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Neoma

(10,039 posts)
Sat Apr 20, 2019, 10:28 PM Apr 2019

My impressions of volume 1 of the Mueller report.

Note: I am a regular citizen who hasn't kept up with much of anything of the Russia investigation (besides what my very political family has happened to mention to me,) this is not an expert analysis and my brain hurts from reading so much in so little time. I feel like I know enough to explain my impressions though. I would have started reading it the day it came out, but I didn't actually think it was released to the public for some reason? Yesterday I got to page 92. I've read 115 pages today. The second volume that deals with obstruction of justice starts on page 208. I'll start on that tomorrow.

First thought: What the fuck is HOM? *looks on google* Great, nothing. That is one of the redactions that is used, did figure out that means Harm to Ongoing Matter but it took me awhile to connect it for some reason. The main three redactions used to cover up are HOM, Investigation technique and Grand Jury.

It begins by explaining that collusion isn't actually a crime, the crime that Mueller was investigating for was Conspiracy. Conspiracy is where you have to find two parties agreeing. That was not found? Well, there wasn't enough to convict anyone of it, put it that way. Except possibly Trump Jr. but he's a moron that wasn't the main person who would have created the conspiracy. I also wrote down from that part, "A statement that the investigation did not establish facts does not mean there was no evidence of these facts." From page 10. Dunno, seemed important.

When the dialog truly starts, it explains what Russia actually did. It's supposed to start on page 19, but so much is redacted, you might as well start on page 33. I think how much the Russians involved themselves with social media was known, but I don't think the full extension of what they did has been laid out like this. The social media front seems on a grander scale, and the hacking into Hillary Clinton's campaign was a lot more than I initially thought they hacked into. The main take-away is that Russia was eager to do as much as possible to get Trump elected and to smear Hillary and went to great lengths to contact the Trump campaign. But they went into so many different sectors of the U.S. Black lives matters, check. LGBT, check. Tea Partiers, check. You might as well say they were in every part of the online community manipulating. No mention of Jill Stein. One mention of Bernie on page 53, "WikiLeaks also explained, 'we think trump has only a 25% chance of winning against hillary ... so conflict between bernie and hillary is interesting.'" I feel like the part on page 182-3 sums it up a little by the extent of Russia's crimes with what laws were broken and what they charged the Russians. After those pages they redact SO much.

Then it gets down to business and starts into any connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian Government. There's a lot of lying about having connections, a lot of, "I cannot recalls" when meeting with Russians and explains how evidence was destroyed or encrypted. There was some gibberish because of the redactions, but I feel like a lot was surprisingly intact. What stuck out to me most was page 137 about Manafort giving over insider campaign polling data to a Russian contact and how the FBI had problems figuring out all he did with deletions and encrypted information. Sure, on page 110 Trump Jr. was eager to get in contact with the Russians, but it shows how that effort fizzled out as far as they could determine. In one of the footnotes there was also a video of Trump asking Russia to look (hack) into Hillary's emails and how they fulfilled his request.


It was the only reference to a youtube video. Then on page 172 the Trump administration was "seeking a secret channel" to the Russian government, a communication loop that others couldn't see.

On page 190 it does go further into the charges against Paul Manafort and Richard gates and further into Flynn charges. Why Trump Jr wasn't charged. (page 193-4) and it goes into what is law, a lot. Which to me is gibberish, partially because at that point of the report I'm just tired and not a lawyer. On page 200 they explain the charges on Papadopoulos but goes on to say that he tried to get in contact with high Russian officials to arrange a possible foreign policy trip and he made a lot of false statements about it to the FBI. Page 202 discusses Flynn's charges, 203 discusses Cohen's charges. Jeff Sessions is on page 205. I point these out because they seem pretty important to look at.

I probably missed some stuff. I just wanted to know what was actually said in the report so that I can filter through the bullshit analysis and insightful analysis so that I could further understand what I read. I end with what was said on page 181.

In sum, the investigation established multiple links between Trump Campaign officials and
individuals tied to the Russian government. Those links included Russian offers of assistance to
the Campaign. In some instances , the Campaign was receptive to the offer, while in other instances
the Campaign officials shied away. Ultimately , the investigation did not establish that the
Campaign coordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election-interference
activities.
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My impressions of volume 1 of the Mueller report. (Original Post) Neoma Apr 2019 OP
The report clearly establishes Ruskies helped trump, trump accepted the help, trump obstructed Hoyt Apr 2019 #1
I really think it's because people haven't read it yet. Neoma Apr 2019 #2
I watched the MSNBC lawyers discussing it on the fly when it was released. Hoyt Apr 2019 #3
Exactly. Every patriot should be calling for impeachment. nt SunSeeker Apr 2019 #4
I've read both volumes NYMinute Apr 2019 #5
Thank You for your post - and Welcome to DU ! alittlelark Apr 2019 #6
Glad to be here NYMinute Apr 2019 #7
Welcome to DU, NYMinute! Rhiannon12866 Apr 2019 #8
Welcome to DU NYMinute! smirkymonkey Apr 2019 #12
Thank you NYMinute Apr 2019 #13
I think a broader painting will be shown. Neoma Apr 2019 #9
Even without reading the report this is the case Cosmocat Apr 2019 #10
I agree with you DesertRat Apr 2019 #11
 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
1. The report clearly establishes Ruskies helped trump, trump accepted the help, trump obstructed
Sat Apr 20, 2019, 11:17 PM
Apr 2019

justice, trump and his aides are liars, trump is surrounded by criminal nitwits, trump is incompetent, etc.

The investigation did NOT look at why trump appears compromised in his dealings with Russia and a few other countries, tax evasion, misuse of a charitable foundation, how the trump family has profited from the office, and probably worse. That needs to be investigated if it’s not already.

At least 70+% of Americans should be shocked to the point of criticizing the GOP, but they aren’t.

Unfortunately, the election will be here before we know it, and likely before any legal or Congressional action could be taken, assuming it is coming. Fortunately, we can kick his ass in 2020 if handled properly (and I have no idea what will work best in leveraging this report).

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
3. I watched the MSNBC lawyers discussing it on the fly when it was released.
Sat Apr 20, 2019, 11:32 PM
Apr 2019

They did a great job. I’ve read some great articles and read some of report.

Only someone glad to have a white wing racist in office, no matter how he got there, can spin the report in any way that wouldn’t call for trump, or any other Prez, to step down before being removed by Congress.

As soon as I get a chance I will read it.

 

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)
5. I've read both volumes
Sun Apr 21, 2019, 12:10 AM
Apr 2019

It is clear that both conspiracy to defraud the electoral process and obstruction of justice were committed.

There may not be enough to hold up an indictment but there is certainly enough to say a crime was committed.

Rhiannon12866

(203,041 posts)
8. Welcome to DU, NYMinute!
Sun Apr 21, 2019, 03:33 AM
Apr 2019

Glad you decided to join us! You picked a good time, there's sure a lot to discuss right now!

Neoma

(10,039 posts)
9. I think a broader painting will be shown.
Sun Apr 21, 2019, 08:08 AM
Apr 2019

After I finish the 2nd volume, in all the ways to try and hide from the investigation.

Cosmocat

(14,543 posts)
10. Even without reading the report this is the case
Sun Apr 21, 2019, 08:36 AM
Apr 2019

Seriously, just based on what we have seen reported prior to the release of the redacted version, if all of this is acceptable, the bar is set to have every campaign moving forward invite foreign powers to intervene in our elections ...

I can GUAREN FUCKING TEE that if this had been a democratic candidate he or she would very well be tried for treason, and absolutely could be tried for conspiracy.

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