It definitely feels like it’s past time for Robert Mueller to make some bigger moves. After the midterm elections, many of us believed that we were just days away from some substantial indictments, especially for Donald Trump Jr. So far, that hasn’t materialized. Mueller offered some kind of deal to Jerome Corsi, an associate of Roger Stone, but am I alone in not caring so much about Stone and Corsi? I know they are two of the connections between Wikileaks, the Russian hacking of the DNC and Clinton campaign and more. But also: I want to see someone named “Trump” indicted NOW. Instead, Mueller has gone back to court… to put the screws to Paul Manafort:
Prosecutors with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III said Monday that Paul Manafort breached his plea agreement, accusing President Trump’s former campaign chairman of lying repeatedly to them in their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Manafort denied doing so intentionally, but both sides agreed in a court filing that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the District should set sentencing immediately.
The apparent collapse of Manafort’s cooperation agreement is the latest stunning turnaround in his case, exposing the longtime Republican consultant to at least a decade behind bars after he pleaded guilty in September to charges of cheating the Internal Revenue Service, violating foreign-lobbying laws and attempting to obstruct justice.
The filing also indicated that Mueller’s team may have lost its potentially most valuable witness in Manafort, a top campaign official present at discussions at the heart of the special counsel’s mission to determine if any Americans conspired with Russia’s efforts to sway the U.S. election. Still, prosecutors may know more about Manafort’s interactions than he realized, allowing them to catch him in alleged lies.
The one thing I trust is that Mueller is a “by the books” guy, and that he’s approaching this situation like he’s dismantling a mob family. That being said, I don’t really understand why Manafort’s cooperation really matters at this point? Yes, Mueller probably would have a stronger case against other treasonous actors with Manafort’s cooperation and testimony, but it’s not like the potential for other indictments is solely connected to Manafort alone. I’m just saying… there’s still time for some big Christmas indictments, and that’s all I want for Christmas.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
It could have something to do with acting AG Whitaker. He has to approve the indictments from muellers team so perhaps he just won’t. Or maybe mueller hasn’t sent any to him bc he doesn’t trust him & is waiting out the AG situation. As for Manafort-it’s not that they are still targeting him. His plea required his cooperation & if they got to the point they know he is not actually cooperating- then they don’t want him anymore. They asked to move forward with sentencing bc he’s not holding up his end. Lastly, trump turned in his written answers last week and I bet they did not line up with manaforts story- so there that angle as well.
All that being said I still think Manafort is planning on a pardon and he’s probably going to get one.
And then the states will pursue him.
It’s my understanding that he would have to serve 14 years in Virginia, and Trump can’t pardon him for that. So my big question is, what did Manafort fear more than spending possibly the rest of his life in jail? Who scared him into deciding that non-cooperation was the way to go?
@Giddy, he’s seen what the Russians are capable of doing to those of no more use to them. I’d bet everything he’s more scared of them than anything Mueller/jail can do.
@Giddy Manafort was convicted in a federal court located in Virginia. He pleaded guilty to federal crimes as well. Trump can pardon him for all of it.
I hope the states do pursue him! Manafort was tried here in VA bc that court is known to be efficient. But he was only charged on federal crimes which he can be pardoned for, unfortunately. Currently he could be retried on the stated level. However there is a case in SCOTUS about that & how it could be considered double jeopardy- and with the justices leaning right, trump could end up with a ruling saving Manafort (and everyone ) from state charges too. It’s pretty bad actually how they could get away with all this.
@Ams thank you for your comment pointing out that SCOTUS case. Was just learning about how that twist could affect potential state vs federal charges.
No problem tourmaline! I’m really happy to see all the theories & facts people are pointing out on this thread. Celebitchy attracts smart people haha! Mia also has some good points if you haven’t read her comments yet. I’m honestly scared about the courts adding fuel to the fire. I’d like to think the Supreme Court has people of better character that actually want to protect the government and citizens – but I’m not convinced of that at this point
This is a good way for Muller to make a lot of previously unknown information public without having to deal with the AG. He is going to have to file a brief for the sentencing, and that brief will likely outline all of the ways that Manafort has not cooperated as required by the plea deal. The details of Manafort’s lies (and the evidence proving that he is lying) will likely also be a pretty good outline of the collusion case against the whole campaign.
Oooh, I’d love to know that
Yes someone laid that out on Twitter. The sentencing memo will have stuff that’s available to the public so if GOP and Nazi tries to buy the report it’s too late. Everything entered in public record. He’s been doing this all along with these cases.
Also, someone pointed out on Twitter that there is a good possibility that Nazi dangled a pardon and those 2 nuts were getting their stories straight. Once Nazi turned in his written answers Mueller can tell. Rule of thumb, attys never ask questions they don’t already know the answers too.
I think the end is near. We will see something soon. Nazi has been $hit tweeting all am.
That’s what I have read. That he is waiting out the Whitaker situation.
I’ve seen some theories on Twitter posted by legal folks that Mueller is trying to make some of the investigation public by having it run through the courts. It other words jumping out in front of Trump’s attempt to check mate him with Whitaker.
Also, there is a theory that he and his team might have purposefully revealed something to Manafort during questioning that was not common knowledge and they know Manafort shared it with someone because it was part of Trump’s written responses.
In other words, lots of people think Mueller is making a baller move with this.
Ooooo yeah that is a good theory… that they used some piece of info to see if it got around to other people being interviewed. I hope some/all of these theories are true!!
