For years, Paul Manafort committed terrible crimes and got away with them scot free

[Tommy_Carcetti]

But now, thanks to Robert Mueller, that is no longer the case. Manafort—who propped up brutal dictators and squirreled away millions in ill gained wealth—will likely die in prison.

Let that being an omen for people like Roger Stone.

And even more importantly, let that be an omen for Donald Trump.

You might think you have lived your life getting away with everything. But in the end, it will all catch up to you.

There ain’t no rest for the wicked.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Mystery sage]

2. The power of true Justice is powerful

[onenote]

3. You're assuming he isn't pardoned by Trump.

Which strikes me as a rather risky assumption.

[EffieBlack]

4. I'm sure Mueller has gathered more than enough on Manafort for him to be prosecuted in several state

Either way, he's going to spend the rest of his life in jail. In fact, the last thing he probably wants is a pardon from Trump since he'll be better off in a federal prison.

[atreides1]

5. A pardon will make him an easier target

The people that Manafort worked for in the Ukraine and Russia are the kind who don't like loose ends...and Paul is a loose end!

Remember, Russia isn't above removing people, even if they live in other countries!

[onenote]

12. The flaws in that concern

1. If the folks in the Ukraine and Russia really want to "eliminate" Manafort, the time to do it was before he was charged or before he started talking to Mueller.

2. If Manafort would be so much safer in prison why did he seek pre-trial release, oppose home detention, violate home detention, oppose being jailed after he violated home detention, and oppose being moved to the Alexandria jail where he was in protective custody?

3. Why did he cut a deal for a reduced sentence?

4. Jail isn't always a safe place to be. Ask Whitey Bulger.

Frankly, I don't see there being any reason for Ukrainians or Russians to run the risk of seeking retribution against Manafort, especially since it has come out that he lied to Mueller.

[Cosmocat]

7. Pardons are a REAL issue here, however

It seems that a lot of what Mueller has unearthed about him sets him up for charges that states can pick up on.

Also, and this is just me.

But, there is a good chance there are other crimes that Mueller has him nailed for that have not been charged.

To your point, though, people don't want to hear it, but IMO, there is a good chance that Mueller won't indict or bring up charges on 45 or his family members while he is POTUS - would be a complete waste, cause he will pardon him and them in a heartbeat ...

[True Blue American]

15. Trump can not pardon

Manafort for state charges. That is why he had 2 trials.

[Corvo Bianco]

6. I wonder what is unique about roger stone that makes him

Useless to the special council as a squeaker. They have not interviewed him right? I guess Mueller has his reasons. But you can burn Manafort for lying why not burn Stone?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. I believe he is one of the multiple targets of the investigation.

I think he's unlikely to flip on anyone else--he strikes me as a guy who will go down with the ship--so Mueller has him lined up as one of the last men standing.

And you don't want to be the last man standing in any criminal investigation, ever.

[Iggo]

9. In all the talk I've seen and heard these last few days....

...no one brings up another possibility.

Remember Scooter Libby.

Trump doesn't have to pardon Manafort, but he ain't dying in prison.

Commutation of a sentence is a thing.

[dlk]

10. I Wouldn't Underestimate Mueller and His Team-They've Done This Before

Manafort doesn't look like he is doing very well, either physically or psychologically. In part, it's the toll from his years of committing so many serious crimes and the scary type of people he has dealt with. I believe Mueller will succeed. I also believe there is the very real possibility his partner in crime, Trump, will soon have a serious health episode. In the videos, he could barely walk around the White House Christmas tree when it was first delivered. It doesn't take a doctor to see he is not doing very well, either physically or psychologically. I'm betting on the good guys winning this one. However, it will take time. Think of the many years and the many crimes.

[True Blue American]

17. One of the main reasons Trump

Does not want to walk in a crowd.always driving up.

Remember the Queen?

[Firestorm49]

11. One could only hope.

The last thing I want to hear during sentencing, if the Beloved Exalted Orange Leader doesn’t pardon him first, is what the maximum sentence may be, because we all know that the maximum is rarely served, particularly with regard to those of wealth, even if they are the most wretched thieves in the world. The shortest time possible is what I want to know, and then, go to work on truth in sentencing laws. Time sentenced should be time served with regard to crooked politicians and money grubbing scheisters.

[pdsimdars]

13. And . . they chose the wrong country to be born in for that crap

[matt819]

14. Omerta

Looks like Manafort is following the code of Omerta, with a Trumpist variation - stay silent, but when you do speak, lie.

Who else follows the code of Omerta?

Let me think. . .

Oh, yeah. Mobsters.

Who takes down mobsters?

Oh, yeah. Mueller.

[harumph]

16. The real issue to me is why?

FOR YEARS. FOR YEARS. FOR YEARS. It seems to me that the US must have either very
weak laws regarding corruption or very selective enforcement or
a combination of the foregoing. My guess is the laws are intentionally weak and
law enforcement for these predominantly white collar
crimes is underfunded and understaffed intentionally - b/c
we have lawmakers that are basically criminals. The only
difference being the level of odiousness. I'm not saying there
aren't fair minded and just lawmakers - just that the critical
mass of the bad ones has been exceeded. Of course the idea
for grifters is to leave the barn door open. Remember all the
pallets of cash that were shipped to Iraq (and disappeared)
without any accounting.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. One Of The Purposes Of The Drug "War"

Keep the cops and investigators worrying about that, and there was nobody left to keep an eye on the people doing the kinds of things being discussed here.

There are only so many cops and detectives. The drug war kept them plenty busy.

In the meantime, the society got fleeced.