Manafort's lies + Trumps answers to questions equals Trump's entire defense to collusion

[Jersey Devil]

It really doesn't matter, though it would be a bonus, if Trump coordinated his answers to Mueller's questions to conform with Manafort's lies to Mueller.

What really matters is that Mueller now has the entire defense that Trump will use when confronted with the evidence of collusion that Mueller will present. Mueller can now anticipate specific fights over various pieces of evidence and tailor his presentation, producing or looking for additional evidence to bolster whatever might be a weak link and develop arguments against defenses that he can now easily anticipate. At the same time, Trump has no idea what evidence Mueller really has and cannot change his defense from what he or Manafort has already stated. Big advantage Mueller.

[Iliyah]

1. Sounds like Mueller caught both in lies . . .

Questions and or interrogatories and nor request for admission of facts are all done under penalty and perjury and under the laws of the ………………

Shithole for the good of the country should resign. But alas, it's all about "him". Screw the United States of America.

Matter of fact, since we are in uncharted territory, hows about nullifying the 2016 elections, shit, it was stolen anyways.

[duforsure]

3. I agree

He knew way ahead of this they may do this , and is prepared well to hold them both accountable.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Trump's questionaire may be more lethal than we thought

I think most of us felt that Trump's lawyered response would be bland and harmless. But if all these events prove true and Trump boxed himself in conspiring with Manafort on a bogus narrative, well, then Mueller is a golden god of a prosecutor. Fascinating.

[Jersey Devil]

4. I think what we may be missing

is that there are other cooperating witnesses, such as Flynn and Cohen, etc., who though they may not have direct involvement in collusion, were always hanging around the inner workings of the Trump campaign and may have picked up, or gleaned, information that they have passed onto Mueller that has turned out to be crucially important. Trump may not even know they had access to such information and they themselves may not have realized the import of information that they passed to Mueller. As they say, "it's a tangled web we weave...", and loose ends are not always easy to find or tie up. There could be an Alexander Butterfield (who revealed the Nixon tapes) among those who have already flipped.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Indeed. They don't know what they don't know.

Trump and his lawyers must be tearing their hair out this morning. Though in the case of Trump, that probably sounds like Velcro being pulled apart.

[PJMcK]

8. Velcro!

Brilliantly funny!

[Claritie Pixie]

6. Collusion isn't a defined crime, but conspiracy against the US is -

I think that will be the ultimate charge against the orange menace.

https://www.justice.gov/jm/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us

[Jersey Devil]

7. yes, you are right

I have been using the term "collusion" in place of "conspiracy" but probably should be more accurate about it. Though obstruction is serious, proof of an actual conspiracy would be devastating.

[ScratchCat]

9. If they have concrete evidence

That Manaforte and Trump coordinated unthuthfull responses, then Muller needs to present that to Congress immediately and let impeachment begin.

Keep in mind, if they know that Trump and Manaforte's responses are lies, then they have the truth from someone else, likely Cohen, Gates or someone we are not thinking about.

I think this is about to get really ugly because we've hit the point where its becoming factually obvious Trump was involved up to his eyeballs in the conspiracy and its going to get really difficult to defend him remaining President.