Manafort folding isn't a surprise. Neither is Trump's & Republicans' silence. If people look back at some past events, direct as well as subtle, they have already hedged it.
That is why Trump nominated Kavanaugh; that is why McConnell & co are so eager to get Kavanaugh across the goal line before the midterm election. Hindsight 20/20, maybe that is why Ken Starr resurfaces from his Baylor incident making sorry/not sorry semi mea culpa about his Clinton investigation (note: when I was watching him on CBS This Morning, he kinda dumped the responsibility on AG Janet Reno who is obviously unable to debate him!)
But instead of talking about the "i" word, Sen Elizabeth Warren is right. Protection Special Counsel Mueller to finish his investigation is most important thing. To say the least, he has gotten several convictions and brought the Russian meddling to the fore front. Lord knows if all the Facebook stuff would come to light without all the tangential pressure from Mueller.
While Trump & the gang offer shiny objects, real substance and convictions will keep the truth on the front pages of real news media. More often than not, sunlight the disinfectant is a longer lasting preserver of truth
122
Clearly Mueller's strategy is to use non-Federal offences against his targets specifically to frustrate Trump's rolling criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice by corruptly offering pardons to those targets to interfere with their testimony and further obstruct justice.
Just stop for a moment and think through the implications. Mueller and his team, prominent leaders of the legal profession, are basing their investigation on the belief that the president is a hardened criminal intent on the ongoing commission of crimes in the face of an investigation of his earlier criminal conduct.
The people who know best believe the president of the United States is a hardened and corrupt criminal. That is the reality - no matter what you think - people who know better than you are convinced Trump is actively working in a rolling criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice and protect his compromised administration.
An important legal point is that if Trump is offering pardons to alleged criminals in an attempt to interfere with their testimony and further obstruct justice, he isn't doing it alone. He is doing in through his legal team and their participation in the commission of crimes means legal professional privilege does not apply.
Soon enough it will be Rudy Giuliani flipping on Trump - or whoever it was who called Manafort with the desperate offer of a pardon. Trump simply does not understand the implications of his actions and his lawyers only make it worse by abetting his crimes.
30
One can only hope that sooner, rather than later, the whole mob-family of the man in the Oval will get arrested and tried for crimes against this nation.
Not too long ago a photo taken inside Reagan airport showed SC Mueller sitting in a chair with Donald Junior standing a few feet away from him using his cell phone.
Maybe Junior called Daddy-Dearest and asked for help, afraid to be arrested right there.
11
Mr. Meuller will be the saving of us. Stand back and let him work. Further work is needed to protect the integrity of our elections. One person, one vote. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine--no more "infotainment" that amounts to fascist propaganda.
17
"....willingness to use the pardon power with seeming abandon."
Huh? What are you three smoking?
Compared to other presidents, Trump thus far has a light touch in the pardon department. Though he is working on doing something about all those poor black folks rotting in prison for non-violent drug crimes. You know, the ones put there by the expansion of sentencing for such crimes caused by Bill Clinton's crime bill.
1
I marvel at how our system of government still manages to function -- for now -- given the current clowns in office and the lying liar, cheating cheat and despicable despot at the helm.
11
I do find it amusing that all those loyal trumpites shouting Lock her up are off to prison.
15
And let's not forget that Manafort is the one who engineered the selection of Mike Pence as a VP.
Will the whole house of cards come down at the same time?
https://www.newsweek.com/mike-pence-was-handpicked-paul-manafort-696412
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/politics/mike-pence-donald-trump-v...
13
Looks like the "witch hunt" has bagged another warlock.
17
Reality bites. Manafort for all his utterances of never turning in return for something other than a long life for his remaining few years finally became clear. Perhaps Trump's shabby treatment of Cohen had some influence in Manafort's decision, or he has enuf money squirreled away to live a good if not ultra-luxurious life, or he found jail was just a step too far. After all, he had x residences. The corruption and amount of money staggering. What a terrible time with this crew in charge, truly outstanding in their loutishness, ignorance of proctocol, how to run a government, follow rules and laws, and provide that higher sense of behavior in the office of the presidency. It's a goal, but this group never saw anything but another opportunity to turn a few bucks. Horrible period.
8
Semper Fi, Mr Mueller! Your faithfulness leads us all to truth and justice. What that looks like promises to be very unseemly, twisted by greed and power lust.
8
As this story unfolds, Trump becomes increasingly vulnerable to Russian influence. Putin may threaten Trump with either truthful disclosures or a disinformation campaign consisting of a grain of truth, a barrage of damning half-truths and a blizzard of lies. Trump knows the power of disinformation and he is as likely to fear disinformation as much as, if not more than, the truth.
Robert Mueller is doing a great job and he eventually may be able to gather evidence sufficient to support an indictment. Until Mr. Mueller gathers and reports that evidence, Trump remains under threat from the Russians and the close Mr. Mueller gets to the truth the greater the pressure on Trump.
I doubt Trump has the character to withstand pressure from the Russians. Ironically, an investigation into Donald Trump's ties to the Russians leaves the United States more vulnerable to Russian influence of a different kind but potentially greater than Russian influence in the 2016 election.
87
I have been involved with politics since I attended middle school. I made films in California for overburdened police forces, candidates for the House and Senate and ran Senator Ed Howard's U.S. Senate bid in the late seventies. I was both a member of the Democrat Business Council and the Republican Eagles - their then money making arms. I have met Paul Manafort a few times and knew one of his partners Black - who was the real brain in that organization until Stone and Manafort grew up. All three were gentleman and in the norm. Everyone in the BUSINESS of politics is easily corrupted by the surrounds - and that goes for any democracy worldwide. Some become criminals and others only take on the lifestyles of their clients. That takes quite a bit of money. Manafort and Stone seemed to disappear from the tabloids and the press. They worked quietly - no more big exposure, but plenty of money here and abroad. They were expert at what they do. But like so many you can read about on FBI rap sheets from city council to president of the U.S. they became wallowed, it seems, in dirtier dealings-not criminal but more than normal these "fixers and arrangers". How Manafort became Trumps campaign manager is now well known thanks to Mr. Bannon and Mr. Woodward. President Trump knows this deals well of course - he needed men and women like this to ease his way. He knows "the swamp" as well as do I, but he jumped in on the deep end. Sad really for many who liked money, but forgot respect.
3
Now we wait for Trump’s supporters to realize they have been conned....the market will have to start falling before they notice anything. They consistently tell me my mutual funds are up so I should be a cheap flouzy and be bought by that rise...uh no. What will it take for them to not be bought? Will it be the country going BK, the loss of obamacare, social security and medicare, the lack of medical insurance coverage due to their pre-existing conditions, the unlawful deportations of Americans, our slave prisons, Russia and China working together to destroy the US....
15
Sadly, I take another lesson from the Mueller probe.
The scope and impunity with which Manafort operated for 30 years doesn't seem as if no one is above the law. I'll bet there are hundreds if not thousands of guys just like Manafort out there still
The ONLY reason he got caught is because there was a special counsel. That doesn't give me confidence in law enforcement. Not one little bit. The cops in our financial system have obviously not been diligent. Otherwise, there wouldn't BE a Manafort. Or Gates... etc. etc. etc.
175
God Bless old Abe! You still can't fool all of the people all of the time.
6
You forgot to mention: Manafort may be able to shed light on the question of why, and at whose behest, he pushed forward the name of the Vice-Theocrat.
20
Now what? Now others are going to start falling like ninepins until reality starts to bite and our reality show president realizes he is alone, unloved, under legal siege and unable to cope with the pressures of an office he has always been unfit to hold. In short he will either resign -- blaming others of course -- or be taken out in a straitjacket babbling about all the great things he accomplished that were unsung by his detractors.
19
Now the question is: why would GOP congresspersons want to protect their president at this point, besides getting a Supreme Court nominee? Because, frankly, a nominee doesn't seem like a good enough reason to protect Trump at this juncture, even if we throw in their tax cut victory as a second reason to protect Trump (especially since that is in the past). It just doesn't add up. Follow the money.
15
@ERISA lawyer
There is no democracy in a nation where any person is above the law.
Yet most Republican politicians don’t yet dare say outright what their leader Donald Trump already has: That only their party should have political rights, and only their political enemies should be prosecuted by the Justice Department, but when you follow the actions of the GOP that’s where you end up.
13
As the facts close in on the Trumps it is even more important that Kavanaugh not be appointed to the Supreme Court. He is a disaster waiting to happen. Call your senators now, demonstrate at their offices. Let them know they cannot vote to appoint Kavanaugh no matter how much they want the next Republican tax bill to pass.
24
Trump may or may not go down. This does very little to dispel the notion that the rich and powerful aren't immune from Justice.
The Presidents attorney, Giuliani a former federal prosecutor, called Trump a genius for not paying taxes. The tax code that was changed practically guaranteed he, his family and most large companies would be immune from the kind of taxes most Americans pay to finance our government.
His daily tweets are designed to impact public companies stock prices and he, his family and friends are profiting. His son in law had a property in NYC that was bankrupting him suddenly he's bailed out. What favors are expected in return?
Meanwhile families are being separated permanently, FEMA aid is being siphoned off to stop refugees. Allies economies are being gutted at the expense of Russian Oligarchs that have lent the Trumps money. The Supreme Court is being packed with Corporatist and our public institutions are being used to do favors for the rich and powerful instead of protecting the American public.
Even if Trump is finally undone by his own hubris, it won't change the fact that his cronies stole our government and packed the Supreme Court that will protect them going forward.
40
A presidential resignation is not too far behind. Once these A Team prosecutors nail the son, DJT will have no other choice.
3
@George
That seems logical, but Trump is not. Trump would rather begin WWIII than admit that he is what we knew he was all along.
14
Mueller is playing his card correctly to refer some of the crimes Manafort is alleged to have committed to another jurisdiction.
In Virginia, he was convicted on a federal level.
The one in Washington DC is on a different level.
Luckily for Manafort, he had one juror who was a holdout.
In Washington DC, the jury pool is different and he knew he was liable to be convicted probably of all charges.
Plus, Trump has no pardoning powers in lower jurisdictions.
I hear that those federal prisons are much better than say, a state one.
7
I remember when all the sleuths were saying that George Papadopoulos was the big fish whose testimony was going set the stage for president Trumps impeachment when he agreed to a plea deal with Special Council Mueller. The “Statement of Offense” filed by Mueller dripped with innuendo about shadowy meetings with Russian operatives and “colluding” with them to undermine Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Yet after all the breathless anticipation of impeachable revelations that George Papadopoulos was sure to offer Mueller, there was never a charge of collusion issued against the man Mueller’s inquisitors and enablers in the FBI named as the impetus for his appointment. All they got was a guilty plea on a false-statements charge. In essence Papadopoulos “lied” about the timing and scope of his meetings with a mysterious and now missing Maltese academic with alleged ties to Putin, claiming they started before he joined the Trump campaign. It turns out that they started on March 14, 2016; which was after he “learned he would be a foreign policy advisor for the campaign” but a week before the campaign’s March 21 announcement that he was a campaign “policy advisor”.
It may be subjective to call Muller's prosecution of Papadopoulos petty and trivial however the meager 14 day sentence handed to him speaks for itself. Nevertheless, hope springs eternal within he ranks of the never Trumpers. After nearly two years of anticipation however, Mueller's inquisition is wearing thin.
4
@Tim k
Dream on, Tim. "Two years" is nothing. Iran-Contra went on for better than six years. Whitewater went on for nearly seven. The Valerie Place investigation lasted more than three years.
Mueller is like a shark. He's moving swiftly, smoothly and with power, and devouring pretty much everything in his path. YOU may be getting tired of seeing the sand washing out from under Trump's feet, but for most of us this investigation is getting better all the time. The truth, Trump tax returns and all, will be revealed when Mueller is finished with his investigation and not a day sooner. That is really bad news for a pathological liar and career conman like Trump.
Trump is toast.
19
@Tim k
Oh Lordy, so in your opinion the SC Mueller's probe is an Inquisition, helped by "enablers" in the FBI.
While Mueller's team has caught the yet biggest fish having worked for the inept, mentally confuse man-child in the White House, one that most certainly has a lot of dirt on him, the dragnet around your hero in the Oval is getting tighter and tighter.
6
With this latest Manafort development, Democrats and the public must demand a halt in the Kavanaugh hearings until Mueller completes his work. Otherwise, we may have a criminal-appointed justice on the Supreme Court. Make that two.
11
It has been clear for a long time that Donald Trump is a lawless man; to some of us, it has been clear for decades. The GOP helped put a criminal in the White House and continues to do his bidding, which puts the GOP itself outside the law. Whatever your party affiliation, we have one last chance to elect a Congress that will hold these lawbreakers accountable and restore the rule of law. It is this November. Make sure your voter registration is current (check! they're purging voters) and VOTE this fall, against all Republicans regardless of individual merit. The party has to fail to bring it back within the bounds of legal behavior.
11
As the authors well know, the "cooperation" agreement will yield unreliable "testimony" but of course exactly in line with the desires of the Trump haters. What they don't seem to realize is that they are stuck with Trump for the next seven years and there is nothing they or their friends at the Times can do about it but whine. It is democracy. There are too many people who are willing to follow Trump and the more attacks you and your ilk make, the more likely Trump will prevail.
1
What optimism! Trump is out on January 2021, max. And, when he walks away from the White House on that bright day, it won’t be toward a helicopter waiting to take him to his private jet. It will be toward a squad car bound for central booking. . . It will be hard for him to turn and wave a triumphant goodbye in handcuffs.
6
Does the plea bargain shield Manafort from State criminal and or civil charges?
1
@daniel a friedmanDoes anyone (a lawyer) have an answer to my question?
The march toward the truth shows the importance of the free press (thank heaven for the NY Times, WaPo and CNN) and the dedicated professionals of the Justice Department. Our Judiciary is also showing its integrity--so far. The big test will soon begin. Will the people vote to drain the real swamp in Washington? And will Congress and the Supreme Court stand tall and show that no person is above the law? I have feeling that this weekend, even if Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr are not wearing ties, that their collars feel tight.
4
Civil war? No "Blue Wave"? DNC-RNC Politburos collapse from attacks left and right? Mueller provides evidence for Comey-Lynch, Obama-Rice indictments?
Interesting to see how this all works out without Wall Street going down a rabbit hole, which is what the deep-swamp and the cultural Marxists in our Sovietized media have been working toward since the tears of Hillary's loss first filled the airwaves--e.g., Martha Raddatz and fellows.
Best reality show yet to come?
1
@Alice's Restaurant
Sovietized media? Are you referring to the propagandists at Fox news and its progeny?
5
The dog that doesn't bark is Pence. Manafort chose and insisted on Pence as VP. I think he goes down next.
8
Hear, hear. Now, we must retake at least the House, and restore subpoena and investigative power to the Democrats.
6
The White House says this has “nothing to do with Trump”.
Really?
For starters —-
Trump’s campaign manager pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate with the Mueller investigation.
Trump’s personal lawyer pleads guilty and offers to Cooper with the Mueller investigation.
Trump HIRED both these men as well as the people who talked to Woodward and Mr/Ms Anonymous op-ed writer.
Sounds like this all has EVERYTHING to do with Trump.
2
The writers refer to Mr. Trump and not President Trump. Telling.
2
@rpasea
The paper follows its own standard protocols regarding the use of titlesAnd similar conventions.
1
@rpasea
At least they didn't give him a nickname like his "Little Marco", "Low energy JEB" or "Crooked Hillary". I like Don the Con, but I'm sure we'll have some great ones before long. "Mr." is downright respectful--more than he deserves.
1
...and then again Mr Manafort's testimony may yield nothing.
President Trump will be entering his third year in office - Mueller begins his 2nd year of the investigation - so far, it's provided not one shred of evidence implicating the President of Russian meddling.
Mr Bookbinder should stick to research, it's been too long since he's been in a courtroom.
3
@JMS Plenty of evidence so far. Proof still to come, but then again Mueller is very careful about providing as little as possible while investigating. Keep hoping though.
5
I hope Mr. Manafort is under careful and constant protection. He seems like a prime candidate for a Russian assassination attempt. What a mess! Thank you Donald.
5
"Now that Mr. Manafort is helping the investigation and may testify in future criminal proceedings — not to mention congressional ones — Mr. Trump cannot be resting easy."
