Manafort is making a plea deal with Mueller

[BigmanPigman]

but no details about the agreement so far. Ari Melber is discussing this now. Too early to get too excited but it is something. Guiliani said tRump and Manafort are in cahoots. What are they up to?

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

1. This Is Not Good

Analyst on MSNBC says Manafort may know that a pardon is on the way, and he is letting Mueller know this. Putting Mueller in the position of cutting his losses and taking a plea now.

[FarPoint]

3. Very premature for such a speculation...

Mueller didn't work this hard for a weak quid pro quo....

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. Assume rump will do the worst thing a human could do in the situation

and go from there.

Manafort too.

Although they may not be able to , as we dont know the whole story

[BigmanPigman]

5. Doesn't a state have charges against Manafort?

Are all the charges through Mueller (and therefore pardonable) or are some states charging him with crimes which aren't pardonable?

[Moostache]

2. Guiliani is a fool...he can't find his own ass with both hands...(n/t)

[MattP]

6. Wish the DC trial was first it had much more to show

[Girard442]

7. Remember, if Manfort is convicted then pardoned....

...he can be compelled to testify about his crime. He can’t invoke the Fifth Amendment. If he refuses, he’d be held in contempt.

Granted, Trump could then pardon him for that. Then just put him on the stand again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Would make great TV.

[BigmanPigman]

8. Wasn't he also facing charges for state crimes

which aren't pardonable? There are so many crooks I get all of their info confused.

[Girard442]

9. NY has a law that forbids state prosecution for a crime that's already been prosecuted by the Feds.

There's an effort to change it. Not sure it's going anywhere. One obvious workaround would be for Mueller to forgo prosecuting a Manafort crime at the federal level so's NY state could have an unobstructed crack at him.

[BigmanPigman]

10. I guess it is too late for Mueller to do this

now that Manafort is cooperating fully. I know Mueller is super smart and he knows what he is doing so that is comforting to a degree.

[BigmanPigman]

11. I just heard from an attorney on MSNBC

who said that Mueller has pretty much made this unpardonable. She said that states could still take him up on charges and they wouldn't be able to use the double jeopardy deal. Also, Manafort won't get his property back but will get protection for himself and family as well as less jail time.