Wow, Robert Mueller plays this game AMAZINGLY well

[Saboburns]

Indicts Manafort and Gates on financial crimes.

Then pauses for 3 hours giving Trump and Republican spin machine time to spin, BECAUSE HE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT THEY WOULD SPIN. Mueller knew exactly what Trump would tweet and GOP talking points would be (not campaign related, before he was on campaign, no collusion)

And then 3 hours later drops the Papadoupolous Guilty plea THAT PROVES TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA.

Game. Set. Match.

Robert Mueller is soooooooooo far ahead of the criminal idiots to be laughable.

Robert Mueller knows he must win the news cycles as well as prove his case. Which he did MASTERFULLY.

Robert Mueller plays this game very, very well.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. You don't rise to the top at the FBI for nothin'.

Dude knows his shit.

[L. Coyote]

42. And this isn't even the beginning yet.

Trump Reacts to Mueller's Indictments --- the Hitler video --- LOL ---
https://www.captiongenerator.com/751912/Trump-Reacts-to-Muellers-Indictments
Description: MAGA. My Assistants Getting Arrested. ....

He had to file the Manafort indictment to beat a statute of limitations defense. The real show starts later.

.... we’re explicitly told that the facts “do not include all the known facts.” dKos

[Thrill]

2. Yup waited for Trump to tweet and then BOOM

The Papadopoulos news

[Phoenix61]

3. There's a reason he is widely respected

That Twitler etal thought they would be able to pull one over on him proves how delusional they are.

[Saboburns]

4. Sorry for the typos

Grrrrr

Typing on my phone.

I think I fixed them.

[marylandblue]

5. He is better than Comey

Bannon was right. Firing Comey was the biggest blunder in political history.

[Hekate]

16. +1

[lunatica]

25. Yeah, and then he laughed it up with the Russians in the Oval Office

while doing it. This is what karma is all about. He looks like a real fool and it's all his doing.

[brush]

44. Yeah, Comey was easily manipulated by rogue agents because of his axe to grind against Hillary...

thus his groundless Oct. 28 letter.

Comey's firing turned out to be a goodbye and good riddance for us, just the opposite for poor, dumb trump who thought he was solving his problem by firing him.

[CountAllVotes]

6. More here

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-former-campaign-chairman-paul-manafort-to-be-indicted-in-mueller-probe?source=twitter&via=desktop

Manafort agreed to surrender himself to authorities at the FBI office in Washington, D.C., arriving soon after 8 a.m. this morning.

The charges, which include “conspiracy against the United States,” “conspiracy to launder money,” and “false and misleading statements,” among others, were unsealed on Monday morning.

George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor, to the Trump campaign has also been charged, and pleaded guilty. Mueller says he lied about his relationship with figures in Russia while working for Trump. The indictment, which was unsealed on Monday, claims that he had regular contact with Russians who had high-level access in Moscow.

During an interview with the FBI, Papadopoulos attempted to downplay these links, which included a message that Putin wanted to meet Trump and suggestions that the Russians could help with "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in teh form of thousands of emails.

***************

Batch of lying crooked traitorous slime! Drain that swamp and do not forget to DUMP TRUMP!

& recommend !!!

[lark]

7. High ethical and professional standards beats rich boys $.

Drumpf doesn't have highly intelligent, moral, and professional people working for him, he has greedy sycophants because those are the only people he can relate to that wouldn't turn him in for serial criminality. These rich conmen don't stand a chance against principled Mueller team. They continue to think they can threaten and cheat their way out of this like they have everything else for all these decades.

[Cryptoad]

8. He aint called the BEST for nuttin!

[AtheistCrusader]

9. Reminds me of the Wallfacer project in Three Body Problem.

Well, Luo Ji anyway. The other three not so much.

[HopeAgain]

10. I look at this differently

I don't think Mueller is playing a political game. I really don't think he is focused on how Trump reacts to this indictment or that. I don't think he "trolls" Trump like many have suggested on here. I think Mueller is simply prosecuting whatever crimes he can uncover and doesn't care about Trump tweets and White House spin because they are not statements under oath. All matters of timing are to protect current investigations and future indictments on whatever evidence he is currently holding. The reveal of Papadoupolous is probably designed to put pressure on Manafort/Gates to turn.