That sentence makes me happy. Cheers, America.
6
As joe Conason noted, Hurricane Paul made landfall
on the white house
not a good day for the very stable genius.
5
Anything goes to get President Trump. The only thing he has done "wrong" is to counter liberal policies and expose their stupidity. For that he has to be removed from office. This prosecutorial technique of threatening former associates with jail time and intimidating them to testify against you could be used to convict any politician because, politics being what it is, no one is pure as new fallen snow, all of them have some skeletons in the closet.
1
@bill t
No--he has done a number of things wrong. Here are a few:
Like give classified top secret Israeli intelligence to the Russians in a "private" closed-door chat without any American advisors or photographers present.
Like order small children, many of whom don't even talk yet, to be taken from their parents to discourage other desperate people from trying to come to the land of opportunity--and then keeping them in metal cages in vacant Wal-Marts--and losing several of them who may never see their parents again. But his wife doesn't care--perhaps we could lose his little aristocrat kid--would that be wrong?
Like spending endless time on his own golf courses, charging the Secret Service for their presence there to guard him, while ignoring security briefings, after non-stop carping that President Obama got a few rounds in.
Like making money hand over fist from foreign nations trying to curry favor from him by staying at his hotel in Washington--no other president has tried to profit from the job as much as trump.
Like lying to the American public non-stop since he was able to speak, including as president. The 10 Commandments usually include the one about not lying. Somehow the Republicans have dropped that one from their new 9 Commandments. William Bennett is going to have to reissue his "Book of Virtues" to drop the one his party doesn't follow any more.
5
Manafort not only agreed to spill his guts, but he also gave up his right to have lawyers present! I wonder if Giuliani caused that when he blurted out that Manafort and Trump have a joint defense agreement. Mueller, the best holder of secrets in the universe gets to talk to 'ol Paul in a jail cell incommunicado. All the other rats will not be sleeping at night anymore.
4
Manafort and Trump are both Putin assets. The game continues and there is only one contestant.
7
I doubt Manafort has much capacity for telling the truth, so Mueller has quite a job ahead of him because Manafort will try to manipulate and play him. Undoubtedly Mueller will prevail, but when dealing with slippery eels it can take some time to ultimately pin one down.
2
@MyOwnWoman If Manafort does that then he dies in jail and his family is unprotected from hits by the Putin-Trump mafia thugs. He doesn't want either outcome. If anything, he isn't completely stupid. He's made his Faustian bargain and now is backpedalling furiously.
4
I had thought that Manafort was reluctant to "flip" due to fear for his life. Putin likely doesn't want the public to know what Manafort knows. So maybe prosecutors have offered protection...
4
Consider all possible outcomes. One of which is President Pence. After examining his record in Indiana, is he likely to be an improvement?
Will he protect the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment?
3
An about-face is a realistic judgement on Manafort's part. What a weasel! At least that means he is guilty as sin and the only way to ease some agony for himself is by cooperating with Mueller. The laser- focused, Special Counsel really knows how to get to the jugular, one Trump lackey at a time. Seems like the Trump Loyalty pledge has gone the way of Trump University. At least Trump cannot pardon him now and shut him up. Manafort has no options except telling the truth, the real truth about Trump. And for a serial liar that would be the beginning of the end.
1
This movie is getting really good.....i bet it has a great ending
7
Watching Ken Starr plug his book last week, he described the evolution of the his investigation of the Clintons' (it was always both) from they're involvement in Vince Forster's suicide to finally forcing Monica Lewinsky to confess her affair with Bill Clinton and therefore lying. He was shameless. How narrowly focused Mueller seems on Russia , but we haven't got there yet as all the liars fold their card and cooperate under relentless pressure. There is so much more to learn about what we already know.
3
I just hope Trump won't slither out from under the weight this development, too. He'll never admit, let alone apologize, for anything. Maybe it also goes for his Republican enablers about whom the Russians may have dirt, too. Out with them in November.
5
Maybe the Trumps can get a family jail cell like the ones they've been providing to families requesting asylum at the border.
13
Churchill on rejoining the Conservatives having left the Tories to be a senior minister with the Asquith Liberals: "Anyone can rat, but it takes a certain amount of ingenuity to re-rat."
3
Manafort did and will do nothing to harm Trump. Trump doesn't matter any more. Manafort can do nothing to help Trump now.
Mueller is hitting pay dirt with every shovel full,
Consider what the results of the Mueller investigation thus far: Manafort has been convicted, then pleaded guilty.
Flynn pleaded guilty.
Gates pleaded guilty.
Papadopouls pleaded guilty.
Pinedo pleaded guilty.
Van Der Zwaan pleaded guilty.
Kilimnik indicted
25 Russians indicted.
3 companies indicted.
Cohen and Patten guilty.
Some "witch hunt". So many "witches".
15
Paul, as a concerned citizen, I advise you to not meet Donald Trump on 5th Avenue.
9
Very good news, yes, but hold on.. "no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice." ? Calm yourself counsel, that is a bit of a stretch ,.. ten years on from the trillion dollar financial meltdown where nobody went to jail.
10
"But most important, for the American people, today’s outcome is further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice. Mr. Trump would do well to study the heights from which his former top aide has fallen, and the depth of his plunge."
Self-serving propaganda. Such hypocrisy: Clinton the extortionist and email thief walks free; Comey-Lynch "the matter" walks free; and Obama-Rice both conspirators walk free. And warmongers Bush-Cheney and their fellows Brennan-Clapper in the CIA walk free.
Really--"further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice".
Let's not lie to ourselves--Mueller's deep-swamp snipe hunt plays to its favorites.
Bottom line: Still need the Senate to impeach. Sovietized media narrative is more important than Mueller for 2020.
3
@Alice's Restaurant
I see from your post, that you're hoping the crooks get away.
WOW
5
there is one odd thing about Manafort. When his type of people get hooked by law enforcement, they usually run and hide, where America's hand cannot reach ( such as Putin backyard).
All his long history of lobbiest, foreign agent, etc. he didn't understand how dirty he is.
No way out for you. Mr. Manafort - this way goes directly to jail.
1
Trump's mentor, attorney Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy's right-hand man and one of the most vile persons in American history, also made it throught most of his life as a cheat, a tax-evader, a liar and a thoroughly despicable character. Trump learned at Cohn's knee, so to speak.
But then life had its say as it always will and Cohn had a very bad end. He didn't expect it.
And Trump won't expect it either. His father's money shielded him from any punishments for his atrocious behaviour, up to now. Trump is 72 years old. Nobody escapes the totally unpredictable turns of life itself. Neither will Trump. He will be very surprised. Like John Lennon said "Life is what happens when you're making other plans."
16
This is very bad news for the Russians and Putin, even more than Trump in a way. Mueller in the FBI was overseeing a constant war with the Russians on every front. He and his staff know their criminal mobs inside out, starting with Putin and the oligarchs. No one in America knows more about these crooks and how they've penetrated the Republican Party like Manafort. At the end of the day, Mueller will have two big victories: first, driving Putin's criminal toady Trump from power; second, nailing Putin and Co. to the wall, too.
10
It's kind of disturbing that, without Trump, Manafort would be free as a bird.
15
What might keep me up at night is the concern that Trump has stashed a lot of money somewhere for Manafort to receive for keeping his mouth shut no matter how much he needs to lie. He will get this money later. Trump is capable of doing anything in the world to avoid jail.
Great photo. It encompasses it all: a bent, jowly old guy now broken.
"Mr. Trump would do well to study the heights from which his former top aide has fallen, and the depth of his plunge."
The authors are surely being ironic when using the word "study" and "Mr. Trump" in close proximity, unless one is talking about the bikini contest in Miss USA, or the degree of glossiness of kitschy gold ornaments.
3
Are we ever gonna find out what Trump and Alfa-Bank were doing online? Not if the head of the FBI's Criminal Division has anything to do with it! I bet you two bits they were making electronic "contributions."
1
Really--"further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice"?
Please--such hypocrisy: E.g., CIA malfeasance, Brennan and Clapper, walks free as do the Clintons and Obama's Comey, Lynch, and Rice.
All this means is that the deep-swamp still believes it owns the polis and can manipulate it through the Sovietized mass-media at will.
Can't wait to see how this plays out in the coming election--assuming there is an election and not a collapse of "government".
1
No citizen of the USA , including the president, is above the law.
1
What now? He stays in jail like the other criminals associated with trump. Now trump is very scared, and I love it.
2
We are seeing a slow-motion exposure of a Trump crime ring: his personal attorney, his campaign managers, his national security director and a national security underling, plus compelled resignations of numerous inept or corrupt or violent Trump officials, and the prudent departures, rats from a sinking ship, of lawyers unable or unwilling to defend Trump.
The homunculus occupying the White House may be the most unsavory public official in our history.
14
Jared will be next
6
The great irony is that the same Republicans who supported endlessly fruitless Benghazi investigations are now upset at the time Mueller is taking. Is it because Mueller's investigation has uncovered so many Republican felons who worked for the Russians against America?
19
Manafort folds. What a bounty for Special Counsel, Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian Collusion in the Presidential Election and Obstruction of justice. Robert Mueller, his devoted team and Rod Rosenstein are geniuses. They cast a sturdy net carefully which caught slimy small fishes and big fishes with no options to escape. Perfect planning and execution. Now it's just a matter of a little time when the biggest one falls into the net and the noose tied. Kudos, kudos, kudos to Robert Mueller and his team!
8
Now we all await the next Trump tweet:
“Lyin’ Paul worst campaign manager ever”.
9
Trumpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Trumpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Trumpty together again.
6
It has always bothered me that looters are shot unless they wear an expensive suit.
19
When Trump is indicted and tries to plead out, who will HE flip? Eric?
1
I am anticipating the following tweet, "Brave Pauly flipped to confirm there is NO COLLUSION. Such respect for a brave man."
4
It is great writing. I have two comments:
1) President discredits all real news maker to be false. How do you cmbat it? Real newsmaker should discredit the President more forcefully. Every false statement he makes should be combatted with facts so that he and his wh secretary should not be allowed to open thir mouth. It is a disgrace we all should fight
2) Those who work for the president say that they are there to save the country. No, they are not to save the country. they are working to bolden Mr. President. they should stand up with their 25th amanedment and press the congress to do the same. I do not see that boldness on their part. They do not realize how weak we are becoming in our democracy for such inaction.
3
Th continuing Republican silence is deafening. The cowardice on display needs to be addressed at the midterms if this is to have any meaning for the country. VOTE!!!
17
I proffer session. This is good news. Manafort has something to share. The Mueller Team has sometihg to gain. This sin't a dead end. Stay tuned...
The guy in the White House will learn nothing from the Manafort conviction. He listens to no counsel, preferring instead to do whatever he feels like. The guy will be done in by his mouth. He can't shut up! Because of his statements and actions, many attorneys would " fire" the client i.e. decline representation. His trek downward will only speed up in the coming days. Mueller is one shrewd individual.
8
@Mike Westfall Indeed!
1
“Cooperation can be like dominos”
For Manafort, it’s actually much more like a game of Chutes and Ladders...he spent his entire life climbing up the ladder of narcissism and criminality only to find himself suddenly sliding back down to the sewer from whence he came.
2
Thank you CREW for your commitment to truth and justice!
Republicans, where are you?! Hmmmmm...nothing. Yoohoo, anyone there?
3
Great news. Trumism (or Bannonism) is falling.
Mr. Meuller is an American hero and should have his portrait carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore.
Donald Trump is an American disgrace and should have his portrait forever memorialized in a mugshot.
40
What happens when Trump fires Sessions, Rosenstein, Mueller and Wray and pardons his family and friends ?
3
@Blackmamba: A revolution!
4
Oh yeah, baby! Let the dominoes fall!
1
Now what?
Now Trump will disparage Manafort while potty-tweeting at 3 AM while sane Americans will add another champagne to the chiller and reschedule the party to end all parties to an earlier date.
8
To the authors of this article: can we make a bet? My bet is that this won't change anything.
To the Times Editors: Trump will be thankful to you. By filling your columns with the arcane legalistic maneuvers with which Mueller tries to overthrow his presidency you make sure that hardly anybody notices how ugly his policies really are.
3
I sniff a resignation due to ill health and a move to the Fla golf course.
7
Mr. Manafort should avoid accidents and stay away from Russian open windows and terraces.
7
With apologies to As Time Goes By's Herman Hupfeld
(and thanks to Larry Eisenberg):
You must remember this
A diss is not a diss
A lie is not a lie
The Trumpamental things apply
As crime grows high
And when I lie to you
I’ll swear I’m speaking true
Incessant “I, Me, My”
My base can't get enough though they’re
Ridiculi
How did this happen? I’m a head of state
Red-faced with passion, jealousy and hate
Some even say I’m evil incarnate
That’s fake news I decry
I rally under banners
Display my lack of manners
And ask myself should I
Rue Manafort or fire Mueller?
As crime piles high
7
Forget the dirt he's got on Trump, I want him to bring down Putin's criminal organizations!
Putin was terrified Clinton was going to cramp his crooked style, but it looks like Trump is gonna tank his whole outfit.
10
"Now what?" you ask
Buy stock in Depends.
The WH will be having them delivered by the truckload.
3
Justice hopefully. Vote everyone
2
Maybe no "witch hunt" can find a witch, but this one is sure convicting a lot of thieves, liars, traitors, spies and other criminals.
10
First news reported by Manafort to the Special Counsl has to do with Podesta taking money for the Democrats from the Russians.
2
A common sense, well expressed view of the law that no individuals, including the president and his campaign manager, are above its rule. Too bad attorneys like these do not receive nominations to the Supreme Court instead of the nut job currently before the Senate who apparently believes the president is far too busy to be investigated.
6
Is Manafort the anvil to Trump's flailing Wile E. Coyote?
Stay tuned. We'll be right back after this brief commercial break.
4
Manafort is now a penniless felon,
but still a nightmare for Trump,
and Jared, and Junior, and Stone.
4
With 3,000 lawsuits in 30 years, over 2 per week, every week, Trump is used to litigation. Trump started his career this way, after his $1,000,000,000 start from daddy, daddy's $14b bailout, and then daddy's $230 inheritance. Trump does not see truth, only winning and losing. Should he be ousted, after pitting one branch against 2 others, he will look to line his pockets, as he is doing now. I don't think he's going anywhere, without be forced to. It takes a nation to raise an idiot. We are his parents, and he wants us to bail him out. "Daddy! Daddy!!
3
Why won't Trump pardon Manafort? There is zero evidence that Trump is constrained by what is hard to justify politically.
He has lied five thousand times since in office. That's unjustifiable.
His own former personal private lawyer is on record implicating him in crimes involving hush money payments to a porn star and a playboy bunny because he needed both to cheat on his third wife. That's unjustifiable.
He tweets like a semi-literate nine-year old mean girl, bringing shame on his wife by turning her signature anti-cyber-bullying campaign into a joke. That's unjustifiable.
His son-in-law got hundreds of millions of dollars in loans after White House meetings with bankers, and the family has also cashed in vis-a-vis Chinese licenses and investors, not to mention the tax dollars sunk into Trump properties while he stays there. It's a kleptocracy, and that's unjustifiable.
It's also a kakistocracy. There is overwhelming evidence that the people Trump hired think he's an unhinged, unfit idiot and are stealing stuff off of his desk to protect the world from his deranged decisions -- and he doesn't notice it's missing. Being wildly incompetent is unjustifiable.
His performance in Helsinki was treasonous, and that's unjustifiable too.
Trump's supporters don't care about reality. The sole reason Trump won't pardon Manafort is if Trump is convinced the state charges would make a federal pardon futile.
2
That cracking sound ??? That’s the ice floe, breaking off. Soon Trump will be floating off to Sea, all alone, but wildly gesticulating and blaming Democrats. Guaranteed. Seriously.
7
@Phyliss Dalmatian Please add some gale force winds.
5
If ANY Senate Republicans have an ounce of integrity, they will help stabilize the country by refusing to confirm any judges nominated by this illegitimate president.
30
Old Yiddish saying :
And if your grandmother had wheels she'd be a trolley car.
7
@Barb Campbell
There is no ounce of integrity--there is NO integrity!
