Mueller investigation

[Angry Floof]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

 

[ZiprHead]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

I hope this takes down the NRA too.

It's fun to have dreams.

 

[Worldtraveller]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

I hope this takes down the NRA too.

It's fun to have dreams.

Sugar plums and indictments and jail terms, oh my!

 

[Angry Floof]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

I hope this takes down the NRA too.

It's fun to have dreams.

I don't buy their claims that they're suffering financially. They're just an arm of the GOP, or maybe it's more like the GOP is an arm of the NRA, but either way, they're corrupt politicians playing to their base just like the elected kind.

 

[Angry Floof]

Speculation on two possible paths from here on out for the Mueller investigation, the long road and the short road. Whatever happens, our country's values are going to be severely tested like we've never seen.

The Russia Investigations: Maybe The End Is In Sight. Maybe It Isn't

 

[Angry Floof]

Not sure if this has been posted already, but for reference:

All The Criminal Charges To Emerge So Far From Robert Mueller's Investigation

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

Made all the more "juicy" in light of the fact that she must expect Putin would want to try to have her killed in custody, so the only way to save her own skin would be to spill everything she knows. Even then she will likely need to always watch her back, but at least if she talks now she alleviates the initial impetus to have her killed immediately.

 

[Elixir]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

Made all the more "juicy" in light of the fact that she must expect Putin would want to try to have her killed in custody, so the only way to save her own skin would be to spill everything she knows. Even then she will likely need to always watch her back, but at least if she talks now she alleviates the initial impetus to have her killed immediately.

I strongly suspect that she is pulling "a Manafort" and just trying to get out of jail for long enough to flee the Country.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Made all the more "juicy" in light of the fact that she must expect Putin would want to try to have her killed in custody, so the only way to save her own skin would be to spill everything she knows. Even then she will likely need to always watch her back, but at least if she talks now she alleviates the initial impetus to have her killed immediately.

I strongly suspect that she is pulling "a Manafort" and just trying to get out of jail for long enough to flee the Country.

If she does that, she's dead. Her only hope would be to spill everything she knows, thereby giving her a stay of execution. She is no doubt already targeted, but the imperative would be to kill her before she can say anything. If she talks, then there is no longer an immediate need to have her killed. She'll still likely be killed at some point down the line, of course, but her best bet for as much longevity as possible is to talk now.

 

[Elixir]

Made all the more "juicy" in light of the fact that she must expect Putin would want to try to have her killed in custody, so the only way to save her own skin would be to spill everything she knows. Even then she will likely need to always watch her back, but at least if she talks now she alleviates the initial impetus to have her killed immediately.

I strongly suspect that she is pulling "a Manafort" and just trying to get out of jail for long enough to flee the Country.

If she does that, she's dead. Her only hope would be to spill everything she knows, thereby giving her a stay of execution. She is no doubt already targeted, but the imperative would be to kill her before she can say anything. If she talks, then there is no longer an immediate need to have her killed. She'll still likely be killed at some point down the line, of course, but her best bet for as much longevity as possible is to talk now.

Not if she has been playing the DOJ all along, and makes it back to Russia with a full load of info about how the US is pursuing their interference programs... I don't think the US will try to pull a Pooty and have her killed in Russia.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Not if she has been playing the DOJ all along

I doubt that's the case. Mueller certainly knows that none of this started with the Trump Tower meeting, so her mission was to provide a cover story that would have already failed. So it really wouldn't matter too much if she turned rabbit and ran, as the information Mueller would be looking to confirm from her would be in the negative anyway and he likely already has that (hence the plea deal). Iow, her lies about the Trump Tower meeting would confirm the truth Mueller already knows, much like the approach he likely took with Stone, thus the five year sentence (that will likely be reduced to about a year if that, precisely because she was just a pawn in Putin's game).

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Maria Butina, Accused Of Being Russian Agent, Reaches Plea Deal With Feds

Butina has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as a Russian agent on America's soil without registering as required with the Justice Department.

She faces a maximum of five years in prison but could serve far less time once she is sentenced next year.

There's a lot more she could be charged with, so I'm guessing she has tons of juicy info for Mueller's team.

