Mueller Investigation pt 6

[Paul2]

There we go! In his opening statement, Mueller has just addressed the statement made to Ted Lieu, and affirms that my characterisation is correct and he wasn't saying that he would have prosecuted if it weren't for OLC guidelines.

And, I think, Mueller didn’t say he wouldn’t have.

 

[tyr_13]

Well those Republicans are definitely weak on national defense, and are no allies of law enforcement. Total disrespect.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1154078626624786432

119/ Mueller agrees that the Trump campaign built a "communications campaign" around stolen Russian documents and then "lied to cover it up."

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

And, I think, Mueller didn’t say he wouldn’t have.

Correct.

 

[Paul2]

Correct.

Yes, deciding to not make a decision.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I'm not sure that associating Mifsud with Boris Johnson really exculpates him from being connected to Russia - especially given Johnson's connection to Brexit and Russia's connection to Brexit.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154079894327963648

Nunes apparently thinks it's really damning that Mifsud wasn't questioned in 2016.

The record shows that FBI didn't know how Papadopoulos learned of emails at that point.

GODDAMN he is dumb as a cow.

 

[jimbob]

I think it's reasonable to call a claim that mixes truth and lies to sell the lies "totally bogus"

Uh-huh, and how does that relate to the dossier?

Maybe he was refering to the various claims about the Steele dossier, like those of Nunes? I'm assuming that Nunes has said something true about the dossier somewhere.

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154074093026795520

Nunes claims the Steele memo said Trump was a Russian agent. Two points:

1) No, it didn't.

2) The Mueller Report POINTEDLY did not address whether he was or not.

3) Mueller already testified today that blackmail was a real concern.

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154074507235254273

Nunes just misstated what Ohr's role is.

He also portrayed Alexander Downer as something other than Five Eyes intelligence.

 

[Regnad Kcin]

Because they are playing by a different set of rules. And to strike a hit which actually does at least some damage, you really need to get the hammer down.

I hope you are right, but given history of the last few years, I am pessimistic.

Dems: A vigorous round of darts is jolly bracing!

Reps: Hold my beer and hand me that bazooka.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154081170562396160

Himes: Rather than report that, Pap lied abt RU contacts to you, is that not correct?

Mueller: That's true.

Himes: If campaign receives offer of dirt, should report?

Mueller: Can be a crime.

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1154081550218203136

127/ Mueller telling Himes (D) that it *could* be a crime not to report foreign contacts during a presidential campaign is going to be a subject of discussion given that Trump says he is perfectly willing to do precisely that.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Ratcliffe does what Lesko tried and failed to do - get him to clarify that he didn't mean to say that he had reached a determination on whether or not Trump committed a crime. Redundant, after his second opening statement, but ensuring it's on the record.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I really like Sewell's jacket.

 

[Paul2]

I really like Sewell's jacket.

Why?

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump tweets

I would like to thank the Democrats for holding this morning’s hearing. Now, after 3 hours, Robert Mueller has to subject himself to #ShiftySchiff - an Embarrassment to our Country!

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I hope the intel committee is working to find out about that. I’d like to know more about.

I doubt you will before the next election unless Trump is impeached: those investigating can't very well brief Trump or Barr on Trump's treasonous behavior, and Republicans of the Gang of Eight have proven that they will leak to Trump.
So the investigators have to keep everything in limbo until they can tell someone who won't just order them to delete all evidence and get transferred to Alaska.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Why?

I like the colours and the shininess. Suits her top really well, too.

 

[Belz...]

Again, it's not my intention to argue for or against the dossier itself. I'm simply saying that a claim having verifiable elements doesn't actually tell us whether the claim is disinfo, or bogus in some way.

The elements verified we not disinfo, were they?

The only elementa that could be disinfo is the pee-pee tape allegation.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

Rep. Matt Gaetz
‏Verified account
@RepMattGaetz
Gaetz: "Can you state with confidence the Steele dossier was not part of Russia's disinformation campaign?"
Mueller: "With regard to Steele...that's beyond my purview."
Gaetz: "It's exactly your purview! The organizing principle was to fully investigate Russia's interference!"


Rep. Jim Jordan
‏Verified account
@Jim_Jordan
Why didn't Mueller charge Joseph Mifsud for lying to the FBI?

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1154086093626761217

138/ Mueller says Manafort expected to be paid in some fashion for sharing private campaign information with Russian intelligence during the campaign.

Read that statement multiple times.

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154086005126905859

Carson: Would it leave him open for blackmail.

Mueller: Generally.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/1154086423236161536

Wenstrup wants Mueller to say he found no evidence Trump's people conspired w/theft or publication.

Actually THERE IS evidence v Stone.