8
Should I start the popcorn now, or are we waiting for Jared and Don Jr to get here?
3
Thank you, Mr. Mueller!
But how will the Democratic and Republican low-information voters vote in 2018 and 2020?
Think how long it took the NY Times to advocate legalizing marijuana!
And that Obama did nothing regarding this for our dark-skinned compatriots!
(Did you know that the KKK was helping the Feds target the dark-skinned during the years of alcohol Prohibition?)
And that the Democrats brought us the war on Viet Nam!
It is the height of naivete to think that lack of discernment is only a Republican failing.
Think for yourself?
I'm sure Trump will tweet that "There oughta be a LAW against revealing stuff to federal prosecutors! UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!"
5
Dear God I love the rule of law! Jenny
5
I hope Manafort will also shed light on complicity with Russians by Republican members of Congress. Those traitors to democracy have been so silent, and there have been so many indications that they also received Russian money to win their elections. We already know the NRA is a Russia-financed organization. Just sayin’ - the rot runs deep.
7
This "stuff" is about to get real.
Mueller has donald "draft dodger" trump on the ropes.
Vote Hope
Drain the trump, drain the Senate, drain the house and drain the scotus
6
We might think that we are all guilty of something and this whole investigation might encourage many people to more openly confess to their sins in life.
This process of confession might be very good for the nation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take the Clintons. Why would they want to be back in the White House, after 8 years? We could go on and on, asking honest questions of politicians and of ourselves.
Perhaps, some day, people will thank Trump for waking up American to its sins and corruptions.
Here is to a "new birth of freedom" (Lincoln).
-------------------------------------------------------
G-d bless American! Thank you, Paul Manafort...
Another non event hyped by the Times. If Manafort really has a smoking gun he would have used that leverage before his first day in court. Sorry.
2
@Lilly not necessarily. Mueller needs to construct his case with care, tying up all loose ends and presenting an air-tight case to the American people.
4
Mueller has witches coming out the wazoo! trump, you have ranted about the witch hunt; now you may end up in their caldron.
2
Haiku
Manafort agrees
To work with Robert Mueller...
Hope trump shares same cell.
3
Of course no mention from this "crew" or NYT of how Manafort's cooperation will also reveal involvement of illegal Ukraine/Russian lobbying by Greg Craig, Obama administration counsel from Skadden Arps as well as Bill Clinton's personal attorney; or Tony Podesta, another full-on Clinton gangster.
At least the referral of those possible cases to federal prosecutors brings back an ounce of credibility to Mueller. Any remaining credibility would be restored by chasing down the Russian/Ukraine money laundering schemes of Hillary Clinton's state department, her husband, and their family foundation.
The famous photo of Trumpo the Clown doing the grip and grin with Billary at his third wedding says it all. These grifters are tied at the hip, and always have been.
1
We can only hope this is just the beginning of the end for Il Capo.
Looks like Trump's research into the limits and powers of the presidential pardon are going to accelerate this weekend. Does a pardon have to "specify the crime"? I.e., can Trump pardon, say, Don Jr. or even himself, for crimes left unspecified? That would be pretty useful (and pretty damning). I bet he gives it a shot.
1
@JFR Ford pardoned Nixon without specifying any crimes.
2
Whatever will the erstwhile mafia DONald do now?
All the president's crooks have pled guilty! Six of them so far.
Now Manafort is going to cooperate or flip.
Remember how the president disdains flippers?! Do you think DT still thinks Manafort is an "honorable man"?!
Rudy already had to delete part of his statement about Manafort. The part that said Manafort will tell the truth.
We don't know the outcome yet but I doubt if DT will be sleeping too well.
He'll have more time to tweet!
Six guilty pleas and counting.........!
1
Mr. Kavenaugh, we now know your worth to Mr. Trump.
13
I hope Manafort's evidence takes down all the swamp monsters, including Pence.
1
Hmmm.
Didn’t Guiliani say that Mueller personally told him the investigation would be over by Labor Day? Was Guiliani lying? Maybe he meant Labor Day 2020??
Didn’t Trump compliment Manafort for not folding unlike Cohen? Hahah!!!!
5
America elected a criminal as president.
Now let's get rid of him and put him where he belongs before he takes us all down with him.
11
Not a cheap suit.
2
"Poor white trash" has long been a demographic marker in the American experience.
How about "rich white trash" in the era of Trump?
10
How can the Trump Tower meeting be described as mysterious when every participant—including Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya—has testified extensively about the meeting to congressional committees?
Why does it matter if Donald Trump knew about the Trump Tower meeting in advance? Trump would not have violated any federal election laws if he had personally attended the meeting. He could have met with Vladimir Putin at Trump Tower without violating federal election law. Both Trump and Hillary Clinton met with heads of foreign governments during the campaign. They both met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City hotel rooms. Trump even flew to Mexico City to ask Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto to tone down his anti-Trump rhetoric.
It's all over.
1
You have to be a criminal attorney to predict Manafort would fold? Gee, you folks are really smart! Such legal prescience!
Manafort‘s a punk. And any non punk would fold.
The question is what took so long. I think I know. His defense team had to suck all the cash they could before the government took what was left (which seems to be substantial).
Hey everyone has to eat.
And hey, they did their best. Manafort did best the rap on eight counts. Now why, that’s a mystery.
2
Go Mueller!
I am Dutch so pardon my ignorance, but how is it that a man like Trump is still POTUS and is STILL allowed to appoint judges!? Sure, he hasn’t been found guilty of any crimes YET but the man is clearly an ignorant moronic criminal. What will it take to get rid of him? Setiously? This is crazy!
4
Finally, finally, finally, .......do you think Trump minions will believe Donald Trump is not Jesus Christ incarnate?
Manafort and Cohen surely have ample evidence of criminal actions by Trump. Trump will fight like hell to resist being subpoenaed or indicted. He will rely on the Supreme Court to save him from any consequences short of impeachment buy the House & conviction by the Senate.
Meanwhile, Trump's Republican enablers rush to push through the confirmation of a GOP political operative, while shielding Kavanaugh's record from a proper review. If there truly is respect for the rule of law, there should be no consideration of the Kavanaugh nomination until Mueller's investigation is complete.
Will the GOP, for once, put country ahead of party? There is about as much chance of that happening as there is Trump confessing to his crimes.
31
Mr. Mueller: thank you doing your job correctly and quietly. Thanks for being a tortoise instead of harebrained. You are a rockstar. Carry on.
217
For the umpteenth time, the NYT runs a column about the latest, greatest Mueller related-event that spells doom for Trump. Now it's someone who had, what, 3 months of contact with the now President during the 2016 campaign? Isn't it just possible that there is no grand conspiracy, no cover up, no obstruction?
12
@Chris -- possible, but now extremely unlikely ... depending on how "grand" you mean.
Mueller would not have prosecuted Manafort directly (instead referring him as was done for Cohen) without the knowledge that Manafort could help convict those above him ... and that's only Trump(s).
@Chris No, it is not. There is already substantial public evidence of conspiracy, cover up, and obstruction. I'd be willing to bet that Mueller has far more than what is known to the public. Nice try, though.
1
@Lee Harrison I would just note that CNN and the WSJ reported that Obama's chief counsel is now under consideration for prosecution and Tony Podesta has been for months for representing foreign entities without disclosing it. Manafort may reveal more about how the DC power brokers of both parties work with foreign governments and hence aid the influencing of the federal government than anything about Trump. That also may be Mueller's main focus at this time.
Click clack clunk. Hear that Mr. Trump? That is the sound of justice knocking in the hall as the dominoes of karma begin to fall. Sleep tight Mr. Trump.
5
Yesterday the President held a tweetstorm -- about Puerto Rico. And last night my local Sinclair-affiliated news station profiled several national news stories - the North Carolina hurricane, the gas explosions in Boston, etc. But not a single mention of the Manafort story.
This attempt to bury the news should be a front page story.
255
No evidence has been presented to the public regarding Trump criminal behavior. When--and if--such evidence is presented, it must be overwhelming. Otherwise the Republican leadership and Trump voters will not acknowledge a need for change, be it impeachment, recall, or criminal indictment.
If the evidence is commanding in breadth and scope, even Republican office holders will side against the President. Otherwise, they will not.
I do believe Mr Mueller is the man to organize such a prosecution. But...we're not there yet, despite the ominous clink of Cohen and Manafort dropping dimes.
45
@michael
' If the evidence is commanding in breadth and scope, even Republican office holders will side against the President.'
Only in your dreams. Key Republicans have shown utter and complete disregard for reasons of pure greed for power. They will have to be forced out of power. They made a deal with the devil, Faustus showed us there is no turning back. Into oblivion they must step.
6
@michael
Republican members of Congress will not begin to side against the President until Republican voters begin to side against the President. Full stop.
10
If Trump tries to pardon Manafort, and if it's shown that Trump issued the pardon to protect himself, the pardon is invalid. That would be tantamount to pardoning yourself, which by law is not allowed. For instance, when Ford pardoned Nixon, it had nothing to do with protecting Ford. So that one stands.
Since Donald Trump is only interested in what promotes himself, and since he only rewards loyalty to his most pathetic of lackeys -- even then with great condescension -- it's unlikely Trump would find any reason to do anything for anyone unless it would benefit himself. Including issuing a pardon. So if he's getting even the most basic competence from his legal counsel, there will be no pardon.
And since someone who cops a plea no longer has 5th Amendment rights, this could get real interesting real fast.
57
@Charlotte Amalie I don't think it has been tested yet whether a president can pardon himself; I am confident we will see that in the coming months.
@Charlotte Amalie
Your first paragraph reflects certainty about an area of law that is ambiguous and undecided.
What took him so long!? Perhaps Trump just tweeted one inanity too many, making Manafort finally realize Trump is no one's safety plan, not even Trump's.
6
@Chris
“What took him so long”
Knowing he would die before getting out of jail and that his family would be left with nothing. Maybe he has a conscious after all.
1
Thank you for your work Mr Bookbinder, Berke, Eisen and the team at CREW. It is deeply troubling that you are among the very few Republicans who place our Democracy and the Rule of Law above an incredibly disturbing hyper-partisanship that protects Trump, despite the fact that he surrounds himself with criminals and has possibly been compromised by Russian intelligence.
And with the emerging evidence that the NRA may have also funneled millions of dollars from the Russians to the GOP, there have to be more people concerned about what Manafort knows than just Trump. As a long-time Republican operative before he joined the Trump campaign, Manafort could well be the linchpin in this whole tangled web of deceit.
173
No one knows better than Manafort whether or not the Russians swung the election or changed votes. The question is, what does the US do if it turns out Trump is the not the legitimate president?
185
@Jane -- there is no remedy if it is merely that the Russians swung the election.
In the event that people in the Trump campaign or administration committed crimes they can be prosecuted or impeached -- but there cannot be any "do over."
5
@Jane - Alas, the writers of the US Constitution did not foresee an illegitimately elected president. I don't think there is a remedy other than impeachment.
4
@Jane So far there are no allegations of any voter fraud or ballot box tampering. The only allegations are that Russians bought a few hundred thousand dollars of FB ads and that they hacked the DNC server and arranged for Wikileaks to release real DNC emails. None of that violates election laws. None of it is new or surprising.
The US and Russia and formerly the USSR have been interfering in each other's internal politics for 75 years.
At each stage of this endless investigation, we hear there will be something conclusive. There never is. End it now.
13
@Mike Livingston - I realize it's frustrating for Trump supporters because Mueller doesn't tweet, leak, lie, hold boastful press conferences, etc. He issues indictments. It may be boring but that's the way the law works. Connecting all the dots is a long, complicated process. Try to be a little patient.
24
@Mike Livingston
We've heard Trump boasting about the loyalty of his cronies, and that they wouldn't flip on him. What I didn't hear Trump say was that he wasn't worried becuase they had nothing to offer in a flip. Why is that? Trump may not understand the perils he faces. He might acttually believe he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it. How delusional is that?
1
@Mike Livingston Who are you listening to? No one says that "there will be something conclusive" "at each stage of the investigation." Either you do not understand the process of an investigation or chose not to. If there are revelations during an investigation, it only lengthens an investigation and the possibility of it being more meaningful. Quite frankly, Manafort's cooperation agreement means that we are now at at the beginning of a whole new can of worms that will be opened as a result of Mueller and his team's efforts. We have to see where it goes. We have to understand what happened, and we need to bring to justice any offenders. To say that "there never is" something conclusive seems absurd in the face of Mr. Manafort's guilty plea to more than 20 criminal charges. As Toobin put it, Manafort was a virtual crime wave in and of himself. It seems now that there is a new beginning to the investigation in earnest, all of which points to the possibility of more wrongdoing exposed and being successfully adjudicated, but you are advocating for it to be ended. I understand, it must really hurt Trump voters to have all this being flaunted in their face. By now they must all feel like fools. To others, they have certainly appeared that way for quite a long time. However, it is never too late to wake up, but to advocate for it all to go away seems more like just another attempt at denial, mimicking the President's first line of defense for every mistake.
20
Despite the incessant attacks by Donald Trump and his Congressional enablers against the Constitution, the "rule of law" is holding. Whether or not the imminent seating of Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court will change all of that and provide President Trump the "Get Out of Jail Free" card that he desires remains to be seen. Those who support the Constitution can only hope the Paul Manafort will provide the incontrovertible evidence for both obstruction of justice and conspiracy with Russia in the 2016 election. The very fate of our democracy may rest on what Mr. Manafort knows. Let's hope he tells "the truth" as Rudy Giuliani first proclaimed and that "our long national nightmare is over." And, "our Constitution works."
13
I can't believe that the Democrats arranged for this plea to be announced on the eve of Trump's "big, wonderful, beautiful" response to Florence. The dishonest media is at it again. And Hillary must be involved somehow too!
3
@Phillip. Nonsense. Sec’y Clinton lost the election and is politically toast. Give it a rest. Mr. trump is the only person rsponsible for his personal, political and, possibly, criminal dilemma.
2
@Phillip -- don't forget Pelosi. It's all Pelosi.
1
Well-written piece by people who know. Let us hope their conclusion "no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice" applies to the president, and that he is removed from office. Only then can our resilient country breathe again, and rebuild.
16
Here is my scenario for how this thing plays out:
1. The Democrats take control of the House. Pelosi is elected Speaker.
2. After exhaustive hearings, the House passes articles of impeachment based on Mueller’s findings.
3. At the Senate trial the Republicans decide they would rather not go down with Trump’s ship, so they vote to remove him from office.
4. As his last official act, Trump pardons himself.
5. In keeping with the Faustian bargain he made to get the seat, Kavanaugh votes with the conservative majority to affirm Trump’s pardon of himself.
6. Pence becomes President and submits his proposed replacement to Congress. The Senate concurs, while the House declines.
7. By default, Nancy Pelosi becomes acting Vice President.
8. In the interest of “national unity,” Mitch McConnell invites Pence and Pelosi to dinner so they can “bury the hatchet.” He does, by poisoning them both (using the polonium he got from Putin).
9. McConnell’s first official act as President is to pardon himself.
15
@Douglas Evans
Sounds good. McConnell would never be elected, so he may take office but only until the next Special Council is appointed to look into his corruption deals with the NRA.
1
Why on earth would Trump have considered a pardon for a man he claims he barely knew and who had almost nothing to do with him since he had only worked with Trump's campaign 5 months?
And why is Trump so upset about Manafort's case in any way if there is nothing he says that could affect Trump?
Let's hope that Mueller finds out.
9
At the core of the most enduring principle of American democracy, that all men are created equal, is the equally fundamental belief that no person - no matter how rich or powerful or well connected - is above the law. Donald Trump and his Republican Party enablers thought they could avoid justice through coercion and intimidation, and false narratives, even accusing our country's most trusted intelligence and criminal justice officials of being part of a "Deep State" conspiracy. What's next? The 2018 election, when the aforesaid principles will be affirmed by the people of this great nation. Can't vote myself, being a resident of a US territory, but still proud as hell to be an American.
6
“Now, this is not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.”
- Winston Churchill
A primer on investigating a President:
June 17, 1972: “Plumbers” arrested in the Democratic National Committee Watergate Offices.
June 23, 1972: H.R. Haldeman recommends to Nixon they shut down FBI investigation. Nixon agrees.