Made all the more "juicy" in light of the fact that she must expect Putin would want to try to have her killed in custody, so the only way to save her own skin would be to spill everything she knows. Even then she will likely need to always watch her back, but at least if she talks now she alleviates the initial impetus to have her killed immediately.

Maybe, maybe not. The whole point of this exercise is to sow doubt in US Democracy. Mission fucking accomplished! 70% of Republicans think the Mueller investigation is a witch hunt. Over a dozen Trump campaign officials palling with Russia and they still think it is a witch hunt. The Russians are the true winners here.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

The whole point of this exercise is to sow doubt in US Democracy.

Clearly not. The whole point was to overthrow our government--not merely sow doubt--and install a puppet who in turn destroys America's standing in the world so that Putin could maneuver Russia into the global leader, which he has significantly accomplished through at least two initiatives; Brexit and Trump.

In the short time that Trump has been in office, the EU is in a prolonged sense of turmoil, upheaval and uncertainty (essentially a power vacuum); NATO relations have been destroyed; our trade agreements/relationships pointlessly and egregiously overturned, creating a trade vacuum that Russia has taken advantage of by making deals with China; is working to establish trade relations with India (initially through weapons, but that is likely a backdoor approach to use them as their administrative work force like the West does); and taken steps to take over the world's oil distribution from Saudi Arabia.

This was not just some casual, "Hey, let's fuck with their elections for no reason" one-off. The entirety of the past five years (at the very least) has been a long-planned, calculated chess gambit with the sole purpose to push out the EU and the US as the world's upper management, if you will.

The Russians are the true winners here.

Agreed, but again, it was not merely to sow doubt; it was to destroy us and step upon our skulls to replace us as the global CEO; without firing a shot, no less, which is what makes it the most brilliant gambit in global history, imho.

Consider the facts that we know they did this--and Brexit--and yet neither country simply said, "Vote tainted. Do over." Why this is the case, I have no idea. It may still happen with Brexit, but the fact that Americans can't just say, "Throw out the results and do it over" is the most bizarre element to all of this. Or, simpler, just put the rightful winner--Hillary Clinton--into the office where she belongs. There is no better measure than the popular vote ffs.

Oh well.

 

[Elixir]

...put the rightful winner--Hillary Clinton--into the office where she belongs. There is no better measure than the popular vote ffs.

Decades ago, I used to get most of my wisdom from MAD magazine. I still recall one memorable quip about the purpose of dinner, to the effect of "Dinner is to push around on your plate until it is so disgusting even your mother doesn't want you to eat it."

That's what the Republicans did to Hillary over some thirty years. Nobody is going to eat that shit now.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

...put the rightful winner--Hillary Clinton--into the office where she belongs. There is no better measure than the popular vote ffs.

Decades ago, I used to get most of my wisdom from MAD magazine. I still recall one memorable quip about the purpose of dinner, to the effect of "Dinner is to push around on your plate until it is so disgusting even your mother doesn't want you to eat it."

That's what the Republicans did to Hillary over some thirty years. Nobody is going to eat that shit now.

Well, some 70 million registered voters would disagree with that assessment, but more importantly, it's the most logical approach. Two people run for the same office. One of them wins the most votes, but due to a technically the other is awarded the office. It is then discovered that the other cheated. The most logical next step would be to award the office to the one who won the most votes. Plain and simple.

 

[Keith&Co.]

The whole point of this exercise is to sow doubt in US Democracy.

Clearly not. The whole point was to overthrow our government--not merely sow doubt--and install a puppet

I rreally don't think that's all that clear.

I really don't think Trump expected or wanted to win. Probably like that Redford movie, The Candidate, they even assured him he would lose.

Then, he could continue to spend the next 8 years on the sidelines, bitching about Hillary's every move. Constantly campaigning ( which he us still trying to do, he LOVES rooms full of people loving him at the top of their voice), getting donations, and not coming under substantial scrutiny.

If Putin had really expected a win, there would have been a three ring binder of appointments to be made as soon as the transition office opened. "I dunno, sir, it was just there on tlhe desk when i got here with the donuts." Most innocuous enough to hide the real Dark Horse appts, none of these apparently random choices he's been making...