[Quixote1818]

11. You make good points. nt

[forgotmylogin]

14. Then it's just KARMA

battering 45 around the face and droopy neck.

[orangecrush]

18. Agree

[More_Cowbell]

24. The 3-hour delay is what makes me think Mueller was deliberately timing his announcements

If the delay wasn't to see what else Trump and his cronies would do to obstruct the investigation (tweeting about an active investigation can be obstruction; in addition, Sean Spicer said to consider the tweets official policy -- not that a court would probably buy that, but it could be used to show the administration's mindset) then I don't see any other reason for it. First he charged Mueller and Gates, knowing that Trump et al. would say "not related to the campaign," and then he brought out the plea of someone who was only related to the campaign.

I don't think that Mueller is the type to "toy" with anyone; I think he's a consummate professional. But I do think he knows that he gets information every time Trump tweets or sends someone out to lie for him.

Someday, we'll have the book and the movie and we'll know for sure!

[emulatorloo]

33. Yep see mother jones article I linked below

Robert Mueller Releases Information Showing Trump Campaign Tried to Collude With Russia
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029769619#post31

[scarytomcat]

45. probably just waiting for the guilty plea

stay tuned more to come

[shanny]

72. Papadopolous pleaded guilty--secretly--early this month (Oct 7?)

I think the idea was not so much to pressure tRump, but instead to make clear to indictees what was at stake for them, personally. They can get the book thrown at them, or they can cooperate (Manafort facing 12-15 years on current charges, with more to come; Papadopolous facing 0-6 months per his sentencing recommendation).

A very clear message. I don't think all the rats on the sinking ship are prepared to go down with it.

[lunatica]

27. You're assuming he has no reason to pressure Trump other than personal ones

Pressuring criminals is what they do, especially if making them panic results in more crimes they can bring charges against. If Trump committed crimes he's more likely now to commit some just to cover his ass this minute.

[lunatica]

34. This is my opinion against yours

I don't form opinions based on fictional tv shows.

You're assuming, in error, that I do. But stay classy.

[HopeAgain]

35. I apologize

Did not mean to offend. Just trying to make a point about all the speculation.

[lunatica]

36. Your points are excellent too

Friends?

[HopeAgain]

38. Friends

[RKP5637]

30. Agree!!! n/t

[mercuryblues]

40. I don't think Mueller is "trolling"

as we define it.

He is doing a well known tactic. Arrest a few and see the reactions of others. Drop a bombshell to negate their defense. I am willing to bet Mueller is getting a lot of phone calls from attorneys today wanting to make deals for info. These arrests have many people nervous. He who deals 1st, gets the best deals.

Now take what the indictments reveal. Mueller is a good attorney and will only disclose as little as needed to get the indictments. There is more evidence.

[brush]

46. I think it was more than that. He could've unsealed all at the same time but he didn't.

IMO he wanted to see the WH reaction and how they would attempt to spin the first two.

Smart cookie that Mueller.

[uponit7771]

57. +1, Mueller ... DOES ...act like he's been here before and is kickin ass

[toddwv]

58. It's not a matter of Mueller playing a political game.

His job is to get as much information possible and one of the best ways is to watch the reactions of others to things like indictments.

Trump acts like a guilty person. Nervous people slip up, panic, rollover, and generally make prosecuter's lives easier.

[IronLionZion]

63. Prisoner's dilemma

each one of them is worried one of the others will rat them out. There's value in being the first to sing like a canary

[True Blue American]

68. I agree

With your post. Mueller is not playing games. He is dead serious,and those with an ounce of sense know this.

[lagomorph777]

74. Strategy requires political savvy in this case. Mueller gets that.

Also, it's a way to set yet another Obstruction trap, which Turd gleefully stepped into.

[smirkymonkey]

12. K&R

[Laffy Kat]

13. Can't wait for the movie!

Although it may end up being a mini-series.