September 15, 1972: Hunt, Liddy, and Watergate burglars are indicted.
February 28, 1973: Acting FBI Director Patrick Gray reveals he complied with an order from John Dean to provide daily updates to White House and that Dean “probably lied" to FBI.
April 6, 1973: John Dean begins cooperating.
April 27, 1973: Patrick Gray resigns for destroying files.
April 30, 1973: White House fires John Dean.
May 19, 1973: Independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox appointed.
June 3, 1973: John Dean tells investigators he discussed the cover-up with Nixon.
July 13, 1973: Alexander Butterfield reveals that Nixon’s conversations are recorded.
October 20, 1973: Nixon orders Cox fired.
November 1, 1973: Leon Jaworski is appointed new special prosecutor.
November 17, 1973: Nixon proclaims "I am not a crook"
March 1, 1974: Nixon named an unindicted co-conspirator.
March 4, 1974: Mitchell, Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Colson, Gordon C. Strachan, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson indicted.
April 16, 1974: Jaworski issues subpoena for White House tapes.
May 9, 1974: House Impeachment hearings begin.
August 9, 1974: Nixon resigns from office.
7
Cue the cries of "Witch Hunt!" and "waste of time, effort, taxpayer money" from all the trump supporters. The indictments, the guilty pleas, and the convictions Mueller has already obtained will mean nothing to them. And yet the wheels of justice grind on and in the end all of trump's gang will be ground under.
10
The nation could be heading toward the resignation of DJT as the Robert Mueller team of investigators build a methodical and proven case of corruption against this administration.
donald's rational will be to leave, avoiding charges that could lead to impeachment, then to rise up his base to the "witch hunt" theory, that took down their chosen leader. He will continue to feed the division in the country because that in turn feeds his narcissistic personality.
5
Now, with the cooperation of Messers Manafort, Cohen and Weisselberg, we can find out how much money Trump paid Putin for his election. Given the Me. Trump made a fortune laundering Russian money, it’s the ultimate quid pro quo: talk about the selling of the American presidency.
9
Bigger than Watergate. Thank you NY Times for shedding light on this scandal and showing America the way. A grateful people owe this newspaper a great debt of gratitude.
20
@Jean W. Griffith, we only wish NYT had this kind of "conscience" before the onset of the Iraq war. So unnecessary, such a waste and so many lives lost. NYT had its brains and head backwards.
2
I do oppose to the US idea of a plea bargain in which one offers to become a witness for a reduced or even suspended sentence.
Still, in this case the system works for Mueller.
So there is a chance that Trump will become more and more isolated as his former partners fall to the law.
But so what?
Trumps voters will always stick with him and what is the worst that can happen?
Well, Trump can always fire Mueller and end the prosecution in one big moment.
His fans will not mind and his voters and media support will even see this as fully acceptable way to free their idol from the perceived witch hunt.
Or, as countless of his predecessors have done, he will go to war and become a war president behind which the country is expected to stand in unison.
So the question is what will happen sooner: a new war or the firing of Mueller?
2
Mr. Manafort's capitulation may well be a reason for hope in an absolute sea of reasons for concern. But it is itself somewhat of a reason for concern. It will encourage craven political hacks such as Sen. Graham to - even more - play both sides against the middle and dodge any real break with Mr. Trump. It will encourage the fearful and timid among us to continue to sit on their hands. Bob's got this, no need to get involved. The popular image of Mr. Mueller as a strong, silent, almost mythical hero on his gray horse coming to slay the Dragon in Trump's ongoing reality opera is perhaps our biggest reason for concern.
2
Of course Mr. Trump is considering the heights from which Mr. Manafort has fallen, that's why he's gong to use Don Jr. to cushion his fall. The most salient prediction about the Mueller investigation maybe "He's saving his pardons for the children." First the President lands on Don Jr. and then he pardons him.
1
Another supposed bombshell that will fade into nothingness as people realize none of the things Manafort pled to have anything to do with collusion with Russia. Speculation about what Manafort will say will give way to the realization that nothing he can say will implicate Don Jr or Jared in anything criminal. Even if the whole Trump tower meeting was about getting dirt on Hillary, that itself is not illegal.
2
@Caleb Mars Money laundering for Russian mobsters is a Federal crime. The election collusion is a small piece of an ongoing criminal conspiracy, stretching back years. Any “dirt” on Hillary came from Russian government crimes. Any American who thinks any of this is OK is, at best, a fool.
2
@Caleb Mars
We shall see.
Will be interesting to see how this development is viewed by the enabling Republicans who have failed to check this president and obstructed any meaningful oversight of this administration. At some point, you would think that they will see that it is not in their personal, long term interest to continue their support for the Trump administration’s corruption and lies. Of course, they fear Hannity, Rush and the rest who have supplied them with 24/7 cover and a voting block of fear and hate folks that have taken over what used to be the Republican party. If this democracy survives this administration, we have a lot to thank Mueller for. A true hero.
22
Gentlemen, this is an encouraging article and I hope only the first of many. You wrote, "A quick pardon was always a long shot. It would be hard for Mr. Trump to justify politically, even given his willingness to use the pardon power with seeming abandon." I agree with you but in desperation, Trump might consider pardoning Manafort and firing Mueller. How desperate will he become? It would place the Republican Congress on the burner along with the president.
Most interesting to me is the timing and how this will play out in the coming elections. Between books and editorials, the water is becoming very murky.
16
@Cone
"Trump might consider pardoning Manafort and firing Mueller."
Yes, but Manafort also faces charges at the state level, which Trump can't pardon. Thus, even if Trump pardons Manafort, Manafort doesn't gain much of anything, whereas if Manafort cooperates with the federal prosecutors, the state prosecutors might go lighter on him. So, there's still pressure for Manafort to squeal like a pig.
1
@Cone
“first of many”? it’s at least the seventh
Manafort also knows a great deal about Putin's attempts to control the politics of the Ukraine -- about the oligarchs who operated as Putin's stooges, and probably about the role of the GRU and FSB. He certainly knows a few things about Russian money laundering through Deutsche Bank and the Bank of Cyprus. So if, as some suspect, Trump got tangled up with Russian intelligence years ago (not in 2016) Manafort could be a crucial witness to his recruitment. The Mueller investigation is about treason, not just campaign finance violations.
33
Since Manafort must forfeit his Trump Tower apartment as part of his plea deal perhaps we will soon learn what laundered money Manafort used to pay for it, who transferred it, where it came from, what Manafort did to get it, how much Trump's business got selling it, how much over fair market value Manafort paid, and whether Trump's business kicked back any excess to Manafort.
Follow the money, Mr. Mueller!
22
@allan slipher
Somehow, I think Mr. Mueller knows exactly what to follow, as well as exactly what he is doing.
Your advice is good, but totally unnecessary.
1
@allan slipher
Somehow I think Mr. Mueller knows what to follow, as well as exactly what he is doing.
1
There will be a lot to be mined from Manafort's cooperation. I am so grateful we have Mueller's steady approach to this investigation.
This smells fishy. I think Trump just wants to avoid a trial too close to the elections. If Manafort was really a danger, if they had not coordinated his, Trump would be having a meltdown.
2
@Covert
He will, itis only Saturday
1
A crucial fact is overlooked here. If Manafort is to testify against Trump, Mueller will have to argue that Manafort is credible. That is a tall order.
Don't f forget: on June 15th, Mueller argued that Manafort had tampered with two government witnesses. The judge was convinced by the argument and revoked Manafort's bail. So, three months ago, Mueller argued that Manafort was a shameless scoundrel. Now, if Manafort testifies in any proceeding against Trump, the government will surely argue that he is a fully reformed shameless scoundrel.
If Mueller can pull that one off, he will prove himself to be the greatest prosecutor in the history of the universe.
4
@michjas
Muller will have many witnesses to collaborate the same evidence, now that Manafort has turned, others will follow.
For all of us who believe in justice, this is a good beginning.
26
@michjas Manfort's best character witness is the President who describes Manafort as a brave and honorable man. Of course the President could change his mind.
5
@michjas
Keep this fact in mind - Mueller will not accept any information from Manafort unless Manafort can prove it. No prosecutor would. And given how everybody who deals with trump keeps detailed notes or records it, I'm guess that he can prove anything he says.
8
A role reversal where your male sibling was gnashing his teeth over Watergate and you were trying to divert him with a new pair of colorful socks? This was donkey-years ago, and now he keeps his opinion up his sleeve. He remains ashen when the word 'taxes' is not in his favor and slipped once in making a trenchant observation about our president.
'Now what?' is a question perhaps best asked of those of us who voted for Trump. I can only listen to the decent hard-working republican who was in Astoria on 9/11 and spent three weeks on the site of what is now Ground Zero, wearing a hard blue helmet and working to restore power. He seethes on hearing the word 'liberal' or 'progressive'.
Whether he is looking somber over the re-election of Cuomo, I do not know, but as to the folding of Manafort, he is going to try to place the blame on the democrats, or launch into politicians are all a bunch of crooks and criminals.
Hush for those of us who care, let the Special Counsel continue his work. It may be one step forward, and two backward, but the road to justice is in sight, accompanied by the long arm of the law.
7
When President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, he announced that "our long, national nightmare is over" and put an official end to Watergate. Manafort's flip won't end our national nightmare but it sure looks like there's light at the end of this long tunnel.
21
Appreciate the insights, guys. Thank you.
It remains to be seen if our president is above the law, however, no matter what Manafort has to confess or how deeply complicit Donald is. Even as evidence mounts against Trump, his SC nominee, Kavanaugh, will be the president's ace-in-the-hole ready and willing to protect trump from himself. That scares me; it should scare all of us.
23
The American justice system, and real journalism, will eventually uncover the truth of this ugly and corrupt administration. Thank you to the writers of this piece for cogent analysis.
McConnell and the rest of the Republican collaborators should remember what happened to Mussolini's supporters. Then again, they can always blame Hillary, in collusion with Elvis and space aliens. And Benghazi. They'll always have Benghazi.
48
More and more it appears that the Trump campaign was a vehicle for international criminal enterprises.
54
After the Manafort flip, Donald Trump needs an exit strategy, preferably one where he doesn’t end up in the “orange jumpsuit” his former lawyer suggested as a possibility. He doesn’t want to slink away with his tail between his legs like Nixon. His narcissism could not tolerate the attacks to his ego that impeachment, or God forbid the 25th Amendment, would bring. No, Trump needs to do it “his way.”
So, shortly after the midterms, President Trump gives a national prime time address to the nation in which he announces that his work in the White House is “Mission Accomplished.” He has “drained the swamp”, fixed the economy, cut taxes for the wealthy, appointed ultra-conservative right wing judges, eliminated stifling regulations, and insured world peace.
Trump announces he is leaving the Oval Office to pursue a lucrative five-year deal with the Fox network to produce and star in "Keeping Up with the Trumps", a reality show giving us a behind the scenes look at a uniquely dysfunctional American family. Fox News will also sign Trump to a semi-regular early morning show, "Bible Tweets with Brother Donald", where the former president will share his favorite scriptures, wacky conspiracy theories, and white nationalist dogma.
Or, on a more serious note, Trump could start a thermonuclear war in which all of us exit with him.
Vote! Tell your elected representatives exactly how you feel about the chaos surrounding us and their action (or inaction) in ending it.
35
"But most important, for the American people, today’s outcome is further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice."
Noah, Barry and Norman are a bit "effusive." Unequal justice, just like income inequality is baked into today's America. Lets not get ahead of ourselves. There is hard work to do and it starts with voting and turning out the quislings in Congress. A progressive tide can effect a great change.
11
Manafort has been a known commodity for decades in Washington and around the world. He's amassed a fortune assisting despots and oligarchs to powerful positions in their countries and he's been richly rewarded. Manafort's connections to underworld, sleazy characters is no surprise His connections with Russia have been methodically documented. He has had corruption as his middle name for a very long time. To further highlight his trail of misdeeds, I suggest watching "Active Measures". Manafort is the guy they call when they want results. If he's not solely one of Putin's point men, then manafort is acting as a double agent. Additionally, Manafort has worked for trump. They are both deeply embedded and indebted to Vladimir Putin. Prosecution and indictments for treason will be richly deserved and can't happen soon enough.
18
@Cecilia
I'm sure Mr. Mueller will not rely on any info from Manafort for which he does not have strong corroborating evidence. He can also use Manafort to tell him where to look, because Manafort certainly knows where all the bodies are buried.
The Manafort plea is bad for Trump. But a second Manafort trial would have been worse. At least this way, the Manafort issue will fade into the background as the midterms approach. If there had been a trial, then we would have been hearing daily testimony about Manafort's treasonous lobbying for foreign enemy governments smack in the middle of the midterm campaign season.
One almost wonders if Trump slipped Manafort a note telling him to plead guilty, and sit tight for a post-midterm pardon.
2
As we know trump does not read or take instruction well but he would do well to study the fall of Nixon. As Nixon learned the more he lied and tried to cover up the truth the deeper a hole he dug for himself. As we use to say when I was a kid "I'd say by now trump is half the way to China".
7
"They called him fortunate, and now
what storms are beating round his head?
Call no man fortunate who is not dead.
The dead can feel no pain."
Sophocles was right. Self-blinded by hubris, the powerful fall. Perhaps the plagues they bring will pass... but history suggests not. A moment of silence, please, and pity, and some terror at the limitless human capacity for destruction.
12
Deja vu, Watergate all over, every day a new revelation with Nixon, I mean Trump desperately trying to cling on to power.
I think the republican establishment will dump Trump once they realise he is a liability and his support base keeps dwindling.
2
@Joseph B
But are not the members of the republican establishment complicit in their full support of Trump's actions, especially those going against our Constitution and laws?
5
Trump's ignominious end was preordained when he decended his brass plated elevator. Now, for the good of the country and all future presidents, that Donald Trump be made an example of.
This is not a time for thoughts of redemption. This is a time to administer a punishment so severe that no elected official would ever attempt to emulate him.
19
@sunrise
For there to be any real justice, the party who has supported him to get their political objectives in place should be dealt a similar blow. Otherwise, they can always find another Trump to do their bidding.
2
This is not just another nail in Trump's coffin. This is the golden spike. There will be no requiem for Trump.
5
"Now what" has a very simple answer: one or more Trumps are in very serious trouble. It may be Donnie Jr -- he may be on the road to jail. It may also be the President, with evidence that will lead toward impeachment.
Mueller MUST have other evidence, convincing evidence that rises at least to the level of probable cause, that prosecutable crimes within his investigative charter occurred, for which Manafort can supply evidence (and likely participated).
If this were not true, then Mueller would have referred Manafort's prosecution, as he did Cohen's.
Putting it more bluntly, as everybody ... starting with Judge Ellis III stated: the only reason Mueller's team was prosecuting Manfort directly was to coerce his testimony, to acts of Russian interference.
This is entirely legal, commonly the way RICO is prosecuted, the way Mueller prosecuted Enron: convicting Fastow and his wife, using Fastow's testimony to convict Lay and Skilling.
The only people above Manafort were Trumps.
Remember folks, Flynn has not testified yet, nor does public know what deal Flynn was offering the Russians that he lied to Pence about ... though apparently every government in the world knows.
Little Donnie said he knows what he did and he's not worried about going to jail. I think that the odds of him being indicted just went to nearly 100%. There is no reason for Manafort to get plea bargain with testimony condition unless there will be further indictments.
Fasten your seatbelts.
13
Once Trump departs, it's going to take excruciatingly long to undo the damage he's done to our children, our immigrants and refugees, our minorities, our less fortunate, our poor, our sickly, and our environment. Until then, it currently gives great pleasure observing him twisting in the wind.
15
S-CREW them and bring back (law + order) to our helm.
Congrats to the three authors for eloquently described a complex case + consequences to us laymen.
11
Trump doesn't "study" anything. When the tweet storm finally comes, it will be interesting, to say the least. But it won't reflect anything that could be described as "thought."
20
Question for these authors: Even if Manafort has agreed to truthfully, completely, and forthrightly answer the special counsel's questions--is there anything that can prevent him or his lawyers from disclosing what they learn from the Mueller investigation to Trump's lawyers?
7
@Ann
A. What would they learn, other than what the questions are that Mueller wants answered?
B. At this point, what advantage would be gained by Manafort for disclosing anything to Trump or his lawyers?
1
Selective justice and the application of prosecutorial powers for overtly political ends should never be confused with actual justice.
