5 Things to Know about the First Charges Filed in the Russia Investigation Led by Robert Mueller

By Jacob Weindling  |  October 27, 2017 | 11:59pm
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty
Politics Features Russia Investigation
5 Things to Know about the First Charges Filed in the Russia Investigation Led by Robert Mueller

For those of you not constantly plugged in to the news cycle like us junkies, you may have felt a ripple through spacetime while you were enjoying your Friday night. That was the internet’s collective freak out over this tremendously consequential CNN report:

A federal grand jury in Washington, DC, on Friday approved the first charges in the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller, according to sources briefed on the matter.

The charges are still sealed under orders from a federal judge. Plans were prepared Friday for anyone charged to be taken into custody as soon as Monday, the sources said. It is unclear what the charges are.

That’s pretty much the entire report. CNN doesn’t really give us more than that, so here are five things to help understand what this massive story means.

1. It’s Not Fake News

What we know from the above isn’t much, so we have to trust that CNN knows more than we do—and enough to justify publishing a bombshell like this. And folks—especially the fake news folks—there’s no turning back from publishing something like this. If CNN is wrong, this is it. This is their reputation. We don’t know who is getting charged, when or why. This has the looks of the kind of story that can fall apart quickly, so if they’re publishing just this, their sourcing better be really solid—and there’s no real reason to believe they would publish something like this if they didn’t have it. One reason to believe they do have it?

The Wall Street Journal—owned by the same Rupert Murdoch who owns Fox News—confirmed CNN’s reporting, writing that “at least one defendant may be detained as early as Monday.” Adding insult to MAGA injury, Reuters confirmed it too.

2. Sourcing Determines the Credibility and Legality of the Leak

Don’t take it from me, take it from James Comey’s friend.

3. This Could Be An Attempt to Flip Someone

Former federal prosecutor, and Democratic candidate for Illinois Attorney General, Renato Mariotti, has been helpful walking people through the legalese in this investigation.

4. Speculation is Unprofessional…Buuuut Who Do You Think It Is???

Like Mariotti said, the obvious candidate is Paul Manafort. If I were a betting man—and I am—I would bet that any initial indictment is reserved for one of Manafort’s lackeys. There have been an avalanche of reports indicating that Robert Mueller’s criminal probe has Manafort trapped in a cocoon of alleged money laundering receipts. If this is a leak from Mueller’s team, it could be a way for them to create leverage above the person(s) they’re trying to flip. Or as former war correspondent Dan Murphy puts it:

5. All Those Hillary Clinton Stories This Week Sure Look Convenient

Trump and his cronies didn’t drudge up a thoroughly debunked Steve Bannon special just for kicks. Fox News wasn’t attacking the special counsel for no reason.

The craziness of this entire week makes so much more sense with this news. It was all a distraction because they knew what was coming down the pike.

Defying the Tappers of the world calling him out, President No Puppet You’re The Puppet bravely charged through the Twitter malestrom in his quest to take down Fox News’ Eternal President of the United States: Hillary Clinton.

Folks, get some rest this weekend. We’re waking up in a whole new world on Monday.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.

 
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