[benld74]

15. I've read MANY comments from variety of newspapers who ran the article,,,

Trumpeteers are STILL saying this mean nothing.
Their darling is still innocent.
Mueller is the crook
they are SO damn pigheaded its unbelieveable
YET they believe anything that comes outta tRumps mouth
UNREAL

[Scarsdale]

67. So, those loyalty pledges

tRump has everyone sign, mean nothing in the face of these arrests? Poor, poor Donnie Two Scoops. His whole house of cards is collapsing around him. His sons, Beavis and Butthead, will fold like a cheap suit if faced with prison time.

[DFW]

17. The former head of the FBI vs. the CYA

CYA as in "cover your ass."

The big question on everyone's mind is how many people will play CYA in order to NOT incur the wrath of the FBI-man, Mueller.

My guess is that the Trump legal team has an unlimited budget and is telling as many people as possible to keep their mouths shut and nothing will happen to them if they remain silent. It's a risky gambit although it may be their only shot.

The weak point is that if remaining silent destroys just one of them, the rest might break like a bursting dam to try for immunity or, if not available, for the best deal they can get for cooperating. In that case, those who cooperate earliest and best get off the lightest. There will be some serious work for those surgeons skilled in removing knives from backs.

[Wednesdays]

47. That third paragraph sounds just like "omerta"

The mafia's "code of silence."
No wonder Mueller has so many veteran mob prosecutors on the case.

[Princess Turandot]

62. "Telling as many people as possible to keep their mouths shut"...No, probably not, at this point...

Trump's lawyers would be walking into a potentially massive conflict of interest ethics complaint if they did that. His lawyers cannot give advice to WH staff who have their own attorneys. Even speaking with them without their own attorney present is a no-no. If they speak to WH staff who have not retained attorneys and might be witnesses against Trump and say anything other than 'I'm Trump's attorney, not yours, so I can't advise you about anything', it's an ethics issue. Tell them not to speak with the justice department, and they might be sliding from ethics issues to witness tapering and obstruction of justice.

An issue related to this arose with Marc Kasowitz early on and quickly blew up.

[DFW]

64. I'm not sure ethics issues enjoy high priority with the Trump crowd.

If they did, he wouldn't be in office in the first place.

[True Blue American]

69. John Kelly can be added to that list.

His lie about Congresswoman Wilson was a bad mistake, because people began to check his history in service.

Then,last night he goes on Fox demanding an investigation of Clinton,then went on to talk about the Civil War as,” Lack Of compromise.”

[BlancheSplanchnik]

19. Cooooooooolllll!!!!!

Almost makes me wish I watched tv!

👌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Mr. Mueller.

[Turbineguy]

20. Manafort is young

and will still have lotsa dough after copping a plea and rolling over on trump, moving to another country and having a nice, quiet retirement.

The Saudi's are firing up a nice new project for those seeking to escape the collapse of the United States by the republican party:

http://discoverneom.com/

Or, he can support his ex-boss, lose everything and get out of jail an old, broke, man.

[canetoad]

21. Manafort is 68

Papadopoulos is only 30 and may have a few good years to look forward to when he gets out.

[Turbineguy]

37. For some reason I thought

Manafort was 45.

Where did I get that from?

[JI7]

54. You may be thinking of Carter Page who is mid 40s

[uncle ray]

22. dang it, Manafort is one of the principal players who gave us trump, not the other way around.

let's put the notion of Manafort cutting a deal to rest. he is one of the guys we want prosecuted harshly, and if he ever is allowed to cut a deal, our nation will be the loser. the trump indictments will come eventually, and likely thanks to many rats who worked for him, and yeah, some of them will get a slap on the wrist, but we should resist from the beginning the idea of letting a big fish like manafort off the hook.

[lindysalsagal]

49. Still possible his sentence could be reduced due to his cooperation.

[WinkyDink]

51. What co-operation? That time passed a while ago. PM chose to risk arrest.

[underpants]

29. Don't let the plastic surgery fool ya

He's had some serious work done.