While countless hordes of mid to large scale dealers in corruption and tax evasion merrily go about their business a very select few are held to account based on their singular sin of having worked for Trump.
It all makes sense from a political viewpoint. His ability to create enemies is Trump's greatest talent and bringing the man down is a priority hard to argue with. But nothing else is going on here that is anything but enlisting the law to serve political ends. Wound or even destroy Trump by all means, but don't have the contempt for justice to be proud of this grubby process.
3
True that this came to prosecutors attention because of Manafort’s association with Trump , nevertheless the man has defrauded the US taxpayers out of millions and has ignored the law. Are you saying he should go free because others are not prosecuted for doing same crimes?
63
@Stewart- People throw the phrase "political ends" around. Hoky smoke, the whole thing is political and there ain't nothing wrong with that.
1
@Stewart
Sure, plenty of people cheat on their tax returns and they hurt the rest of us be not paying their share. There are also a lot of people that jaywalk and park illegally without getting tickets. Should we abandon all parking laws because of it? It is one thing to cheat on your taxes, but when you work to corrupt the fair politcal process of the nation, there isn't a book heavy enough to throw at you.
9
Robert S. Mueller, American Hero.
81
@Lance Jencks, Jeez we are tired of heroes. because one's hero is another's villain. What we need is a person with conscience, free of politics and malicious motives, who is able to think clearly of what is at stake for the country as a whole (not a country labeled as Republicans democrats independents legals illegals).
1
Wait.
"...they too may end up cooperating and further strengthening the case that Mr. Mueller is seeking to build."
I'm no Trump apologist; in fact, friends and others consider me a contagious carrier of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). But the above from this article stopped me cold.
Guys, Mueller isn't and shouldn't be seeking to 'build' anything. His job is to assemble the evidence and determine whether laws have been broken, and if so by whom. And then prosecute.
But I hope and expect he went into it with an open mind, determined to let the evidence dictate the path, rather than having conclusions already formed and seeking to prove them. I haven't seen anything to persuade me he's a political hitman, but your unfortunate and awkward formulation was a mistake.
5
His actions thus far have shown he is simply investigating and bringing crimson charges where probable cause exists ( or referring them to other office staff to prosecute).
10
@Andrew S. You may not have noticed, but this investigation has been going on for quite a while and has assembled a great deal of evidence and testimony. It would hardly be surprising at this point to be building a case.
In fact, for the prosecutor to agree to this deal, Manafort would have to have indicated what he has to offer.
14
I'm honestly not sure what you think prosecuting is if not building cases. Assembling evidence is itself building cases. Developing a timeline is building a case. Compiling corroboration is building a case. Obtaining witness cooperation is building a case. Without building cases, there is no such thing as prosecution.
21
Is it possible that this deal was agreement was reached earlier but not diclosed in the hope of catching Trump making some sort of reassuring or compromising communication with "not breaking" Manafort ?
6
@Robert Holmen No.
Anyway, Trump may be bared from pardoning Manafort via the impeachment and the 2002 statute.
Manafort's decision was courageous. Trump doesn't deserve blind loyalty from his aides. Trump has been obsessed by evil force, and ceased to act as a respondsible elected president.
4
It is probably time to fire someone or revoke their security clearance. There has just been too much negative news about this president for this president to tolerate. A major distraction is essential. Maybe he could fire Jeff Sessions? Propose a new tax cut? Declare war on Bermuda?
Something! Anything!!
10
It's been mainstream/reliably reported that the two GRU-related Russian intelligence operatives most responsible for Manafort contacts were both promoted very shortly after Manafort became Chair of the Trump Campaign.
Both of these individuals have only just gone 'underground', to use spy parlance. They're trying to get back to Putin's Russia before being detained.
Finding these guys is most certainly a huge "Now What?" and not just for Mr. Mueller. You had better believe the GRU which birthed Putin wants these guys too, dead or alive.
7
@traveling wilbury-Important points, as 9 prominent Russians have met with mysterious deaths since Trump gained office and the Steele Dossier findings were made public.
6
"Now What?" -- Probably nothing much. Mueller's investigation will continue to drag on and the current inhabitant of the White House will continue making crazy pronouncements verbally and electronically.
1
Perhaps the angelic and ever-pure Mr. Pence will be swept up in the Mueller cleanse? The V.P's proclamations of innocence and/or ignorance of the lies and corruption in his midst have never seemed realistic.
32
@Lily-Important to note that Mr. Manafort suggested Mike Pence to Trump as his VP pick. "CBS News reported that Pence was Manafort's "first choice" and that Manafort even lied about mechanical problems on Trump's plane to make the soon-to-be GOP nominee stay an extra day in Indiana to get to know Pence. In a phone call, Manafort assured Trump that Pence was the right choice and made a case that won over the real estate tycoon."
https://www.newsweek.com/mike-pence-was-handpicked-paul-manafort-696412
5
Although Manafort has severe credibility issues, I have complete faith in the the Great Mueller's ability to separate truth from fiction and back it up with solid evidence.
We need to wipe this regime and all its congressional supporters from our Govt. ASAP and power wash with new people, new election regulations and rules and get big money out of politics.
12
@Margaret
You begin with the Republican mantra "Mueller has severe credibility issues" Why? He doesn't
the game isn't over yet. The man demanding wild actions, according to Woodward's book, may decide that he can just fire Mueller and ride out the criticism.
5
We are now getting very near the end for Mr. Mueller`s long and winding road to the Truth. It seems to me only 3 possible outcomes as it stands now. One; that Trump amazingly is not guilty of collusion, obstruction of justice, money laundering, or any other high crime . Two; he is guilty but Mueller will not seek indictment as long as Trump retains the temporary title of President and remains in his White House bunker. Three; he will be Impeached, Resigns, Indicted or a combination of each. Of course the fact is this was always going to come down to these outcomes from the beginning. What is new is the MOUNTAIN of evidence that Robert Mueller has now meticulously accumulated over close to 2 years. Bottom line; the clock is ticking louder and louder on how much longer it will be for the whole world to know what Mueller now knows. How many truly believe after 2 years it will be Outcome# One? No one I know.
6
A few questions:
Will any of this lead to Criminal Charges against
Trump in a State Court ?
If not, and the Congress refuses to remove Trump
via Impeachment, what can the Federal Courts do ?
If Trump refuses to be interviewed by Mueller - what then ?
If Trump is indicted but declines to appear at the Arraignment and/or Trial - what can a Federal Judge do ?
What if the Secret Service refuses to allow any Federal Marshall near Trump ?
Can Trump step aside for a day as President, via the 25th Amendment, with then President Pence pardoning Trump, with Trump, then, resuming the responsibilities of the Office of the President ?
Can anyone answer these questions ?
1
@John Brown --
What "this" are you talking about re state courts? Manafort's testimony? Unlikely. I think it probable Mueller will indict Donald Trump Jr., and supply evidence for impeaching the President.
If Congress refuses to remove Trump, the federal courts probably can do nothing until he is out of office. The question of whether he can be indicted is not settled. He clearly could be prosecuted in either state or federal courts once out of office.
Trump cannot use Pence to pardon him while retaining office. Trump thinks he could simply pardon himself. I do not think that the American people or Congress would stand for that -- I think he would be impeached and removed for attempting to do so. I would hope the Supreme Court would rule it unconstitutional as well.
10
@Lee Harrison
I was thinking of the Pardon Power of the
President, be it Trump or Pence, in terms of
an indictment by a State. So while, as unlikely as you may think it will happen -
if Trump is pardoned, either by himself
or by Pence, he would still have to possibly face State charges.
If Trump steps aside, via the 25th Amendment, for a day, and Pence pardons
him during the interregnum, and Trump becomes the active President again, what can anyone do ?
How can Pence be impeached for doing what the Constitution clearly allows the acting President to do ?
On what grounds can the Supreme Court
rule that Trump pardon - of himself, or via
Pence is Unconstitutional - where does the Constitution clearly prohibit such an action ?
It just seems far more possibly convoluted than Bookbinder, Berke and Elsen seem to
believe - unless Congress moves to Impeach and votes to remove Trump.
Manafort will connect the dots.
And there are a lot of odd dots to connect.
Case for obstruction of justice easily made.
Next: collusion to throw the election through Russian hacking into Dem cell phone/computers brought to much more refined point at the least.
A circumstantial case of insurmountable persuasion will be made such that finally the American public, we the people, will be moved to do the right thing and impeach.
GOP's swan song is in the wind.
The vote is key. The people need to know these details several weeks before the vote.
Let's move it along boys.
Kudus to Mueller and his crew. What prosecuters we have before us!.
Many kind thanks for saving America and it's sacred virtues.
17
The noose is tightening inexorably on the immense corruption and criminality of Donald Trump and his campaign. I strongly feel that the President is not above the law and should be indicted like any other citizen if the evidence strongly implicates him.
I feel he was elected in a tainted election by a minority of voters and is totally illegitimate. I feel he has no mandate to pursue his hard right agenda that is vehemently opposed by a majority of Americans. It is such a violation of the principles of fairness in a democracy.
I am hopeful that justice will prevail with Trump and that he will have his day in a criminal court and face the consequences of his actions.
It would bolster our citizen’s belief that no one is above the law including a President!
57
"... trying to persuade a jury to ignore the strong evidence against him based on personal sympathies..."
Is it mean of me to giggle at this?
Are we to forget what other people have suffered so that old boy Paul could get rich? How lucky of him to have survived almost 70 years without getting punished for his deeds.
If he brings Trump down, then I might feel just a tiny itty bit of sympathy...but Paul must go to prison to deter others.
6
"But most important, for the American people, today's outcome is proof that no one -no matter how important or powerful- is immune from justice." Let's hope the, soon to be five, conservative justices on the Supreme Court agree with you three. So far one of them, Kavanaugh, appears to think the President shouldn't even be distracted by these indictments. Which is a pity since there seems to be more criminals in Trump's orbit than in MS13.
22
Manafort providing details on the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting could mean clarity on the actions of both Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr. That could both substantially aid the Mueller investigation and provide major agita for President Trump. Things are about to get very interesting...
15
@Julie Karns -- this is far beyond "major agita."
There was no reason for Mueller's team to prosecute Manafort (as opposed to referring these crimes as they did for Cohen's) except to obtain his testimony and evidence to prosecute higher-ups.
Manafort has caved, everybody knew he would.
The Trump's should think about Mueller's prosecution of Enron. Fastow (and his wife!) were convicted, and Fastow's testimony convicted Lay and Skilling.
Lay died of a heart attack shortly after conviction. Skilling is still in jail, with years to serve.
You notice the silence of all of the Trump supporters we usually see (or are they bots?) There's no way to spin this. Manafort is going to testify against Trump(s) ... Donald Jr. is clearly the most vulnerable, and he (and or Jared) could be indicted.
The interesting question now is could Trump "pull a Christie?" Could he survive in office if his son is indicted and convicted ... given his obvious cover-up with the dictated fake explanation?
Would the house fail to impeach or the Senate refuse to remove?
2
Only the Trump fanatics and Republican Congress members constantly re-calculating their re-election chances can pretend there is "No Collusion! No Collusion!"
That Trump Tower meeting WILL be what brings down the Trump (dis-)organized crime ring.
Mueller's competence and brilliant strategizing is brick-by-brick pulling down the Trump foundation of claims this is a "witch hunt".
Anyone who has tied their fortunes to the Trump Train had best get off and meet with Mr. Mueller and his team.
9
I am giddy at this news. Yet, so sad our country is in this situation foisted on us by the most corrupt man to ever occupy the Oval.
Thank you Robert Mueller. So many citizens in this country would repay you in gold a million times over what Donald Trump own to gild his corrupt life. Most of us have only our heartfelt thanks, relief, and gratitude you cannot imagine. Hope it is enough.
19
Trump supporters can spin this any way they want, but it won't change the fact that Mueller is methodically grinding his way through all criminals, first with indictments, and then flipping them, as he gets closer and closer to the big prize. Next up, Sessions, Pence, and Trump's kids. Even the talking heads on the Trump channel at Fox are losing their enthusiasm for lying to protect the president.
10
As an enthusiastic student of American history, a characteristic of the American people and your system of government I've come to greatly admire is the willingness to be self-reflective, and when necessary, brutally honest and self-critical. This I think is why that, when bad decisions are made or crimes committed by those in power, the greater weight of the collective (legislative, executive, judiciary and citizenry) will eventually force a correction in a way that doesn't happen in most other countries, including in the free ones.
Slavery, isolationism, Vietnam, McCarthyism, civil rights, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Nixon are just a few of many examples. The un-peeling of the rotten onion by Mr Mueller and his team (and the many people of character across America who back them) to expose the core of political and other corruption, moral cowardice, hypocrisy and abuse of power for which Trump and his cronies represent just particularly odious layers, is just the latest high-profile example. Mistakes, abuses and outright criminality in the US might be monumental in scale and the corrections may be a long time coming, but we can all usually rely on the fact those corrections will eventually occur.
A quote credited to Winston Churchill that "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else" seems as true today as it ever was - and I hope it remains true. At least you get there eventually, unlike most others.
Good luck Mr Mueller.
473
@Ian.... You sure do really want to believe good things about the US. Well, how does Australia compare to your admiring view of America? Does it correct its faults--- and how many generations does it take?
You have universal health care for decades already, while the US still has millions uninsured, generations behind all developed countries. Too late for all the dead, the disabled, the bankrupt and poverty stricken, who for many years couldn't afford care.
And is there any other democracy with an elected leader comparable to Trump? It will take years to heal the damage he's causing. Better to have avoided it in the 1st place.
2
@Ian Your commentary certainly made me feel a lot better immediately. Then I remembered that even though most Americans want to do the right thing and as Churchill said will do it after we have tried everything else, we face formidable barriers to change, specifically due to the electoral college and the stacking of courts with lifetime judges, gerrymandering, and most egregiously Citizens United. The amendment process to overturn that ruling is extremely difficult to achieve as witnessed by our inability to get enough states to ratify the vastly popular Equal Rights Amendment. One fairly quick change we can make is to vigorously prosecute white collar crime through the various attorney generals; there needs to be not only the will to do this but monetary resources allocated to do so and that may happen sooner rather than later. However, we have an extremely daunting and long-haul task ahead to reclaim our democracy and to restore some sense of decency and fairness to our government and society.
2
@Ian
Thank you, Ian, for your confidence in us. Most of America is supportive of Mueller and his investigation; of course, none of us outside the justice system know him personally but he seems the direct antithesis of this president. We all wish him well and godspeed. I hope that we can renew our sense of who we are at the end of all of this.
2
Kudos to Mr. Mueller. It seems like he is the only Republican left in this country who still has a sense of decency and of respect for justice and the rule of law.
Congressional Republicans should be ashamed for still sticking with Don Corleone Trump.
12
Manafort's crimes has nothing to do with Trump. This won't matter. This is a distraction for the mid-terms. No one will be fooled by this.
1
@Geoff S. Got some money you want to bet on your opinion?
@Geoff S.
Sure.
@Geoff S. Sure thing. Trump hardly knows Don Jr or Jared Kushner. When Paulie provides the missing information about the Trump Tower meeting with Russian spies Sarah will remind everyone that his son and son in law have nothing to do with the president.
Yawn. A year and a half of media hype. The "walls [have been] closing in" on Trump for a year plus and one by one, the allegations have been dead ends. Carter Page, Papadopoulos, Flynn, etc are nothingburgers. Manafort has no credibility anyway and the idea that Mueller's investigation hinges on confessions of Russian interference from Manafort seems like a Hail Mary at this point, after investigation of dozens of witnesses, millions of documents and cooperation by Rick Gates etc. If it all comes down to the word of Manafort to provide some revelation, this whole process has been a media fueled joke. 16 months of smoking guns that weren't. Meanwhile the press keeps burying Richard Burr's statements that they still have no evidence of collusion between the campaign and the Russians. I guess that's inconvenient in the media's war against Trump and his supporters.
3
@TL
I also think Mueller should have invested time, instead, in investigating Clinton's pedophile ring at that pizza place. That would be the ticket.
Sure.
Sigh.
