"Conspiracy against the US" -- Hot damn, did I hear that right?

[Hekate]

Please tell me it was both Gates and Manafort who just got dinged for that crime. My news-viewing this morning has been much interrupted, and they keep reverting to the Mad King wanting to arm all the schoolteachers.

I have indulged in some unseemly gloating, though. Pass the popcorn.

[gibraltar72]

1. I believe that wording was in the original indictments.

[emulatorloo]

2. Heres the language from the original indictment

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/10/paul-manafort-rick-gates-robert-mueller-russia-indictment

Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and Manafort’s longtime business associate Rick Gates turned themselves over to authorities Monday morning after being indicted on 12 counts: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, failure to register as a foreign agent, false and misleading statements related to that registration, false statements, and seven counts of improper foreign banking and financial reporting. The arrests mark a dramatic escalation in the ongoing Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which is being led by former F.B.I. director Robert Mueller.

“Between at least 2006 and 2015, Manafort and Gates acted as unregistered agents of the Government of Ukraine, the Party of Regions,” the indictment reads. They “generated tens of millions of dollars in income as a result of their Ukraine work. In order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities, from approximately 2006 through 2016, Manafort and Gates laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships, and bank accounts,” and allegedly evaded taxes on the unreported income.

“In total, more than $75 [million] flowed through the offshore accounts,” the indictment continues. Manafort “laundered more than $18 [million], which was used by him to buy property, goods, and services in the United States, income that he concealed from the United States Treasury, the Department of Justice, and others.”

[procon]

3. Manafort and Gates were already charged with 'conspiracy against the United States'.

Today, Mueller got Gates to plead guilty to that charge, although we still don't know what crimes that refers to:

Former Trump campaign aide to plead guilty to conspiracy against the U.S.
By Reuters on Fri, Feb 23rd, 2018 at 1:48 pm

A former deputy campaign manager for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Rick Gates, will plead guilty on Friday to conspiracy against the United States and lying to investigators.

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/02/23/former-trump-campaign-aide-set-plead-guilty-russia-probe.html

[Upthevibe]

4. It seems so overwhelming....

I hope Rachel's on tonight so she can explain things!

[FreepFryer]

5. "Trump campaign official pleads guilty to conspiracy against the United States" has an impeachy ring

[Botany]

6. But what Hillary's email server?

Sometimes I can't wrap my head around what has happened to and is
still happening to the Country now.