[NastyRiffraff]

39. Remind me not to use his doctor

He's a mess.

[FakeNoose]

60. I don't think that's his money

I read the indictment brief today, and I've seen plenty of stories about Manafort in the last 12 months.

He was laundering other people's money (mostly Russians) and that's why he has deposits in all those foreign banks. Then he brought the money into the country illegally (avoiding reporting/taxes) and used it to buy property in the US. It seems that he's buying property for rich Russian mobsters who can't buy property for themselves here. Once the property is sold, it becomes real American cash that can be spent any way they want. That's what laundering means, taking illegal money and making it legal. Trump was doing the same in his casinos for the Russians. But why launder thousands when it's easier and faster to launder millions?

So maybe I'm wrong, but it seems he's actually holding other people's money, and we're assuming it's his. Putin's buddies will want their money back I'm sure.

[shanny]

75. He's 68. Not that young.

And I'm betting Mueller et al would rather offer deals to younger/dumber staffers than let the ringleaders off the hook. Manafort may qualify as a ringleader.

[SpankMe]

23. Still waiting for the other shoes to drop

These are penny-ante collars so far. I hope this isn't the most significant we'll see. I hope we don't get our hopes up too high and get really disappointed.

[emulatorloo]

31. Read this: "Robert Mueller Releases Information Showing Trump Campaign Tried to Collude With Russia

Full article is a quick read.

Papadopolus knows where the bodies are buried and apparently is cooperating with the investigation.

Robert Mueller Releases Information Showing Trump Campaign Tried to Collude With Russia
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029769971

On Monday morning, shortly after special counsel Robert Mueller announced the indictments of former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, President Donald Trump tweeted, “There is NO COLLUSION!” But soon after that, Mueller’s office released a “statement of offense” outlining one major instance of when the Trump campaign tried to collude with Russia as the Kremlin was mounting a covert operation against the 2016 election to benefit Trump.

This case involved George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, who has pleaded guilty to making false statements to agents investigating the Trump-Russia scandal.

[meow2u3]

71. Papadopoulos needs to in witness protection

The Trump goons will likely put a hit on him to try to silence him.

[Gothmog]

26. This has been fun to watch

[SonofDonald]

28. Fitzmass is now forgotten n/t

[chia]

41. Best Monday I've had in forever... this video just puts a bow on it.

[Tatiana]

43. Once again, I am so GLAD Trump fired Comey.

Because we actually got someone who is a real patriot and has made it his personal mission to get to the bottom of the awful evil visited upon our nation and its system of government.

Comey didn't have the will or the brains to get this job done. Mueller does and Rosenstein knew it.

Rosenstein also deserves some kudos in all this, as well. It cannot be easy walking in his shoes right now either.

[lindysalsagal]

48. Really glad Mueller seems to be on the side of honesty, integrity and democracy.

Geez- The man is waaaaaaaaay ahead of these moron scumbags.

[PatrickforO]

50. We're all rooting for Mueller right now (me too!), but

let's not forget his 'exquisite' timing in releasing bullshit about Clinton emails on the week before the election helped make this shit-show possible.

[marylandblue]

53. That was Comey, not Mueller

[PatrickforO]

66. Oh, of course. I stand corrected.

Not a big Comey fan.

[Tatiana]

55. Mueller didn't do that -- Comey did.

Which is why it was karma that Trump fired him (ironically, when he probably would have allowed Trump & co. to get away with their crimes).

[malaise]

52. It was brilliant

[ffr]

56. Nail their asses to the wall, Mueller!

Every one of these slimy treasonweasels needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[ashling]

59. I agree - but there is one minor point

This is no game

[tiptonic]

61. Semper Fidelis

Don't get crossways with a U.S. Marine. We don't forget.

[oasis]

70. Trump's a draft dodger who committed treason. Double whammy.

Pit bull tenacity on this assignment.

[lpbk2713]

65. The Trump outfit is really a no talent operation.

Check and mate.

Good going Mueller & Co.

[lagomorph777]

73. Damn he's a chessmaster

[Nitram]

76. He's a smart cookie...