accepted-russian-money-to-help-trump-win-cM5b3RNv7ECxNNAg5adSXg) The number of traitors keeps increasing, doesn’t it. One thing they all seem to have in common, is they are rightwing conservative , mostly draft dodger, multiple deferment flag waver types, who will fight anywhere anytime, to the last drop of someone else’s blood (while they line their pockets and yell ‘Murrica’). Being led and cheered by Donny Bone Spurs hisself. The other traitor. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1830 "2018-01-23T00:18:48Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > If this comes to fruition, it could be one of the larger developments in the Russia investigation: > > [“I’ve Got Another Nut Job Here Who Thinks He’s Running Things”: Are Trump and Kelly Heading for Divorce? | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/are-trump-and-kelly-heading-for-divorce/amp) > > Kelly is the only thing that’s been keeping Trump from making more dumbass moves like firing James Comey, the last many months. (Not to say that he hasn’t been a dumbass even still, but it has been noticably less than the early months of his presidency.) If Kelly leaves, the odds that Trump goes into hardcore Obstruction of Justice mode increases dramatically. Kelly is just as hardline, he’s just not the stupid one of the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1831 "2018-01-23T00:33:48Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I sense that, regardless of how he might feel about Trump, he would still choose to fall on his sword than hurt the administration by testifying against it. My sense is that, as a career officer, Gen. Kelly takes his oath to the nation and Constitution seriously, and puts that above any personal loyalty to Trump he may feel (if any). But we’d have to see. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1832 "2018-01-23T00:51:40Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > …The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain (omit this sentence). “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!” Not empowered to omit, and besides, correcting is more fun if you’re a bit of a snot. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1833 "2018-01-23T01:30:34Z")
I want to know what [this](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shutdown-intelligence/key-senators-want-troublesome-intelligence-measure-out-of-spending-bill-idUSKBN1FB2U7) (Reuters) is about. I have a feeling it relates to Mueller’s investigation. And other things that should stay as far removed from gratuitous political manipulation as possible. > [@](#): > > U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders urged lawmakers on Monday to remove a provision from the agreement to end the government shutdown that would allow President Donald Trump’s administration to spend intelligence money not explicitly authorized by Congress. > > Senators Richard Burr, the committee’s Republican chairman, and Mark Warner, its Democratic vice chairman, spoke in the Senate against the provision that they said could diminish lawmakers’ oversight of U.S. intelligence agencies. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1834 "2018-01-23T01:52:24Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > My sense is that, as a career officer, Gen. Kelly takes his oath to the nation and Constitution seriously, and puts that above any personal loyalty to Trump he may feel (if any). But we’d have to see. My faith in John Kelly’s integrity ended last October, when he refused to apologize for his lies about the Florida Congresswoman. > **[Fact-checking John Kelly on Frederica Wilson's 2015 speech](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/oct/20/john-kelly/fact-checking-john-kelly-frederica-wilsons-2015-sp/)** > > The White House continues to criticize U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., for publicizing a private phone call by Presi These are not the actions of a basically-sound man. These are the actions of an ideologue with an ax to grind. And we can’t know how such a man interprets his own duty “to the nation and Constitution.” He might well define that duty in a way that people of integrity would not. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1835 "2018-01-23T02:17:30Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I want to know what [this](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shutdown-intelligence/key-senators-want-troublesome-intelligence-measure-out-of-spending-bill-idUSKBN1FB2U7) (Reuters) is about. I have a feeling it relates to Mueller’s investigation. And other things that should stay as far removed from gratuitous political manipulation as possible. Hard to say without the text of the provision to go by. Does “intelligence spending” mean the FBI, CIA, NSA, or plain off everyone? I don’t think it would much matter if the President tried to arrange an intelligence mission for the FBI that lacked Congressional oversight. If they did something hinky, there would be a complaint raised to Congress. But the CIA could be used to do something like disappearing Russians that know Trump’s financial dealings. While indirect, that would impact the Mueller investigation, and it’s just as likely that the CIA people wouldn’t even know that it was relevant to Trump’s history, since they’d give them some alternative explanation for why those people needed to be taken out. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1836 "2018-01-23T02:30:53Z")
Kelly is just as crooked and bigoted as the rest of them. He would lie to his mother if Trump asked him to. He’s a weasel and always has been. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1837 "2018-01-23T03:13:27Z")
Wasn’t there some sort of " private intelligence" agency floated at some point? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1838 "2018-01-23T06:15:35Z")
I see the barb of Mueller being played by a woman. A “woman” being the one who to bring down Trump? How that must gall. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1839 "2018-01-23T06:18:04Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Wasn’t there some sort of " private intelligence" agency floated at some point? Now you mention it, there was. Excellent recollection, and I’ll bet you’ve put us on the right track. Thank fuck Trump and his “team” are so incompetent. They’ll screw it up. Time for another donation to the ACLU… ---
**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:** [January 23, 2018, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/1840 "2018-01-23T06:27:44Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > I see the barb of Mueller being played by a woman. A “woman” being the one who to bring down Trump? How that must gall. Heeeeeeeeee!! Hadn’t thought of that angle, but it makes sense. 😃 I think the bit tickled me so much because just based on what we in Plebe Land know, Mueller has already got an obscene amount of criminal activity/material to work with. I’ve more than once imagined that there must be at least some small part of Mueller’s brain that, anytime he happens to catch some talking head speculating about the state of his prosecution, must think, “You. Have. No. Idea. _Yet_!!!” I’ve read up on him, what little there is available. It’s been noted by a number of folks who know him personally that he enjoys inserting the element of surprise in his cases. I hope he still enjoys it, and that the ones he has in store for us are doozies. (I think they will be.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=91) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093.md?page=93)