@TL Do you know what Mueller has on everybody? Have you ever heard the name Barbara Underwood? The key to Trump is his 30years of money laundering.
@TL "The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly small".
So what? As long as Republicans control either the House or the Senate NOTHING will happen to Donald Trump. Mueller could produce rock-solid evidence of a plan to turn over our nuclear codes to Putin in exchange for election interference and they would tut-tut like they did after the Access Hollywood tape came out and proceed to let him do whatever he wants. They have sold their souls and there’s no getting them back.
24
@Richard VOTE BLUE up and down the ballot. Kill the corruption by sending the GOP into the wilderness!
1
Let justice be done; whichever way it will fall.
3
Thank you, authors here and the NY Times, for this concise interpretation of the Manafort plea bargain, and its pertinence to the Mueller investigation. Manafort is about to spill "golden bupkes," and we can guess "Mister Out-of-Control Prezzy" is not a happy puppy. Nor his family, for that matter. I counted six properties in the Manafort give-away to the feds, all of them prime NYC real estate. And to think that these might pay for the entire Mueller investigation! #45 can no longer kvetch about a "costly witch hunt." An awful (how apropos an adjective) lot of witches are being rounded up, and as one prescient blogger has said, "they're flipping like pancakes at IHOP." Let's hope the batter gets fully utilized.
7
@MickNamVet
What do you think "bupkes" means?
Who's next? Jared and Junior are both culpable. To which will Mueller make an offer he cannot refuse? All the moose in Canada are hoping it’s Jared.
8
Mueller and his team are like the sappers in the days of castle sieges, tunneling quietly and out of sight, until the day the wall falls and the castle is sacked. He probably won't release his report until after the midterms in order to avoid accusations of election interference. The walls of trump's narcissism surround a bottomless pit of insecurity. We'll probably see those walls collapse, too, with trump looking like televangelist Jim Bakker crawling on all fours under the table at his sentencing years ago. Yes, that really happened.
9
Just out of curiosity, is the Government also providing Manafort with witness protection?
3
@Res Ipsa Loquitur -- are you suggesting that Trump would have Manafort bumped off?
1
@Res Ipsa Loquitur
...wondering the same about Michael Cohen - he's been pretty quiet for the past few days. Did he get some kind of 'phone call' ?
@Lee Harrison The Russians don't want Manafort talking. Manafort and family need protection from them.
Trump's minions and cohorts would seem to be setting some sort of record for garnering criminal convictions. I can't imagine why anybody would vote for such a crowd as leaders of the United States. Maybe Trump will be next and we can get on with some version of a normal life.
7
All evidence points to conspiracy to commit election fraud and obstruction of justice and yet we still hear crickets from the GOP. McConnell, Ryan and et al need to be impeached/prosecuted for collusion as well.
24
@Sheila The republicans will own it. We have to make sure that we have a democratic majority in November to do the feeding
2
@Sheila I say we let them escape to Russia which appears to be their mother land. Especially if they take Grassley, Graham and Hatch with them.
1
Mr. Trump has sought to control and manipulate people his entire life like they are chess pieces on his game board. He sees them a objects to be used and then discarded; and worse yet he thinks that since he's God's gift to the world he is entitled to do so like some Roman Emperor.
However this time he's been outmatched by someone with greater intelligence, more discipline and the full investigative resources of the US government. Mr. Trump you're no longer in the fake Apprentice board room this is the real world with real prosecutors not actors on a TV screen.
24
This country owes a great debt of gratitude to Special Counsel Mueller and his team. No matter the criticism and verbal threats from Trump, the Special Counsel continues to be steadfast and do its job. Also a thank you to Asst. Attorney General Rosenstein, he too has been under the gun from the President.
And a big “NO” thank you to the Republican House for whitewashing their ludicrous committee hearings. And another big "NO" thank you for both the Republican House and Senate for not providing a legal barrier for protecting the Special Counsel from this President and his Administration.
36
The only thing that will sink Trump is if Mueller can prove that Trump personally colluded with the Russians.
Teflon Trump will brush off all else. Trump should give Mueller a 6 month deadline. So far, this looks like a farce and has gone on long enough.
If there is any truth to the allegations of collusion, Mueller has had more than enough time to sniff it out and the American people deserve to know the status of the investigation by the half year mark of the Presidency.
2
@Jay Lincoln
Ken Starr took five years to find nothing related to the suspicions that led to his appointment. I wonder how it will play out when Donald Jr. or Jared is charged.
4
@Jay Lincoln
What about those tax returns? Let's see the tax returns and other financial records.
4
On what facts are you basing your opinion that the SC has had enough time to complete the investigation?
1
I don't doubt that Manafort knows a lot that is highly relevant to Mueller's investigation. But what is the nature of his evidence? Beyond what he remembers and is prepared to honestly testify to, what hard evidence does he have to hand over -- documents, emails, phone records, text messages, foreign bank accounts, etc.? That kind of evidence would be invaluable.
When Manafort was first being investigated, he very likely destroyed all that hard evidence, wiping his crooked slate clean as thoroughly as possible. That's an obvious step in his own defense, long before he was considering cooperating with Mueller.
So before Mueller made the agreement, would he know for certain what hard evidence Manafort could provide? Or is he simply relying on Manafort's memory, and testimony under oath? If the cooperative Manafort can only supply the latter, how much credibility will the admitted liar, fraudster and cheat have in testifying against others, including the President?
3
The Manafort plea is more than a bombshell - but what to compare it to? Perhaps the moment when Mr. Butterfield revealed the existence of Nixon's secret taping system. A game-changing moment of lip-smacking schadenfreude for the rest of us.
But Nixon did nothing on the scale of Manafort's cheating, lying, collusion and virtually inhuman and wasteful greedy self-dealing and smug swamp dwelling. A master criminal with bad taste, now stripped of his swagger and standing in the annals of evil above and beyond the others - Trump's entire cabinet and Gorka, Steve Miller, Bannon, Sanders, et al.
If you begin as farce you can't end as tragedy. Perhaps buffoonery is the most they can aspire to. Let Manafort show them the way, paved with golden gloss.
3
I wish so much did not depend on this one man and his effort. This Trump Republican Congress can stomach even criminality and treason in their president. They have abandoned their Constitutional oversight duties. They are foisting on the nation a Supreme Court justice who believes the president is above the rule of law. Now the basic decency and fundamental integrity of our democracy depend on a single man and his team--whose public service and professionalism have been exemplary. If, on the other hand, the midterms go to the Trump Republicans, then Mueller and consequently our democracy itself will be in jeopardy. The narcissistic demagogue and the Republicans agree, for different reasons, that their venture has become by necessity an apocalyptic one. They would burn the democracy to the ground.
49
@Robert
And that, Robert, is the real story here. How can a country move so close to the abyss, a party completely neglect its responsibilities, even more so support an obvious criminal president? The country depends on this one individual Mueller and his few assigned investigators!
It was in the making for years, decades, with systematic demagoguery, lying, dis-empowerment of the working, denigration of the government.
Trump is no accident.
5
@Robert: I agree with much of what you say, but let's remember that Mr. Mueller and his team have already started referring other criminal matters to other prosecutors, who have pursued convictions and plea agreements. As central and essential as Mr. Mueller and his team are, they aren't alone. And there are state attorneys general ready to take up the torch for crimes that fall under their states' jurisdictions. State crimes can't be pardoned by a US President.
2
I feel deep gratitude toward Noah Bookbinder, Norman Eisen and the other members of CREW who allege that our president is in violation of the emoluments clause, barring foreign government payments to U.S. officials. By refusing to divest himself of his business empire, CREW’s lawsuit alleges that Trump received emoulments from foreign states in the form of cash, loans and licensing arrangements and is therefore unconstitutional.
History will look favorably upon the efforts of CREW to expose our crooked president.
42
One other factor: Manafort's flip provides Trump with more incentive to make the big mistake and, against all advice, fire Mueller. That too would be evidence of how much Manafort knows.
6
The good old Deep Throat axiom from Watergate, “Follow the money,” has proven useful in the Mueller probe as well. The underlying thread, common to Manafort’s financial woes and the Trump organization’s assets, is Russian money. They are both indebted to Russian oligarchs. Manafort’s guilty plea pretty much confirms that Russia influenced “the amendment of the Republican National Committee platform on arming Ukraine.”
If we got to see Trump’s tax returns, we might very well understand why he is so soft on Russia. Trump Jr. publicly stated back in 2008, “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” Then there is that very suspicious deal where Trump sold a Palm Beach estate that he bought for $41 million to a Russian oligarch for $95 million only four years later. If Mueller followed Trump money, it might take him right inside the Kremlin.
Also, Manafort worked on Trump’s campaign for free. Now, he should be able to tell us why?
19
@Jack Nargundkar I highly recommend the movie "Active Measures" to you Here’s the trailer https://www.activemeasures.com/videos/
I am trying not to hold my breath,but truly, it cannot come soon enough: a presentation of solid evidence that our President has committed crimes against this country.
15
US Income tax evasion is the same as taking money from the US treasury. This is the same as politicians awarding no-bid contracts to political contributors at inflated prices which also results in taking money from the US treasury. US Tax laws require that US citizens pay taxes on money that is made in foreign nations, even if no activity to create that wealth is done in the USA.
Even if you believe that these provisions of the US tax code are not fair, you should face US prison for evasion of these provisions if you file false statements to the IRS.
No US citizen should ever be pardoned by any US President for US Tax Evasion.
If you want the benefits of US Citizenship then you must also comply with US laws, or you can renounce your US citizenship and leave the USA.
6
The Trump presidency has just moved from—allowing medical metaphors—critical to life support with Paul Manafort’s complete capitulation.
This development is , as the authors write, absolute vindication for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s painstaking efforts. What Devin Nunes—and many others of the president’s defenders on The Hill have steadfastly refused to consider is that this investigation is not supposed to be completed all in a moment. The mountains of evidence that Mr. Mueller has must be overwhelming to an astonishing degree. The threads of one lead find others and find others, almost as infinitude. These House Republicans have been saying that there’s nothing there and wish this would all go away. The Manafort drop demolishes that partisan hope. This is no “witch hunt” as the president has acidly described it and the hyenas and jackals snapping at the slow-moving probe now must consider that very real damage has been done—and will continue to be done—to the president’s claims of innocence and “no collusion.”
No right-thinking American wants a president impeached or removed from office on no proof of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” But if a president has crossed that ethical and criminal line, then he should be made to pay the greatest penalty that the law can levy.
For a party that historically identifies with “law and order,” it’s strange that they do not welcome this news and greatly fear what it may portend.
14
Mueller is the anti-thesis of Manafort and Trump: quiet, dignified, intelligent, full of integrity and thoroughness, and no need for the spotlight. Love him. Appreciate what he's doing. History will remember him well. The other two, not such much.
33
If Trump had a shred of honor, he would resign at once. As it is, we are in for a long ride...
7
Here in North Carolina, there may be plenty of bad news with Florence still grinding away, but the cooperation of Manafort with Mueller does bring a little sunshine to us. Continue investigating, Mr. Mueller...and Mr. President, just keep tweeting and talking.
41
If you look carefully at Mt. Rushmore, it would seem that there's a nice blank area upon which the countenance of Robert S. Mueller III would fit nicely.
And look perfectly at home with his neighbors...
10
Does the cooperation agreement survive if Trump issues a pardon or would a pardon not only get Manafort out of jail but release him from responsibilities to speak with Mueller?
And the dominoes fall, one by one. Couldn't happen to a "nicer" administration. Keep up the good work, Mr. Mueller!
6
The most immediate effect is a measure of justice for Manafort and the United States. Manafort is a criminal who must disgorge the profits of his crimes and pay s penalty. That alone justifies the Mueller investigation.
5
This is an example in real time which actually disputes the adage: The end does not justify the means. Regardless of the fact that Manafort may be agreeing to cooperate with Mr. Mueller to save himself from life imprisonment and that he is now broke, this man lacking in personal ethics and morality can now be instrumental in helping to rescue our democracy from the ridge of an abyss. The road may be circuitous, but people can redeem their souls after all.
Not so, I believe, for the man he protected for too long. Trump is beyond salvation. He is consumed by his own narcissism, lies, corruption, and other-worldly reality. He is the quintessential "illegal alien" to this nation's principles, its Constitution. But the job is not done yet, is it, as we continue to hope and pray? We still have to patiently wait. We still are faced with an intransigent and spineless Republican Congress which has lost its way. But I think that just maybe Lady Justice will be the victor sooner rather than later. This country, we Americans, are worthy of and deserve better.
10
@Kathy Lollock
Then at home and abroad, we Americans must vote. Let’s put the pressure on both the Congress and Presidency. If we are truly worthy of better, we’d better back up our hopes for the work of Mr. Mueller.
10
For Mueller to do his job he needs our support: vote to take over congress. With Democratic control, the Republicans will have no more use for Trump, and they will back Sessions, Rosenstein and forbid Trump to get away with pardons that obstruct justice.
However, if the Republicans retain control of congress, they will still find Trump useful, they will permit Sessions and Rosenstein to be fired, they will overlook boorish pardons and they will count their blessings that they can still mover their rapacious agenda forward. Indeed, when Mueller finishes his investigation and hands over a city-block size pallet of details, evidence, proof and documentation to a Republican congress, they will just ignore it.
We need to take control of congress if any of this is to ever go anywhere.
26
While this is certainly constructive, Trump and his constituents live in an inversely parallel universe. They will claim that the evidence that Manafort provides Mueller was fake documentation, scripted by Trump's enemies and proof, that the Deep State is against him. Facts, when they don't fit into his, and his constituents image of themselves are untrue and proof that he (and they) are being persecuted. Mueller is not a prosecutor but a persecutor and Trump and his constituents are martyrs. For them, this is a religious war between zealotry and government. Our good and constructive news is their call to arms.
2
My hopes and expectations for the Meuller investigation has gone way up. At this point, unless his report details every bit of Russian gangster activity and their relationship to Trump and the Republican party (and possibly the Democrats too), I will be sorely disappointed. Any interested outside party can clearly see the outline of these nefarious activities. We need and expect the Special Counsel to fill in all the nasty details. I believe money stolen from the Russian people has fueled much of the criminal activity throughout the world in the past ten years. Trump is just another beneficiary.
6
He would do well to study, but he's end stage now. Too late.
2
In antiquity, the Greeks had an image for all this: Nemesis the inescapable, daughter of implacable justice. She was retribution itself; the avenger of hubris. If you don’t know that story, Mr Trump, look it up: there’s a lot of wisdom in the old tales.
The ancients could have told you that what you hear behind you, getting ever closer, is the sound of her wings. Be warned, sir: you may have climbed high, but it’s a long way to fall.
16
Would this cooperation possibly include a reduced sentence on the charges for which he has been convicted? I ask the question because I truly don’t know. My guess is that the answer is “yes”.
Can’t wait for a Trump follow up tweet about his otherwise loyal “capo”. If Trump is silent, well, that’s pretty incriminating all by itself, given his earlier tweets praising this now-convicted criminal for his loyalty.
5
It is going to be a small miracle if Donnie Two Scoops doesn't end up in jail. He may be immune to prosecution while he is the occupant of The White House, but that's not going to last forever.
Nevertheless, it is probably safe to assume that the proverbial Sword of Damocles is hanging over the heads of Don Jr., Eric, Jared, and Ivanka and it's only a matter of time before it falls. Donnie will gladly sacrifice the boys, but one assumes that he will do *anything* to protect his beloved Ivanka.
7
@Perry Brown
Yeah, as long as it doesn't cost him too much
I was fishing at a pond with friends one August night in 1974, and we listened to Nixon's resignation speech on a radio. I wonder what I'll be doing when I hear Trump's.
23
@Harry Finch Sweet thought. I remember that speech too. When Trump has to give that speech, I think, even at my age I will be dancing in the streets!
7
@Harry Finch
Wherever you are Harry, you can be sure it will be
a) mostly rant,
b) an endless stream of non-sequiturs
c) grammatically impoverished
d) self-laudatory, and
e) SAD
That said, it should be deeply satisfying.
2
There is a truth to be found and told, regardless of attempts by those who would hide it, distort it, or deny it. Without the dedication to get at the truth, all manner of corruption goes unchecked. Keep going Mr. Mueller.