Also, there would HAVE to have been more cover. Seriously, all the evidence that keeps keading to these indictments and sentencing and leaks to the press, reminds me of The Producers. No one investigates a failure, even if you come in at second place.

Putin would definitely gotten his money's worth with a loss, and Trump would still be semi-retired, spouting about Hillry every time he wants attention, without having 85 agents up his ass with microscopes.

 

[Elixir]

The whole point of this exercise is to sow doubt in US Democracy.

Clearly not. The whole point was to overthrow our government--not merely sow doubt--and install a puppet

I rreally don't think that's all that clear.

I really don't think Trump expected or wanted to win. Probably like that Redford movie, The Candidate, they even assured him he would lose.

Then, he could continue to spend the next 8 years on the sidelines, bitching about Hillary's every move. Constantly campaigning ( which he us still trying to do, he LOVES rooms full of people loving him at the top of their voice), getting donations, and not coming under substantial scrutiny.

If Putin had really expected a win, there would have been a three ring binder of appointments to be made as soon as the transition office opened. "I dunno, sir, it was just there on tlhe desk when i got here with the donuts." Most innocuous enough to hide the real Dark Horse appts, none of these apparently random choices he's been making...

Also, there would HAVE to have been more cover. Seriously, all the evidence that keeps keading to these indictments and sentencing and leaks to the press, reminds me of The Producers. No one investigates a failure, even if you come in at second place.

Putin would definitely gotten his money's worth with a loss, and Trump would still be semi-retired, spouting about Hillry every time he wants attention, without having 85 agents up his ass with microscopes.

Agree 100%.
Pootie is probably kicking himself a little bit for not having had that binder prepared "just in case". But only a little bit - now he has a feather from a whole other kind of bird in his cap; he has kompromatted The President of The United States of America!
At this point he can just sit back and be totally disinterested and amused, without worrying about outcomes. His boy can't get out of line on him, even should he end up rotting in jail. And if INDIVIDUAL-1 is not excised, the Pootie gets to keep playing him like an out-of-tune fiddle. Either way, the divisions that Pootie has succeeded in sowing will be delightfully exacerbated by all the fights over how to dispose of the cancerous element that he introduced to the White House, and has now spread through most of the party that still controls the Senate.

 

[Elixir]

...put the rightful winner--Hillary Clinton--into the office where she belongs. There is no better measure than the popular vote ffs.

Decades ago, I used to get most of my wisdom from MAD magazine. I still recall one memorable quip about the purpose of dinner, to the effect of "Dinner is to push around on your plate until it is so disgusting even your mother doesn't want you to eat it."

That's what the Republicans did to Hillary over some thirty years. Nobody is going to eat that shit now.

Well, some 70 million registered voters would disagree with that assessment

So you might expect. I voted for Hillary, but would not do so again.

but more importantly, it's the most logical approach. Two people run for the same office. One of them wins the most votes, but due to a technically the other is awarded the office. It is then discovered that the other cheated. The most logical next step would be to award the office to the one who won the most votes. Plain and simple.

Somewhere, you picked up a notion that the US is a Democracy. It's not. Gore won the popular vote too. The system is a semi-democratic republic. It is, was and always has been, set up to favor and disproportionately empower the rich and the landed gentry. I agree that "logically" that model has outlived its usefulness. So all ya gotta do is convince the rich and the landed gentry that they should give up their iron grip on the reins of power, and with it, much of their riches. Should be a piece of cake - just explain it to them, right? They'll fall over in gratitude to you for opening their eyes, no doubt.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I meant that in regard to what we should have done the second the extent of Russian interference was revealed. It should be an automatic do-over at the very least, if not simply deferring to the popular vote as the most logical step to reconcile the interference.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I meant that in regard to what we should have done the second the extent of Russian interference was revealed. It should be an automatic do-over at the very least, if not simply deferring to the popular vote as the most logical step to reconcile the interference.

Actually it was discovered before the election.
What should have happened was Obama, as senior Dem, should have briefed McConnell as senior GOP, and they jointly announce a cloud over certain candidates. But Mcc wouldn't play, and the optics were terrible if Obama said anything alone.