Mega-Thread: Mueller investigation

[Breccia]

What He Meant Was was asked point-blank if Trump plans to pardon Stone.

She refused to answer. She did, however, say she hadn't talked to Trump about it. So, either she chose not to do it (willful ignorance) or didn't think the question would come up (incompetence).

[Flarelaine]

I really hate that this currently ridiculously biased Supreme Court may soon be deciding that pardons have nearly unlimited and unchecked power in abetting criminal activity and sanitizing corruption. The classic GOP would have adamantly condemn such abuses of power, right? But the modern GOP seem to celebrate it.

It also amazes me that pardons have no checks and balances at all. I suppose it's meant to balance the court, but I really think there should be some level of congressional approval involved.

Eh, pardons were never meant to be part of a balanced and calculated system.

The quality of mercy is not strained and all that.

[Jeezy911]

I find it more hypocritical and funny that Trumpsters are now all up in arms about militarized police on this but watching a video of a black man with arms in the air being shot by police they will say "obviously he was resisting arrest and the officer was protecting himself."

Or how the champions of preventing police brutality who have marched in protest for making changes don't seem to care as long as the person is not a black democrat.

[cubby]

Or how the champions of preventing police brutality who have marched in protest for making changes don't seem to care as long as the person is not a black democrat.

Did you miss the part where legal experts chimed in after "Miss" Stone complained about his arrest procedure, saying that was normal operating procedure for arrests? Or that Stone came back later and apologized, saying that the FBI agents were polite and professional?

[Breccia]

Once again, it's time to play Guess the Speaker!

Mueller can send armed men to your home to roust you from bed at gunpoint just because he feels like it, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it.

Yes, that's fearmongering FOX News (wanna see the video?) conveniently skipping the part where Stone was one of the links that let Team Trump collude with Russia, lied about it under oath, and obstructed justice.

But sure. "Because he feels like it".

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While this is an OP ED it's from a former federal prosecutor who clearly explains the steps in a @cubby like manner. The point is: Mueller's not stopping at Stone.

I have drafted more indictments than I can count. When indicting a single individual for crimes he or she committed (as opposed to multiple individuals involved in a conspiracy) prosecutors rarely include references to the conduct of others. For example, a single-defendant witness tampering indictment typically will state something along the lines of, “On or about January 1, 2019, within the District of Columbia, defendant John Q. Public, threatened a witness with the intent to impede the witness’s truthful testimony in an official proceeding.” However, when indicting multiple individuals for participating in a conspiracy, those individuals are named, and their conspiratorial actions detailed.

Stone’s indictment reads like a typical conspiracy indictment, only without the conspiracy charge. Notably, there are several other individuals referenced in the Stone indictment (i.e., Person 1 — presumably Jerome Corsi; Person 2 — presumably Randy Credico; etc.). But most problematic for the Trump campaign are the following two passages: “During the summer of 2016, Stone spoke to senior Trump Campaign officials about Organization 1 [known to be WikiLeaks] and information it might have had that would be damaging to the Clinton Campaign;” “After the July 22, 2016 release of stolen DNC emails by Organization 1, a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information Organization 1 had regarding the Clinton Campaign.”

The Stone indictment is replete with references to the alleged misconduct of others carried out in a concerted effort to obtain and exploit the stolen DNC emails in order to help Trump and hurt the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. Most ominously, participants in this endeavor include senior Trump campaign officials, according to the indictment. Moreover, one such senior Trump campaign official “was directed to” coordinate with Stone for the purpose of acquiring/further exploiting the stolen emails. To be clear, acquiring/exploiting stolen property for one’s own use is a crime.

One obvious question raised by the Stone indictment is, who is the person that “directed” the senior Trump campaign official to undertake this criminal coordination with Stone? It seems logical that such a person would need to be pretty senior themselves, if they were directing another “senior official” to do something. (Then again, there is one “junior” person who might have had the requisite status to direct a senior campaign official — Donald Trump Jr.) Right now the only thing we can do is wait for further charges to materialize, or Mueller’s report to Congress.

In my professional opinion, then, the Stone indictment is a means to an end. Mueller almost certainly will use it as leverage to pressure Stone to become a cooperating witness. Given the strength of the “hard evidence” (emails, text messages, false sworn testimony, etc.), Roger Stone has little hope of avoiding conviction at trial. Cooperating with the Mueller probe is likely his only way to avoid jail time.

Bolded for emphasis, but that red text is something I'm kicking myself for not seeing before. Hacked emails are stolen property. Based on the events we know, including but not limited to Stone's indictment, WikiLeaks basically fenced them and Team Trump bought them. Campaign or not, that's a conspiracy to commit a felony. That's RICO.

[Felya]

Or how the champions of preventing police brutality who have marched in protest for making changes don't seem to care as long as the person is not a black democrat.

What police brutality? Your complaint is that they had too many agents there and that they contacted the media. No one’s body cam broke and no one got injured.

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Did you miss the part where legal experts chimed in after "Miss" Stone complained about his arrest procedure, saying that was normal operating procedure for arrests? Or that Stone came back later and apologized, saying that the FBI agents were polite and professional?