11
When Junior went on Fox friendly to explain the Trump Tower meeting he described it as a nothing burger, a waste of time, nothing came of it. He mentioned Jared just sat there saying nothing and Paul was so bored he was checking his messages on his phone. Two weeks later buried in another story about the meeting was the mention that Paul was keeping notes of the meeting on his phone. I guess we're about to find out what Paul was doing at that meeting.
22
“Now What?” With the Manafort guilty plea and his unlimited cooperation firmly in place, I think we have reached that point in the Mueller Investigation where it can be said, with some confidence, that the “beginning of the end” has now blessedly arrived. There will be an acceleration of plea and cooperation agreements from increasingly nervous Trump associates, coupled with the tightening of the prosecutorial noose on the Oval Office. Undoubtedly surprises await the American public, even of an astonishing nature. Will Trump Jr. and/or Kushner flip to incriminate the Fake President? History is on the march.
15
I beg to differ with the authors on one important point - especially for those of my generation - namely that President Nixon was seemingly immune from justice after his pardon by President Ford.
Yes, Ford had a number of really good reasons for doing so, but for many of us Nixon never got his just deserts. The Vietnam War dragged on because of Nixon. Many were killed as he sought to advance his political career. I will not forget.
26
@Silence Dogood I am from that generation and I agree. "I am not a crook!!"
1
I hope that Mueller has a foolproof way to manage the endgame for this. Neither he nor Trump are likely to do anything before Election Day. But after that, Trump will be unpredictable. Mueller needs to be able to produce a report that will make it to the public BEFORE Trump can replace Sessions and Rosenstein and have it all be buried. We can assume that the Republican Party would not resist even the most egregious obstruction of justice by this president.
19
Manafort's not like that weasel, Cohen. He's a great human being. He'll never flip!...….Manafort was a great human being. They made him flip!....Manafort's a weasel. I knew he'd flip!...Don, Jr. is a great human being! He...(to be continued)
#realdonaldtrumpfakepresident
34
If you believe that Trump's entanglement with the Russians, both government and organized crime/oligarchs, started long before the campaign, Manafort may turn out to be a less central figure than others like Michael Cohen and Michael Flynn, Jared Kushner and maybe members of Congress like Jeff Sessions. These guys during the campaign and transition were having a lot of contacts with Russian officials and lied about them (Sessions pretended he didn't recall under oath).
But Manafort obviously has something interesting to offer and Mueller would like to keep the details out of public view. The Trump
team can't fight what they don't know about the Mueller investigation.
20
I would have been nice if there had been some information in this opinion piece. Something that we don't already know. But, it's not news, not reporting, it's opinion: "Nobody is above the law."
That's very encouraging to know from the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Something. The only problem is that there's no responsibility and ethics in anything -- our government, big business, banks and credit card companies, home builders, for-profit vocational schools, private student lenders, the health insurance industry, the healthcare industry, the Catholic Church, used car salesmen -- and it's as plain as the nose on someone's face.
The comments here are more interesting and informative about what's going on in our country. It's interesting, for example, that so many people think that Trump is innocent of any wrong doing, even though all the evidence suggests the contrary, as do Mr. Trump's pronouncements and demeanor. He looks and sounds like a criminal who's trying to get away with something.
Even though we know that Flynn is a criminal, Papadopoulos, Cohen, Manafort -- they're all convicted felons -- but Mr. Trump is A-OK. Just ask him or the 33%.
Cognitive dissonance -- and George Orwell -- reign supreme. Vote...
37
@Midnight Scribe its in the opinion section
1
@Midnight Scribe
Convictions based on the way things look and sound are unjust on their face. That's how Emmet Till was convicted, Japanese Americans were interred, and witches were hung. In your effort to shortcut the impeachment of Trump, you violate every principle of justice. The first rule of fairness is that justice is blind. It does not glace to the left and the right to see if someone looks and sounds guilty.
1
I desperately wish we had a political system with more than two parties. This would be the end of the Republican machine in an instant, if "conservative" (whatever that means) Americans had somewhere else to go.
26
@Dan This wish for "more than two parties" gave us Ralph Nader and Jill Stein who, in turn, gave us George Bush and Donald Trump. Wake up! There are only two parties and you must choose the one most likely to preserve justice in this nation. And don't forget that "true conservatives" have almost entirely backed Trump. There is no such thing anymore as "true conservatives." From Nixon onward they (and many so-called "independents") have supported a Republican party that has catered to racists and fought for tax cuts for the rich, while decrying government "deficits" in order to wipe away the reforms of the Democrats' New Deal.
1
Desperate enough to, y'know, found one? Or just whine?
@Dan Ditto for the Democrats.
Mueller's task, via Rosenstein's order is to investigate any crime that he uncovers during the course of the investigation of Russian collusion and to prosecute same. Manafort's agreement means that any knowledge that he has about any criminality related to the Trump campaign is now to be given to Mueller's investigators. That means the interactions between Kushner, Don Jr. and the Russians and any knowledge that the President may have had of this meeting will now be corroborated. Additionally, any exposure they have to perjury, or obstruction charges may also be corroborated. The seizure of Manafort's properties and cash sends a clear message to the Trumps and to Kushner that any properties financed with laundered money are fair game for seizure, as are any profits accrued. If Trump and his family don't see where this is headed they haven't been paying attention. And if reader's of this column don't see where this investigation is headed then neither have they.
93
@Michael
The implications regarding the properties and gains for the Trumps and Kushners has to be a stunner, that will keep them awake at night.
10
Trump's attorneys are as incompetent as he is. Rudy Giuliani has made it perfectly clear from the get go that he will see to it that Trump will be tried on the court of public opinion. Giuliani thought that this was an area in which Trump could not lose. He also maintains that a sitting president cannot be indicted.
Well guess what Dr. Rudy. This is what happens when a person gets their degrees from Trump University. Donald Trump is losing your trial in the court of public opinion and he most definitely will be tried in a court of law.
Trump has everything to lose. His close relatives and associates are vulnerable to criminal prosecution. Trump may not be impeached because of the numbers, but he will be out of office in two years and at that time he will be subject to arrest as a private citizen. Did you think that far ahead Dr. Rudy?
Mr. Mueller is playing it correctly. He will wait until he is ready and for the House to flip to the Democrats. Then he has some backing. If Trump is not thrown out of office, and he will never resign because of his gigantic ego, then he will be without the protection of a Mike Pence Pardon in two years. In fact, since he now owns the GOP, he should win the primary for 2020.
In the meantime, the Mueller investigation will grind away and steadily degrade Trump's security. The best legal advice Dr. Rudy should give Trump is to move to Russia where he will be safe and well taken care of. Two more years and he's done.
79
@Bruce Rozenblit, you've done a great job of outlining where this may be going. The sense I got from 8th grade civics was that a sitting president could not be indicted; he was immune to pestering jay-walking tickets and so on, so as to prevent political opponents from playing games with him.
But this is less than a get-out-of-jail-free card, because of the huge control on a president’s misbehavior - the prospect that he can be impeached and removed from office if his offenses graduate to "high crimes and misdemeanors." With the shift of Mr. Manafort, here's one more question to consider, which to me is #1. What happens when the Mueller investigation concludes with a bunch of high quality evidence and a list of occasions in which now-President Trump clearly broke the law, both by collusion with the Russians and also obstruction of justice. This list could make the one that drove President Nixon out of office look petty by comparison.
What will the Congress, the Senate, and its individual members do then? Our Republican representatives have certainly been suffering from a serious lack of both integrity and fortitude. Their problem, of course, is they fear that if they turn on President Trump they could lose their lousy little jobs. But what if Director Mueller produces such a list? Do they pronounce it “fake news,” and hope for the best? What if this list is so convincing it finally starts to winnow away at President Trump’s 40% support?
Should be interesting—stay tuned!
3
@Bruce Rozenblit I highly recommend this film you. Here's the trailer https://www.activemeasures.com/videos/
Some yet-to-be specified period of time from now, this investigation will finally be over.
And at that time, it will be shown that Trump has been right all along, and that this has been nothing more than a partisan abuse of the justice system.
Not to suggest that lawbreakers go unpunished. If Manafort is guity, too bad for him.
But I, for one, do not trust Rod Rosenstein - at all. Nor any of the people who he has assigned to this effort. This includes Mueller, who I do believe has been an honest and upstanding person.
But, he willingly took part in an obvious political ploy, and because he was more concerned with the reputation of the FBI than with honesty and justice, he buried the facts of the activities of Strzok and Page, a sin from which he cannot be absolved.
@Objectivist claims that "this has been nothing more than a partisan abuse of the justice system" ... and given that Mr. Muller is a Republican, Objectivist obviously thinks that it's a "Republican partisan abuse".
One more strike against the formerly grand old party!
9
@Objectivist- It’s going to be such a shock to your system once Trump is convicted and your illusions and denial of the truth are shattered.
11
@Objectivist
and yet you seem to read/peruse the NYTimes. a nice attempt at deflection with the "yet to be specified period of time". it's an investigation. there is no time limit. nor should there be. as a patriotic american, you should be asking for the truth. that means, and i know this is hard, that people have to investigate. your issues with strzok and page have really nothing to do with the fact that this investigation keeps turning up GUILTY pleas. so you're talking out of both sides of your mouth: get the guilty pleas because you don't want to suggest that lawbreakers go unpunished, but not THESE lawbreakers.
10
Of course, the charges in the plea agreement may be irrelevant to the Special Counsel's investigation, but the nature of the charges (money laundering, tax fraud, etc) sound very much like the core business of the Trump Organization. I would not be surprised if the indictment documents for Mr. Trump read very much like those for Mr. Manafort.
67
I am not convinced that Manafort's cooperation would bring justice to Trump. Papadapolos cooperated but he mostly said, in public, that he could not recall (same answer as Sessions). Flynn's cooperation has remained muted, so, we have no idea what he could or could not recall (!). We shall see what Manafort will have remembered under oath.
14
One hopes the authors are right - i.e., "no one - no matter how important or powerful - is immune from justice." Given Donald Trump's prior pardon of the likes of Joe Arpaio, it seems that some people are immune from justice. That said, there seems to be a lot of storm clouds heading toward the kleptocrats in Trump's inner circle. A reckoning is going to come.
In any event, a lot of credit goes to Bob Mueller's perseverance and wisdom in negotiating a veritable minefield in service of justice. Thank you, Mr. Mueller, for your continued service to America.
111
Manafort didn't create the corruption we are now mired in all on his own. It would be foolish to believe that the lobbying industry only corrupted one side of the aisle or, for that matter, only the Trump part of the Republican party. When a nation becomes as corrupt as ours is now, it is usually the result of decades of accumulated rot.
Today's news saw the possibility that a former Obama White House attorney will be charged with a crime. Yesterday, Tony Podesta's name popped up in the news, and again this morning. His firm folded at the same time as Manafort's. Several lobbyists have testified against Manafort, some because they'd been tapped to work with him and realized later that Manafort was doing things they wanted no part of.
We've learned little about the movement of money to politicians and to Trump himself, as a result of Russian connections. Did Manafort facilitate some of those? What about Justice Kennedy's son? Why was he so kind to the Trumps when no other bank was willing to lend to them?
Then, there is the Russia connection. Manafort should be compelled to tell all there is to know about the political maneuvering end of it and how far up the chain there were contacts.
Lots of questions... Few answers so far.
===
Things Trump Did While You Weren’t Looking https://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2ZW
25
@Rima Regas
Perhaps Trump will drain the swamp after all! Just not in the way he intended.
1
I note that the authors assert that no one is "immune from justice". That's interesting -- a particularly lawyerly statement in its ambiguity.
The "law" while subject to interpretation in this age of "penumbra", nevertheless remains pretty much a definite thing. "Justice", on the other hand, depends very much for its validity on someone's perceptions, convictions and … interests.
5
@Richard Luettgen It's called the Dept of Justice, or the Justice Dept. Not the Department of Law.
@Richard Luettgen
Quoth Histah the Snake in a Garden of Eden that allows the culprit to choose his very own Justice.
In this case , a Justice that not only enjoys perfect vision but has already written voluminously about his protective stance towards an accused president. An adjective that will apply soon enough to the good judge's benefactor : His President and nominator to the High Court.
Now there is a real potpourri of perceptions , convictions ,,,and interests... of the swamp that is drowning both 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and vicariously , America.
2
@Richard Luettgen,
Even if the country abides by our constitution?
4
A wise lawyer familiar with how prosecutors thoughtfully and thoroughly work assured me a year ago that it is the lying that always brings these people down.
I just finished reading red card. This book describes the US based investigation that resulted in the end of the fifa organization as we all knew it. The only American on the fifa board also flipped. He was living in Trump
Tower while he skimmed vast amounts of money from soccer organizations.
red card could be a blue print for the investigation we are watching unfold now.
Kudos to our devoted and patriotic federal employees who don’t care at all who is in the Oval Office. They swore their allegiance to our great democracy which appears to be on its way to surviving even this tremendous attack.
147
When the GOP loses the House in the midterms, Trump will become especially vulnerable to Democratic censure as well as the fast closing Mueller investigation. I hope this means an early exit for Trump.
99
"...strengthening the case that Mr. Mueller is seeking to build." Wrong. What case? Mr. Mueller is NOT seeking to build a case. Mr. Mueller is seeking the truth. The authors are making an egregious assumption that there is a case to be made. If there is verifiable evidence linking Trump and Russia there is a case to be made. If there isn't verifiable evidence there is no case to be made. These kinds of "factual statements" just provide ammo to the right wing. Please stop.
56
@Chip Steiner
Chip,
You're just being silly. Trump is heavily financed by Russians, has sold a great deal of expensive real estate to Russians, has shown his girly show in Russia.
When he bared all before Putin in Helsinki it was a dance that put Stormy Daniels to shame.
Pull yourself together, Chip. You can do it. Here's your script. Something like "I was kinda tempted by Trump for a while, but when I thought about it I was really shocked by how many of my friends fell for his line." Being gulled by a con man is hard, but there are well-worn ways of lying your way out of your embarrassment.
1
"But ... for the American people, today’s outcome is further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice."
Not true. And I say this as one who has been an attorney for nearly forty years. The fact is, Trump is still very much above the law. With the seating of Kavanaugh, he will pay no price for dismissing Sessions, shutting down Mr. Mueller's investigation, and perhaps even pardoning himself. And this has been Trump's strategy all along.
Quite simply, our Constitution has no "fail safe" provisions to protect us from dictators such as Trump. These past two years have shown us that the Constitution is a badly broken honor system, with no penalties for those who do not meet their responsibilities. Republicans paid absolutely no price in refusing to consider Judge Gorsuch, and they will now approve the appointment of Kavanaugh while a sitting President is under investigation by the nation's highest law enforcement official.
So one may be very much above the law, as the Constitution is now written. There are no backstops, no defaults, that would have helped us avoid where we are now.
Manafort's plea means nothing to Trump. He will never pay the price for his crimes. As long as he is in office, he is untouchable, and he knows it. And he has a toadying Vice President who will surely pardon him after he leaves. And Trump and Congressional Republicans will make sure Mr. Mueller's investigation is buried - along with our democracy.
194
@Henry Hurt
You make excellent points (as usual) as to federal crimes, but the states will be waiting for Trump and his friends when he's out of office.
4
@Henry Hurt
Trump’s not smart enough to have an actual plan or to understand one if it were offered to him. The incoherent speech and dismal memory for facts or even consistent lies is a giveaway.
3
Agreed. My only hope is the state charges against the trumpino family, from which they cannot be pardoned.
2
After watching Active Measures twice last weekend (a must see), I can say that this will be very interesting indeed, given all the connections he had.
13
One of the things that heartens me, is that the uber-wealthy, with their very high profile, super wealthy attorneys, are being beaten by the middle class civil servant attorneys who've chosen to defend our country. This can't be an easy time for those folks - many thanks for your efforts, and tenaciousness...
775
@Sue, It would be pretty to think so.
It's sounding more and more like Manafort is fully cooperating, but I am holding my breath until it is true. Are we certain he must inform them about any crime he has knowledge of, or is this only pertaining to the evidence regarding his own charges?
18
Momentum = mass x velocity. Mr. Mueller mass in increasing exponentially (total mass of the evidence collected) and his velocity is increasing (the pace at which the investigation proceeds). Mr. Trump has that deer in the headlights look. Mr. Trump's mass seems to be up a fews kilos but his golf cart's top velocity is unchanged.