That’s exactly what the Emptywheel site suggests, which is where I go for all my Mueller-strategy theories: http://www.emptywheel.net/2018/11/26/manafort-tests-the-theory-of-an-unpardonable-plea/
Thanks @Mia Girl and @Prairiegirl for the insights. I think he’s just very careful and I’m hopeful, like Kaiser, that this may be our Christmas present.
She’s my Mueller investigation guru as well.
Wow, so it was a perjury trap, just not as Trump understood it.
Here is a Twitter post about how the report may never be made public. I’m still not getting my hopes up on any of this.
https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1067074540164050945
However, Trump is losing his sh*t on Mueller right now on Twitter, so it’s possible something set him off.
I’m really starting to think trumps twitter rants might be the best indicator of what’s to come. If he wasn’t worried he wouldn’t even bother talking about (like global warming!)
When Trump goes bananas on these Twitter rants, it shows how panicked he’s getting. The walls are closing in, but I wish it was faster
The democrats have the house in January and the report will be made public. They can just call in bob mueller to recite it at a hearing. Had they not won there would be concern, but now we are weeks away from a real check happening on this sociopathic dictator.
I just don’t know. I fear more each day that he is going to get away with it all and consolidate power. I fear there is only one thing that can save us and that thing may not arrive in a timely manner. It’s one of the two things they say none of us can avoid. Although, trump has certainly avoided paying taxes, so I dunno.
Anyway, it is that thing that would make this the best Christmas ever for me. And I am not even a little sorry for saying so. I pray for it.
Every time I see his photo, I say the same prayer. Along with wondering “why hasn’t anyone done it yet?”.
No that I don’t want. That would incite a civil war. I mean naturally. As comes to us all. Especially those of us who never eat veggies or walk ten feet.
When that blessed day comes(hurry up, hurry up)it should be declared a national holiday. Can hardly wait.
No, I don’t want him dead. I want him brought to justice and festering in jail. Gen pop. Let the punishment fit his many crimes.
I’d like to think that this Manafort development is just a sideshow to everything else Mueller is working on. It seems like a good sign that they’re not letting him get away with more lies. But who knows.
I think the same. Manafort is just a piece of the puzzle that they decided to reveal to let them know there is more to come.
I’ve been following the investigation super closely and I believe in Mueller but my god I cannot take much more of this. Something has to give and soon. It’s gut-wrenching watching this buffoon dismantle our country.
He is getting all his ducks in a row for the big reveal come January.
Mueller knows that with the current Republican House, nothing will be done. He is waiting for the Democrats to take over in January and then boom – the end of Trump & his supporters will start.
Mueller, being the brilliant prosecutor he is, knows who to trust and not to trust. He has been following the law to the max so that even the Republicans cannot shield Trump.
I am predicting Trump pardon himself and resigning within next few months. Then NY State will swop in and finallly punish the man.
Mueller is s chess player and if you play chess, you will realise his brilliant plan.
Keep hope Americans- Justice will prevail.
@MAYA
From your lips to God’s ears. I hope this is the case! I still trust Mueller but know very well the amount that white males get away with.
^^^Right! Its really made me realize how much white privilege I have
Welp. This was just dropped.
https://twitter.com/RiegerReport/status/1067426915504541696
Oh shit!!! Thanks for the link.
And the rumors are that Assange is in the next round of indictments. I think we’re still a round or two away from Tom Riddle and Crabbe and Doyle on the federal level. We’ll get Assange, Stone, Page, some more campaign & Trump corporation staffers first. Then another Russian or two. Then the boys, with extreme pressure on them to flip. Nagini will be last. Once she is indicted, I won’t be surprised to see Panama and a few other countries file extradition papers for crimes she committed elsewhere. Meanwhile, various states are sifting through files Mueller shared from Cohen, the Trump Foundation & the Trump corporation money guy who flipped.
From your mouth…. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This makes a lot of sense, thanks.
Don’t forget the NYSD investigation into the Trump Foundation! As you’d expect, they have the best lawyers on that representing the foundation – submits argument to the presiding judge that Federal court has more experience in these kinds of cases *judge throws argument out because the laws in question are state laws* *defense tries the same thing two weeks later, is surprised the judge is now angry at them*
Hahahaha no way!!! I haven’t been following that case as closely so thanks for the update!! I need to do some research on that one but they don’t sound off to a great start. “Only the best people!! “
I’m not forgetting the emoluments clause lawsuit either that has survived numerous procedural challenges. The discovery process should start soon.
And we’re finding out the current acting NY AG is moving much more quickly than Schneidderman did, which makes me think he was stalling.
A tweet from Trump quite a while ago makes me think that he knew the dirt on the old AG and was using it to get him to stall. The evidence had really all been collected, which is why the Acting AG in NY could move so fast.
Holy sh*t, guys: https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1067438744670658560
Interesting! It makes me want to jump up and twirl!
When it is all said and done, I can’t wait for the book on the Mueller investigation and for the movie that will soon follow. Who should play Mueller?
Sam. Waterston.
@Incredulous, great minds think alike. He is the first, and only, actor who came to mind. I think he would be fantastic.
The thing about Mueller is that he will never write a book. That’s what all the attys whoever worked for him said. He’s not in it for the glory and he doesn’t want to make money off it. Too bad because I would buy that book. The guy has lived an exemplary life!
Holly – Mueller needs a dedicated Watson to record all his adventures for posterity ….
@Holly, I was talking about a book on the Mueller investigation written by a respected investigative journalist or journalists.
Jerome Corsi just showed reporters Mueller’s evidence against him. How is ANYONE that dumb?