5 numbers that prove the Mueller probe isn't a 'big fat hoax'

[edbermac]

Washington (CNN)On Monday, after a report in The New York Times that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation in 2017 to ascertain whether President Donald Trump was working for Russia and against the United States, he stood in front of reporters and denied it.

"I never worked for Russia," Trump said, adding: "And you know that answer better than anybody. Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it's a disgrace that you even asked that question because it's a whole big fat hoax."

Which, in and of itself, is insane. A President of the United States forced to deny, on the record, that he was a Russian agent? I mean, b-a-n-a-n-a-s.

But that craziness aside, it's worth noting what Trump's quote gets flat wrong. I take no issue with his denial of working on behalf of Russia. What I do have a problem with is his description of the ongoing special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election as a "whole big fat hoax."

That is demonstrably false. And, I'll prove it -- in just five numbers: 192, 36, 7, 4 and 1.

* 192 is the number of overall criminal counts brought by Mueller's team to date
* 36 is the number of people and entities charged in the Mueller probe
* 7 is the number of people who have pleaded guilty in the investigation
* 4 is the number of people who have been sentenced to jail for their wrongdoing unearthed by Mueller
* 1 is the person (Paul Manafort) who was convicted of crimes sniffed out by Mueller's team

And reminder: The Mueller probe isn't over yet. And no one -- up to and including Trump -- knows what Mueller knows and, more importantly, what he can prove.

The Point: Every time the President -- or one of his White House allies -- labels what Mueller is doing as a hoax, remember these numbers. It probably won't shut them up -- but it should.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/14/politics/donald-trump-robert-mueller-probe-hoax/index.html

[malaise]

1. The Con was talking about himself

More projection - he knows he is a big fat hoax.

[DonaldsRump]

2. You took the words right out of my mouth!

Good one.

There must some serious stuff going down with the Big Fat Hoaxster himself.

[malaise]

4. He's a raving lunatic

Totally unhinged.
ITTMF!

[FakeNoose]

3. Give him another medal!

[essaynnc]

5. Can someone please explain the difference between 4 and 1 ?

Thanks in advance.....!!!

[PJMcK]

6. Convictions vs. guilty pleas

I think Manafort is the only defendant to have gone through a trial and been convicted by a jury. The other defendants pleaded guilty before their sentencing.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

9. A guilty plea is a conviction.

Sure there was no trial, but they are nonetheless convicted felons.

[PJMcK]

10. I understand the distinction

The question related to the OP's numbers.

[quakerboy]

7. And yet we still wait for anything meaningfull.

I still think the whole thing is a hoax. A Big Fat Republican Hoax.

Righty Mueller who let Bush era shenanigans continue on with no serious disruption or consequence isn't going to be the one to drop the hammer on Trump. Not even on his best day. But worse, I believe the animosity between Trump and Mueller is 99% theater. The game is give the left just enough hope to keep anyone more effective and honest from taking it into their own hands, then drag it out till people get bored and hope to obscure any real damning evidence behind a PR credibility campaign and time.

Unless the congress can somehow force Muellers hand, I predict he will continue to drag the probe out, turning a few toadies into fall guys to keep up the facade, but carefully avoiding doing anything that could cause serious problems for anyone of actual importance or power. Then, at some point as far in the future as possible, preferably with good timing for republican hopes in the 2020 elections, he will quietly issue a report that makes it all sound icky, but lacking anything actually actionable against any Republican of importance.

[tymorial]

8. Lol