When these two bodies meet the amount of energy exchanged from Team Mueller to Team Trump hopefully will cause a massive acceleration out of politics and out of our lives for Donald and friends. Just give Mr. Mueller time to ensnare as much of gang as he can. When you pull out a tick, you want to get all of it.
167
"Mr. Trump would do well to study the heights from which his former top aide has fallen, and the depth of his plunge."
The unfortunate thing for Trump is that there is no one above him that he can plea deal to implicate. The bucks stops there, and so the depth of the plunge would be greater.
41
If Manafort's tease of information was sufficiently interesting to secure this deal, yes the president should be worried.
Suddenly the Witch Hunt" has produced its greatest witch. it also undermines what so many keep saying about Robert Mueller: he hasn't produced any evidence, if he had stuff, it would have leaked, yada yada yada.
Well, that argument fails because Mueller doesn't leak, and nobody on God's earth knows what Mueller has or doesn't have.
He also just happens to be a brilliant strategist, being patient enough to hold out for the big fish.
So here's the biggest question: what will Trump do now?
I'm betting he will do something terribly rash such as fire Sessions, Rosenstein, and Mueller--or all three.
Only then will we see if Congtess finally realizes they'd better they'd act-- well before the mid-terms.
226
@Christine
Won't happen - as far as republicans showing any backbone before the midterms. They have to get there guy on the bench, then it is full on campaign mode. (if not already)
After the midterms, with Democrats firmly in power (including the Senate), then we are essentially going to have hearing after hearing, with all possible efforts to reverse the damage done by this administration and President.
Not too soon ...
76
@ChristineMcM -- it's too late for the president to fire any of the three you mentioned. That would be obstruction of justice, plain and simple. Even Congressional Republicans would be up in arms against him for that.
36
@silver vibes
We have been hearing since the campaign started that "This time Trump has gone too far." There is nothing that Trump can do that will cause congressional republicans to do anything. They are terrified of him. He owns them. He owns the republican party.
1
The president has called Mr. Manafort a very nice man with a wonderful family. I wonder if this assessment will change in light of today's events.
90
@JR -- for all I know, Mr. Manafort may have "a very nice family." To the extent that Mr. Trump thinks "nice" = "rich from ill-gotten gains" we do know they are much poorer today.
1
Tho it has taken time, and probably even more time, thanks should be given to our fore-fathers who developed a government which allows justice to prevail; not without imperfections; but hopefully with "just cause." Whereas, we continue to enhance a government established on the separation of power, with the basis of government to have components working independently and cohesively; providing Americans to have the ability of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
15
@Blvd217
Please--the deep-swamp has allowed criminals like Bush and Cheney and their CIA fellows, e.g., Brennan and Clapper, to walk free, not to mention Obama's criminals Comey-Lynch conspiracy in "the matter". This is a Sovietized media, deep-swamp, and DNC-RNC Politburo coup, by another name--Dallas.
The Trump campaign's conspiracy with the Russians seems even more obvious today than it did yesterday. Trump isn't even arguing his innocence any longer, just looking for legal technicalities to try to save himself.
Now is the time for all law abiding Americans to demand justice, to demand that Trump cease and desist from interfering with this investigation.
If, beyond all evidence to the contrary, Trump was not involved, then he more than anyone else should want to see the investigation come to it's legitimate conclusion.
120
@Ronny
Trump's best option is to go with Vincent Gigante's bit. Half the country thinks he's unfit. Not much difference between dementia and treason. He'd look crazy in a bathrobe.
Agree completely. “its”not “it’s,” though.
It's good that Manafort is now cooperating, and hopefully will finally provide the "silver bullet" that takes down Trump. But the authors are a little premature in saying that the American people now have proof that no one is above the law. In fact, until Trump is indicted or impeached, this premise is shaky. Trump has not only thumbed his nose at the law - not just now but his entire life - but has rewarded others - Joe Arpaio, Dwight and Steven Hammond - for acting in contempt of the law. In fact, Trump serves as beacon of contempt for those who don't believe the law applies to them.
What we now have is exactly the opposite of what the Founders intended. Instead of a system where "All men are created equal", we have a system that rewards those with enough wealth and power to ignore the rules that apply to the rest of us. The current opinion that a sitting president can't be indicted flies in the face of our Founders' intent.
Charge ahead Mr. Mueller! Quicken your pace! The longer the Law Breaker In Chief remains in power, the longer he serves to encourage the open disregard of the rule of law.
364
Beyond the obvious specific campaign events of importance -- the 2016 Trump Tower meeting and massaging the party platform -- there is the whole intriguing question of exactly how and why Manafort suddenly emerged as Trump's unpaid campaign manager. The fact that he appears to have had a major debt then outstanding to a prominent Russian oligarch suggests that there was surely a significant payoff to him in some form, but just not directly from the Trump campaign.
Difficult jurisdictional issues for the Mueller team could arise in the context that both Trump's history of laundering Russian money and Manifort's services in monitoring Russian assets may date back decades and thus have come into existence long before the 2016 election events of current interest. A sought-after missing link that Manafort could provide may be information on the relationships and transactions that connect the ancient history of Trump money laundering to the more recent 2016 electoral cycle. If that linkage can be made, then the scope of the Mueller inquiry may legitimately be broadened to encompass the entire span of the Trump/Russia relationship.
134
@woofer
There is this curious nexus between American law firms and this illegal foreign tampering with elections, as well as stalking and silencing rape victims for their clients. How long has this been going on? I also have seen too much of Israeli operatives and former heads of state getting paid off by Putin to say he's GREAT!
1
@woofer
Yup, thats the whole ball of wax, or if you prefer, can of worms.
As Trump hits China, with $200 billion in tariffs creating uncertainty, while a major storm ravages the Carolinas, and while Trump call the total number of deaths, in Puerto Rico, from last year's hurricanes, a Democrat lie, the big bird, Manafort, is singing like a canary. And with this, the Mueller investigation tightens the noose further around Trump, and his cohorts.
At this point there is far more compelling evidence to impeach Trump from office, then there was fro Clinton, Nixon and Andrew Johnson combined.
Meanwhile, the GOP stands silent, or continues to support and back Trump. With midterms looming, it is only a matter of time that the GOP rats start to turn on Trump, and desert the ship. Those who continue to support him, are as much of a traitor as Trump himself.
633
@Nick Metrowsky
It will be much clearer when the 37 parties who have entered into a Joint Defense Agreement with Trump as disclosed in 'Fear" are publicly named.
8
@Nick Metrowsky VOTE!!
Mueller's snowballing success in his investigation shows how to investigate crimes of the well-to-do, those who can "lawyer-up", use PR media firms to control the narrative and, generally, affect the outcome. Government agencies like the SEC, IRS, FCC, FEC etc have been intentionally underfunded, understaffed and under motivated to pursue their policeman role in regulating white collar, economic and political crimes.
Mueller is showing government regulators how it's done. It's not a job application to those you are suppose to regulate and prevent practice's that blow up in our face.
116
"But most important, for the American people, today’s outcome is further proof that no one — no matter how important or powerful — is immune from justice. "
It would be nice to believe so. But what about all the Wall Street banksters who got away with nearly destroying the global economy in 2008? A single fall guy went to prison. What about the Sackler family who have made billions addicting Americans to opioids? The money is still pouring in for them. What about the Mercers and Cambridge Analytica? What about the Waltons who tell their desperate employees to apply for taxpayer funded food stamps instead of paying them a living wage?
With Manafort's guilty pleas and conviction in a court of law, about all you can say is that it's a hopeful sign. If Manafort had had untaxed billions instead of borrowed millions, he may have never even been charged.
328
@The Poet McTeagle Agreed- it has taken an extraordinary investigator with a world class team to get this far and the final results are still unknown. We can be assured that other members of the 0.1% criminal crust are still safe, unless there are more investigators like Robert Mueller out there. We have a long way to go!
71
@The Poet McTeagle - unfortunately, the wealthy are about to get another immunization against justice in the form of the injection of Brett Kavanaugh into the Supreme Court. When that happens, the un-elected, lifetime-appointed branch of government will cease to act as a check on the other branches.
Our only hope is that Muller's investigation also implicates Pence.
55
@insight I disagree. Our only hope is to vote. We can undo ANY issues created as long as "we the people " get involved.
This is a brighter day for some of us.There were many questions regarding the Russian hacking of our elections in 2016.Mr.Manafort was key to answering them.The legal obfuscation led by Rudi Giuliani should become muted and hopefully Trump will stop tweeting about an investigation in which he can be charged with obstruction of justice.We should soon be getting some answers to this Byzantine story of Crime and Punishment.
96
@Janet Michael
ha-ha-ha (that is a cynical laugh). Giuliani will not be muted and Trump certainly won't stop tweeting despite the fact that he may be heaping more evidence on his obstruction of justice.
3
45 is too narcissistic to study how far Mr. Manafort has fallen. He has no idea what he is up against because he refuses to look. He wraps himself in lies and those who perpetuate his tall tales.
This national nightmare must end. Mr. Mueller, we are counting on you. May today's events be the first step to the perp walk from the Oval Office. It can't come soon enough.
541
Wrong!!! Trump has fired Comey. He has threatened Sessions and Mueller. He is ready to wield his pardon power to secure his defense. He has wavered on testifying in order to seveve his interests of the moment. He has dealt with Russia in a manner that obscures his criminal collusion. He has changed his attitude about Cohen by 180 degrees. And he has gone through countless criminal lawyers to find the ones who serve his ever-changing interests.
When it comes to his impeachment Trump is laser focused on surviving. Your suggestion that he is looking the other way is naive and could not be further from the truth.
1
@MSP Donald and Cult 45 will not get it until at least one "Trump" is wearing an orange jumpsuit.
1
Let's count on people voting.
2
It is simply amazing. A so-called president that has touted "law and order" (even though he ignored both) may ultimately be brought to answer to actual law and order. It appears there are many smoking guns in this story. Just remember the famous words of Deep Throat from the Watergate adventures - "Follow the money". My guess is that Manafort (along with Cohen) knows about the deals and money laundering, since Manafort has already been convicted of such crimes. Go, Mr. Mueller, GO!
442
@BigFootMN . There are more smoking guns in the White House than there were in the last scene of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!"
1
Paul Manafort will, in a sense, be Bob Woodward when he compiled his research information and taped sessions in writing his blockbuster book. Manafort was privy to the GOP nominee’s mind as his campaign chairman and knows everything that transpired during that summer until he was terminated.
Manafort can fill in the blanks about the president’s tax information, illegal money that was laundered with his knowledge, the effect that WikiLeaks played during the campaign, and of course, the June 2016 meeting, the reality TV series pilot that kicked off everything that followed.
Manafort can write a book about the inner workings of the 2016 campaign. He knows the characters, the major and minor players, the manuscript and the plot as it unfolded. Witness-tampering and obstruction of justice are what Manafort pleaded guilty to, felonies that can be considered high crimes and certainly not misdemeanors. To all this, the president will deflect and deny. From now on he'll have to give the American people a better and more convincing answer than calling this investigation fraudulent. The rule of law in America is absolute.
51
@silver vibes.....yeah, he can collaborate with Woodward on his next book, and make a fortune.
@silver vibes
Does Costa Rica have a reciprocity agreement with the US?
Keep an eye on Air Force 1's future flight plans.....
With Trump beginning to see the writing on the wall, he might be planning a 'little R & R" trip there.
He might have already engaged a plastic surgeon to change his appearance.(might be quite a difficult thing to accomplish)
At age over 70...with pressure, pressure and more pressure every passing day....his own mind be ready to 'flip'
1
@silver vibes
I hope the plea deal requires that the proceeds of any book Manafort writes must go to some worthy cause. Same goes for Agent Orange, for that matter, except that any book from him will be written by a ghostie. The idea of either one's monetizing his crimes makes me ill.
1
"Now that Mr. Manafort is helping the investigation and may testify in future criminal proceedings — not to mention congressional ones — Mr. Trump cannot be resting easy."
However, the rest of us can rest at least a bit easier.
162
@Allen Drachir. Not yet, but hope is on the horizon.
4
@Allen Drachir
No, not yet. We can't rest easier until the snake is cleared from the garden of democracy.
2
@Allen Drachir Not yet can the rest of us rest easier. We need to see what the man-child does as a counter move or in mere retaliation. He will create epic chaos (firings) before he resigns or is removed.
Godspeed, Messers Mueller and Rosenstein.
1
Manafort, like his old boss, has until now clearly been more frightened of Russians than of Mueller.
But Manafort can be offered witness protection in exchange for testimony. Nobody can protect the president from Russian pressure - because for Trump it's what Russians have on him, not what he has on Russians.
240
@Martin
I've been wondering what would become of the federal protection he has secured if Manafort is pardoned; I am assuming it, like his guilt, is rendered null. If that is the case, might Manafort continue to cooperate w/ Mueller fully (even though he'd still be compelled to some level of cooperation) in order to keep the protection for him and his family? I'd like to hear a legal expert's thoughts on this.
1
Trump is playing checkers.
Mueller is playing chess.
Only another move or so to checkmate.
Trump will likely have to resign for the GOP to retain any credibility whatsoever.
221
@dmckj
Oh, I think we are quite a lot of moves away from any of that happening. (not trying to undermine your analogy or anything) - We always have to remind ourselves that even if Democrats take back a majority in the Senate, that there will not be enough votes to convict. (after impeachment in the house being a direct possibility)
I truly think that no matter what, this President (which has no morals or shame) will ride out anything that is thrown at him. He will think that the base (and as an extension, the ''country'') will always be with him.
He is doing so much for that base - which is not the every day folk, but rather the billionaire class and the ones running corporations. They in turn have gotten trillions in tax theft, and can now go all out for as much profits as possible. (even if that means polluting or any other such thing)
Prepare yourself for the long haul friend (until 2020). There will be a lot of pain from now until then, but the political pendulum will have swung back so far, that republicans will be wiped out. (doubt they survive as a national party)
Keep working and keep pushing.
40
@dmckj: "...Trump will likely have to resign for the GOP to retain any credibility whatsoever."
I don't know about that. It seems to me the Rs have squandered their own credibility by their mindless and spineless lockstep legislative groveling to please (or at least not enrage) Trump. I hope the American voters are capable of discerning just how recklessly the Rs treated our collective and individual futures. Unwinding their failure at every turn to avert a dangerous return to reactionary and openly hostile policies affecting large swaths of the population must not be forgotten, especially after any prospective departure of Trump.
5
@FunkyIrishman
Don't discount the Republicans turning on Trump. There is no honor among thieves.
1
Trump's twitter silence today is deafening. And I don't think it is out of deference to the people enduring the wrath Hurricane Florence.
710
@cfxk: It's sure to be a high-stress weekend. Trump's advisors will warn him that a President playing golf during a major hurricane simply isn't done. Let's see how long he lasts before he explodes.
4
@cfxk He's tweeted 7 times in the past 5 hours. It's all he knows.
3
@cfxk: someone probably shut off wifi in the White House residence and took away his cellphone. Maybe "Anonymous" (cough, Ivanka, cough).
Thanks as well to the writers of this column for their clear and steadfast commitment to informing the public of the functions and implications of the law -- in this day and age of obfuscation, no small service.
683
Manafort, Manafort, is it et tu?
I was convinced, to me you’d be true,
And now you’re flipping
At my heels nipping
If you tell the Truth, it’s what I will rue.
Manafort, Manafort, loyalty counts,
As at my rear end, chances of jail mounts,
I offer these tips
So sew up your lips
Or Mr. Mueller on my hide will pounce.
Manafort, Manafort, what did I do?
Hundreds of others, would have done too,
Don’t make a fuss
Under the bus
Don’t throw the Don who’s been so good to you.
352
@Larry Eisenberg
Lovely poem, Mr. Eisenberg! Very much appreciate your poetic wisdom.
3
@Larry Eisenberg
Oh Mr. Eisenberg, I am wiping the tears. Thank you for your delightfully droll bit of mock-serious, doggerel verse. It is little short of genius.
Bless you, unpaid court jester.
2
@Larry Eisenberg....Larry, you keep topping yourself.
And this administration gives the inspiration.
2