# The Durham indictments prosecuting fake Trump 'collusion' **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 23, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215 "2021-09-23T20:11:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/422 "2022-10-13T15:29:14Z")
Durham witness, FBI analyst Brian Auten, testifies that Danchenko is innocent of four of the five counts he is being tried for. [https://twitter.com/adamgoldmanNYT/status/1580348868029399040](https://twitter.com/adamgoldmanNYT/status/1580348868029399040) ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/423 "2022-10-14T11:31:59Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Gosh, guys, is it a good sign if, as a prosecutor… and just go with me here… if you call your first witness and he does such a good job bolstering the defense teams argument that you have to close questioning by discrediting your own expert witness? > > Is this good lawing? > > [https://twitter.com/MarshallCohen/status/1580558311505555456?t=WflwVav00-nJjReea4-3Rg&s=19](https://twitter.com/MarshallCohen/status/1580558311505555456?t=WflwVav00-nJjReea4-3Rg&s=19) You’re forgetting the actual purpose of these indictments. They’re not to prove crimes, convict the guilty, or to see justice be done. They’re a politically motivated attempt to whitewash the Trump/Russia connections and to provide cover for Trump’s idiotic assertions about the Mueller investigation. That’s been the entirety of the goal from day one when Barr started the investigation. In other news, an FBI agent testified yesterday that Barr’s ordering of the FBI to declassify information about Danchenko and provide it to Lindsay Graham was “dangerous”, burned Danchenko as a valuable FBI informant, and harmed our national security. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/424 "2022-10-14T21:52:45Z")
Judge dismissed the charge related to Dolan. The other four, which Durham’s witness testified Danchenko was innocent of, will go to the jury. Per Julia Jester (NBC). > ---
**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:** [October 14, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/425 "2022-10-14T23:21:27Z")
So the judge dismissed one count, and the other four counts are the ones Brian Auten testified that Danchencko believed he was being truthful in his accounts. So unless the jury completely disregards Auten’s testimony, the second of only two indictments that Durham managed to get to trial is about to end in acquittal. The upshot of this seems to be the Steele dossier is not going to be proven a “fake,” just unverified. Reminds me of the Bush TANG “AWOL” documents that were not proven to be fake, just could not be proven to be authentic…a subtle but important distinction. (side note: That whole episode stank of Karl Rove…) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/426 "2022-10-14T23:24:02Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > (side note: That whole episode stank of Karl Rove…) This is a thing that really happened. Not a SNL sketch. This actually is reality. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KO0F6a4jVhg/hqdefault.jpg "ROVE TRYING TO DANCE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0F6a4jVhg) I love pulling that out when Karl’s name is mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/427 "2022-10-14T23:25:28Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > The upshot of this seems to be the Steele dossier is not going to be proven a “fake,” just unverified. Parts are unverified, parts _are_ verified. > [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Reminds me of the Bush TANG “AWOL” documents that were not proven to be fake The actual documents that were acquired by and used by Dan Rather were proven to be fake, IIRC(They were printed on a printer that didn’t exist at the time), but that doesn’t mean that the information in them was. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2022, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/428 "2022-10-15T06:31:46Z")
It’s stranger to me to see Brad Sherwood hosting that event. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/429 "2022-10-15T06:33:41Z")
Colin Mochrie was also on stage. It was a couple of the _Whose Line Is It Anyway?_ regulars with them. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/430 "2022-10-17T20:52:24Z")
Reminds me of [Mr. Bean dancing](https://youtu.be/EvPXqmWo4g4?t=50). ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/431 "2022-10-17T21:12:31Z")
The case is in the jury’s hands. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/432 "2022-10-18T17:20:14Z")
Forgive me, I meant to say “not proven to be authentic.” ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/433 "2022-10-18T20:25:48Z")
Verdict(s) coming soon: > > > Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/434 "2022-10-18T20:38:24Z")
Acquitted! > ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/435 "2022-10-18T20:38:53Z")
The most unsurprising acquittal ever (gift link) > **[Steele dossier source acquitted, in loss for special counsel Durham](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/18/igor-danchenko-john-durham-verdict/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjQ1Njg4NzciLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjY2MTI1NDU3LCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjY3MzM1MDU3LCJpYXQiOjE2NjYxMjU0NTcsImp0aSI6IjQwNTRjMTc1LTMyNjctNGM4Yi04NWI5LTBiMDJlNDEyMWMyMyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDIyLzEwLzE4L2lnb3ItZGFuY2hlbmtvLWpvaG4tZHVyaGFtLXZlcmRpY3QvIn0.Tdyqlz1WKVY9xmuuIuTAtamR8OCuIWWnlv0ZNsJl4UU&itid=gfta)** > > The special counsel alleged Igor Danchenko misled the FBI officials asking in 2017 about his sources. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/436 "2022-10-18T20:51:23Z")
I’d be willing to transfer one of my SDMB badges to Durham. I feel like it’s simultaneously the least, and the most, I can do. Inflation is really hitting home. How much did _this_ nothing-burger cost? ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/437 "2022-10-18T21:40:45Z")
Well, the Russian investigation was not a hoax, the one conviction Durham got was of so little import the guy didn’t spend a day in jail, and, again, Sam, this high-level effort to discredit the Steele dossier was another bust. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/438 "2022-10-18T21:53:17Z")
Personally, I’m having trouble parsing this > [@](#): > > Mueller did not find a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, but a report from his office mapped out various links between Trump campaign officials and the Kremlin and characterized the campaign as eager to benefit from Russia’s help in 2016. There was no conspiracy, but they did communicate on how to influence the election? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/439 "2022-10-18T21:53:30Z")
I wondered if this particular sound of air being slowly let out of a balloon was to be found on Fox News and was shocked to see it front and center. Then I read the comments and found out why they would highlight it: - Deep state! - FBI needs to be gutted! - Hunter walking around a free man shows what a joke our justice system is! It is there to rabble up the rubes. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/440 "2022-10-18T22:36:29Z")
Crack prosecutor: > ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215/441 "2022-10-18T22:47:54Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > There was no conspiracy, but they did communicate on how to influence the election? As someone who read the full Mueller report, it’s my view that whether there was a conspiracy is a question that remains unanswered. Mueller’s team was thwarted in so many ways with so many potential perpetrators given so much protection from Barr’s DOJ and Trump himself (dangling of and actual pardons, restrictions on what Mueller was permitted to investigate, e.g.), they were unable to reach an actual conclusion to the question. In the Obstruction portion of Mueller’s final report, he specifically spoke to the fact that it was impossible to fully investigate the Russian Conspiracy part of the report due to these obstacles. Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Erik Prince are the most likely suspects who provided linkage between the Russians and the Trump campaign. All were provided protection by Trump and his DOJ to varying degrees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-durham-indictments-prosecuting-fake-trump-collusion/951215.md?page=23)