Indictment-O-Rama Megathread: Mueller indicts 13 Russians

[GeorgiaModerate]

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/politics/first-charges-mueller-investigation/index.html?sr=twCNNp102717first-charges-mueller-investigation0831PMStory

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Manafort?

Very likely.  If not him, probably Flynn.

[GeorgiaModerate]

In a surprise twist, it's Sean Hannity.

(KIDDING!)

[GeorgiaModerate]

Some idle thoughts: assuming this report is true, the number of people aware of this must have been very small.  I wonder who leaked it to CNN, and what their motivation was?  Could it be a deliberate leak on a Friday night to make people sweat and possibly do something stupid over the weekend?

[GeorgiaModerate]

But uranium.....emails....

Trump SHOULD fight back and I have no idea why the hell he is not.

He needs to start becoming an authoritarian.

After that statement, I'm done with trying to engage in reasonable discourse with you.  Welcome to Ignore.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I put ahugecat on mod review, he won't be derailing anymore tonight.

Thank you.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I haven't been following this closely, but do we know for sure whether these charges are for Trump or Clinton officials?

This is your brain on FOX News.

Honestly, when I hear 'Russia', I tend to tune out so I know none of the details of the investigation, but I was watching FOX the other night and they seemed to really believe that it might be Hillary?  Whatever the outcome is, I want this Russia stuff to go away- it's just the most boring scandal ever!

Some honest advice from the middle of the road (because I like you and think you're a poster with integrity even though your positions are a little, um, extreme for me): it's time to stop relying on Fox for your political news, at least as the main source, and especially regarding anything relating to Hillary or Russia.  They used to be just another news source that happened to have a conservative bent, but lately they've dropped all pretense at being anything but a propaganda outlet.  Seriously, you're NOT getting the truth from them.

[GeorgiaModerate]

"What we should be focusing on is the lies of the Clinton administration." --Corey Lewandowski on FOX & Friends this morning.

The Bill Clinton administration?  Or the imaginary Hillary Clinton one?

[GeorgiaModerate]

Wow CNN you've got me on pins and needles

Imagine how they're feeling in the White House.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Good article from Lawfare on what we know (not much) and don't know about the indictment(s):

https://lawfareblog.com/seven-frequently-asked-mueller-indictment-questions-which-we-dont-have-answers

[GeorgiaModerate]

Mueller really should've held off ONE more day and released the indictments on Tuesday, Halloween.

I wonder if Manafort, Flynn, etc. will get any trick-or-treaters dressed as cops.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Someone want to check on Hannity? He seems a little more unhinged than usual, if that's possible:

Sean Hannity‏ @seanhannity
Watch,  if indictment,  the Mueller “Walk”. He will Tip off Media. Mueller wants to change the narrative from REAL COLLUSION HE KNEW ABOUT!

https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/924725913207656448

Have they all forgotten that Mueller, not to mention his reputation for integrity, is a Republican?

I have confidence that he'll follow up any possible crimes uncovered in the investigation, no matter who committed them.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Also this article is very interesting. Of course for Mueller to pull this off he has to have a ton of proof of DT being involved.

https://www.justsecurity.org/46415/mueller-authority-president-trump-unindicted-coconspirator/

That article is very hypothetical.  It's just something that Mueller could do, with no suggestion that he might actually do so.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Personally, I am not expecting any indictments directly related to collusion or russian interference in the election

First, a special counsel filing charges only 5 months into an investigation is incredibly rare, if not unprecedented. If these are really high crimes we are talking about, I think 5 months is simply too short a timeline.

Second, Manafort has a very very shady past outside of 2016 campaign stuff. Buzzfeed has an article out today about 2012/2013 wire transfers.

I agree with this.  Manafort for financial issues seems the most likely.  Flynn is probably the second most, for acting as a foreign agent without registering.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The more important question is, how long til Trump appoint Giuliani as special prosecutor to throw Clinton in jail?

Remind me: on the campaign trail, didn't Trump say he was going to appoint a special prosecutor for Clinton on his first day in office?

[GeorgiaModerate]

When are they gonna start arresting people?  I'm tired of waiting.

Patience is a virtue.   IMO it's amazing that there are indictments happening already.  This is very fast for a special counsel investigation.

[GeorgiaModerate]

This is about as surprising as the fact the coffee I just made in the Keurig is hot.

Maintain a little suspense.  Don't tell us how you take it.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Manafort has surrendered himself to the FBI: http://thehill.com/homenews/news/357764-manafort-told-to-surrender-to-federal-authorities

[GeorgiaModerate]

Coincidentally, today is the 44th anniversary of the House Judiciary Committee launching impeachment proceedings against President Nixon.

[GeorgiaModerate]

12 counts including conspiracy against the US. Meanwhile the Trumplettes are saying this has nothing to do with Russia and Clinton indictment coming soon, gotta love the commitment to the delusion.

This specific indictment does have nothing to do with Russia though. Mueller could add further charges related to Russia at a later date, though.

It is related to Yanukovich who was a puppet of Russia and whose removal from office led to the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.

Sure. But nothing related to the Trump campaign and its relationship with Russia.

It seems like they're hitting Manafort early on financial crimes to get him to flip.

This is probable, but don't forget that Gates stayed on with Trump for a while after Manafort left, and (per The Daily Beast in June) visited the White House repeatedly after Trump took office.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Seems like an administration of traitors and sell outs.

And voters who (still) willingly support said administration of traitors and sell outs.

This should be their biggest signal yet to jump ship and stop supporting this filth of a president.

If they were alive during Watergate they would have supported Nixon until the end too. No amount of evidence will ever penetrate that, especially when their news sources (Fox, Breitbart, others) are telling them it's all fake news and made up lies.

Nixon still had a 28% approval right before the end.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The Papadopoulos indictment looks to be more related to collusion.  Read page 2 and the first part of 3 covering the false statements that he's accused of making to the FBI.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Could this be merged into the stickied indictment thread?

[GeorgiaModerate]

The Papadopolous indictment is more devastating as it relates directly to Trump-Russia collusion.

Yeah, it's probably Elmo-worthy all by itself.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Manafort is scheduled to appear before a federal judge this afternoon at 1:30 Eastern time.

[GeorgiaModerate]

The Papadopoulos stuff is damning.

Yep. Manafort seems to be the big name everyone is running with, but it's the Papadopoulos stuff that's going to be problematic for the administration. Here's hoping this will jiggle out more of the truth.

The indictment makes it clear that P is cooperating with the investigation.  At a minimum, they'll know who in the campaign authorized the contacts.  That person (or persons) will clearly be a focus as well.

Remember the Watergate investigation.  It started with arrests for a burglary and gradually worked deeper into the administration.