Mueller cleverly loaded the bases today

[bigtree]

...Manafort and Gates indictments, although unrelated directly to the Trump campaign, provide top level officials in that election effort (charges including period of their involvement w/ the campaign), engaged in stunningly egregious criminal behavior, for public consumption.

At the same time, the Papadopolous guilty plea, very likely unveiled today to coincide with the indictments, provides a standard prosecution effort, much like an organized crime prosecution, working the case from the bottom to the top, turning defendants into witnesses for the prosecution along the way.

Mueller has brilliantly covered all bases today, effectively refuting any speculation or spin that he's only ensnaring small fish in his dragnet (strongly signaling that he's fully engaged in prosecuting collusion with Russia, and Russian interference in the election).

[captain queeg]

1. Mueller should go down in history as a beacon of the democratic process

Though he seems like such a low key guy who wouldn't like those kind of platitudes.

[kentuck]

2. Interesting thought.

I hope it is true.

[bigtree]

6. a beacon

...on Trump's subversion of democracy and the law.

That's pretty much where the country hangs in the balance right now, with this direct affront to all we hold dear in the current Executive, challenging us to redefine and reapply our ideals as he recklessly tears them down.

[Vinca]

3. One person who must be shitting their pants right now is Michael Flynn.

The rats are going to be flocking to the interrogation rooms to give up Dear Leader.

[Wounded Bear]

4. If anything, he's probably in more jeopardy than Manafort...

He also has national security concerns vis-a-vis his term as NS Advisor.

[herding cats]

11. For all we know Flynn may already have been arrested and is working a deal.

Papadopoulos was arrested in late July and it was just now unsealed today.

[Thrill]

5. He clearly waited until Trump tweeted and unsealed the papadopoulos

News

[OnDoutside]

7. +1

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Indictimng Manafort and his deputy Gates simultaneiously means each must scramble to cut a deal

with what they know before the other one does and thus negates the bargaining position of he who lags to sing. Another deft move by Mueller.

[lame54]

9. Mueller is a patriot...

Can't be bought or intimidated

[bigtree]

10. »

[maryellen99]

12. Do you think there will be more indictments today or the rest of the week?

[bigtree]

13. I wouldn't be surprised

...with Flynn, Stone, Kuschner, John Jr., etc. still hanging out there with clear evidence of criminality or conspiracy swirling around them.

I don't believe things will proceed as fast as today might indicate, though, with much of today's developments looking ripe for squeezing and turning defendants in a long haul investigation months and more from completion.

Remember, Manafort and Gates had been the subject of investigations before Mueller came on board. It makes sense that these charges had progressed to the GJ/indictment stage right now.