Mueller investigation enters Year Two: What comes next -- and how it could end

[DonViejo]

By Matt Zapotosky May 17 at 6:47 AM

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 election turns a year old on Thursday. In 365 days, Mueller's team has charged 19 people, as well as three companies, and secured five guilty pleas. He is showing no signs of slowing down.

The milestone might not mean much to Mueller, but it has important public significance. History has shown that the public does not have unlimited patience with independent or special counsels, and Mueller faces a particular challenge maintaining the confidence of the citizenry, given the regular attacks he faces from President Trump, who has decried the probe as a “witch hunt.”

Here is a status check of Mueller's probe at the one year mark, and a look at what could happen next.

Mueller was tasked with finding out if the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin. What has he found so far?

Mueller still hasn't answered the biggest question: Did the Trump campaign coordinate with Russia to influence the 2016 election? But he has secured guilty pleas from three former Trump campaign or administration officials: national security adviser Michael Flynn, deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates and campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. All are cooperating with Mueller's probe and presumably could tell him about coordination, if there was any. In their pleas, they have often admitted to being deceitful about contacts with Russians or those acting for Russian interests. Flynn, for example, admitted lying about his interactions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and Papadopoulos conceded he made a false statement to FBI investigators who asked about his contacts with foreigners claiming to have high-level Russian connections.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/05/17/mueller-trump-russia-investigation-one-year-anniversary/

[dpibel]

1. Alternative history

"History has shown that the public does not have unlimited patience with independent or special counsels..."

January 1994: Janet Reno appoints special counsel to investigate Whitewater.

September 1998: Kenneth Starr issues report of special counsel (investigation expanded to include Monica Lewinsky in January 1998)

I do not recall any great public outcry demanding that Kenneth Starr stop his investigation of Bill Clinton. There was, of course, discussion amongst politicos and pundits. But to baldly make that statement about "the public" is to make things up.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. Unfortunately, I expect a whimper and no Big Bang.

When Trump or Pence are mentioned, expect a lot of words like “unknowingly “ or “unwittingly”.
I don’t see any way of direct involvement on the big stuff.
Its almost impossible to prove intent.

I’ve already prepared myself to be disappointed.
Hope I’m wrong.