Hannity is currently pushing the idea of excessive force in detention of Stone.

[Breccia]

Stone pleads not guilty and is out on $250,000 bail.


"Don't leave me hanging!"
"Well, that is the penalty for treason..."

It's worth noting that while Stone has been saying "I never lied and I'm not going to" Trump has been saying "This has nothing to do with me." Yet another former ally to Trump being left high and dry.

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Hannity is currently pushing the idea of excessive force in detention of Stone.

Because saying "Stone is innocent" is impossible. At this point, the goalposts are in a fucking baseball diamond.

[Hilhen7]

Or how the champions of preventing police brutality who have marched in protest for making changes don't seem to care as long as the person is not a black democrat.

What police brutality? Did they beat him with batons or punch him?

How does one claim excessive force, when no actual force was used LOL

[Breccia]

How does one claim excessive force, when no actual force was used

Stone calls the treatment he received "Gestapo Tactics".

Um, Trump runs the FBI. That would make him Hitler. Not your best analogy.

But, there was no brutality. Stone admits such.

The idea that a 29-member swat team in full tactical gear with assault weapons would surround my house, 17 vehicles in my front yard, including two armored vehicles, a helicopter overhead … and that I would open the door looking down the barrel of assault weapons, that I would be frog-marched out front barefooted, handcuffed when they simply could have contacted me

[Felya]

How does one claim excessive force, when no actual force was used LOL

Because they don’t like the idea of FBI agents, who Trump has been berating for 2 years, volunteering to do this when they are not getting paid. I know it’s not true... but, feelz over reelz... I’m going with them volunteering to do this, because of the sort of person Stone is.

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Stone calls the treatment he received "Gestapo Tactics".

Um, Trump runs the FBI. That would make him Hitler. Not your best analogy.

It’s the same cognitions dissonance that has Trump chanting ‘lock her up’ and bitching about the deep state. It should be obvious by now, all of those posts trolling with ‘Trump won, get over it’, was just projecting... that still didn’t work in convincing Trump supporters that Trump is president.

[cubby]

Hannity is currently pushing the idea of excessive force in detention of Stone.

Lol, those little neo-con snowflakes. Rumor is Hannity is next on the arrest sheet. Maybe they can get a dorm room in prison.

[Kheirn]

What police brutality? Did they beat him with batons or punch him?

How does one claim excessive force, when no actual force was used LOL

But think about his poor heart, he must've been so scared! He might've gotten a heart attack from seeing so many scary vehicles and guns!

Honestly I'm not sure why they're not playing the "waste of tax payer money" angle instead. Hell of a lot easier to push than "police brutality". Not quite as much of a punch to it, but still.

[Breccia]

all of those posts trolling with ‘Trump won, get over it’, was just projecting... that still didn’t work in convincing Trump supporters that Trump is president.

It does make it hard to say "this whole thing is rigged!" when you're in power and control everything.

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But think about his poor heart, he must've been so scared! He might've gotten a heart attack from seeing so many scary vehicles and guns!

I know this is sarcasm, and well done, but HAHAHAHAHA a Republican facing that seeing so many guns, armor, and vehicles up close would be more likely to pass out from blood loss to the brain when the erection hits them.

[Felya]

Honestly I'm not sure why they're not playing the "waste of tax payer money" angle instead. Hell of a lot easier to push than "police brutality". Not quite as much of a punch to it, but still.

The shutdown meant those FBI officers were not getting paid. It was actually a great deal... pay for several vehicles, get full FBI team... free...

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It does make it hard to say "this whole thing is rigged!" when you're in power and control everything.

It seems pretty easy... DO SOMETHING...

[Poopymonster]

But think about his poor heart, he must've been so scared! He might've gotten a heart attack from seeing so many scary vehicles and guns!

....if they had guns, where was his? As a Republican, shouldn't he have been the good guy with a gun?

[DocSavageFan]

Mueller's investigation will apparently be completed shortly. If he got the goods on Trump, I think we would have heard something by now. Nothing burger? It's kind of looking that way.

[Breccia]

....if they had guns, where was his? As a Republican, shouldn't he have been the good guy with a gun?

Sigh...

Alex Jones, Roger Stone hit shooting range to prepare for civil war they say would break out if Trump is removed exactly 2 years before the Trump Shutdown.

So, yeah. Gun nut.

Roger Stone claims he does not own a gun, but if you say you believe a civil war will break out if Trump is removed from office (good luck fighting that from a fucking jail cell you moron) and then this happens



then I'd take bets that there's a gun in at least one of his houses. Yes, he has three or so.

[Jtbrig7390]

Mueller's investigation will apparently be completed shortly. If he got the goods on Trump, I think we would have heard something by now. Nothing burger? It's kind of looking that way.

Not really trying anymore are you?

[Flarelaine]

Mueller's investigation will apparently be completed shortly.

Yes, I've heard that. Dozens of times over the last two years, in fact. Never from the man or anyone on his payroll, though, which is strange because one would think they should know best.

[Breccia]

Never from the man or anyone on his payroll

Funny you should mention payroll. The next Trump Shutdown, if he's stupid enough to do it (he isn't) won't shut down the Mueller investigation, either.