The odd thing about all of this is that after the indictment part of the deal was that Papadopoulos was ordered by a Judge to have no contact with the Trump team. He was told “to give up his passports (two of them) and to keep away from individuals and entities related to the charges against him”. ( see Politico article).
So then who was George Papadopoulos using Muellers wire on, if he was ordred to stay away from Trumps team ?
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/secret-hearing-mueller-trump-probe-244653
Some possibilities regarding the “no contact order”:
1) the Judge wasn’t fully informed about the “wire” scheme, and simply wanted to reduce coordination of stories, warning other suspects, etc. by Papadopolous.
2) the Judge was setting up P. for even more trouble if the FBI forces him into conduct in violation of the Judge’s stay away order. He’s burned no matter what he does.
3) the Judge knew the FBI wanted to use P., and deliberately threw a wrench in the works.
4) Other=?
#1 seems the most plausible.