The real reason Manafort willing to serve 24 years...

[pbmus]

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1067299686099238913.html

Thread) About Manafort

My guess: He's not reckless, and he isn't stupid enough to think a pardon will save him.

So why can't he tell the truth?

I think it's helpful to remember a few things about the nature of the criminal enterprise.

1/ Trump and Manafort are not the top of the international criminal enterprise.

In a 1-27-2011 lecture—given while Mueller was FBI director—he talked about a new kind of organized crime threatening the US.

Today’s mobsters have gone international.
The Evolving Organized Crime Threat
Citizens Crime Commission of New York
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/speeches/the-evolving-organized-crime-threat
2/ They're “iron triangles” consisting of (1) organized criminals (2) corrupt government official, and (3) business leaders.

And they pose a signifiant security threat.

They're also cornering the international market on natural gas & oil (which explains climate change denial).
3/ They infiltrate US businesses, and try to manipulate people at the highest levels of government.

Motivated by greed, they sell to the highest bidder and will stop at nothing to make money.
4/ Mueller explained that by 2011, the FBI was developing a long-term strategy for dismantling these enterprises, including Threat Focus Cells to target mobsters like Semion Mogilevich—who he said was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
4/ Mogilevich— “Russia’s top crime boss”—has ties to Trump Tower.👇

Mogilevich’s operative David Bogatin bought 5 condos in Trump Tower for $6 million cash. 1,300 Trump-branded condos were sold in all cash purchases to anonymous shell companies.
Understanding Trump vs. Bruce Ohr: Think Russia’s top crime boss, Semion Mogilevich
Amidst President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to revoke security clearances from various critics, perhaps the most mysterious person on his enemy
https://www.justsecurity.org/60528/understanding-pres-trump-vs-bruce-ohr-russias-top-crime-boss-semion-mogilevich/
5/ Mogilevich got rich stealing from Russians and scamming Americans. He's also one of Russia's most powerful oligarchs.

Russian oligarchs, don't forget, are Manafort's buddies and clients.

From Manafort's guilty plea:
Document: Superseding Criminal Information Against Paul Manafort
The special counsel's office has filed a superseding criminal information in the case against Paul Manafort. The document is available here and below. The plea agreement and statement of offense are …
https://www.lawfareblog.com/document-superseding-criminal-information-against-paul-manafort
6/ Manafort conspired with Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik to act (and acted) as an agent of the Government of Ukraine, the Party of Regions—the pro-Putin party—between at least 2006 and 2015.

Kilimnik is another Russian oligarch. Manafort's buddy.
7/ We all know what happens to people who rat on Russian oligarchs—and do their families. I never believed Manafort, who cares about his family, was really going to rat on his Russian buddies.

But Mueller is confident Manafort is lying, which means Mueller knows the truth.
8/ And Mueller is after something bigger (and more dangerous) than either Manafort or Trump.

[WheelWalker]

1. Yep.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. I'm honestly surprised Manafort is still sentient.

[PeeJ52]

10. Does sentient mean alive?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

13. It means not brain dead from a special Russian cocktail...

[guillaumeb]

3. Recommended.

Manafort has no integrity, but he is aware of the danger of crossing Putin.

[Hoyt]

4. So trump is just a poor victim?

[pbmus]

8. No, just a greedy fucking real estate whore...part time reality show actor

[KPN]

24. +111111!

[ms liberty]

5. K&R. n/t

[FM123]

6. Yep!

Manafort has a law degree from Georgetown, he is not stupid or ignorant - he must be scared of something / someone to keep doing what he does....

[dlk]

7. In Conspiracies this Far-Reaching, There is Always More to the Story

Without a doubt, Manafort fears what the Russians would do, not just to him, but to his family, as well. Mueller’s specialty is prosecuting organized crime. There is much more to come with this investigation.

[Dan]

12. Okay, given what Manafort probably knows,

Prison is not going to protect him.

If what is said is true, then Manafort knows too much ...

And, if the Court decides to take between $24M to $28M from him (and family), then there is nothing left.

I have to wonder if the Russian mob will send him a message - of what he needs to do.

[Kitchari]

9. The FBI.gov link in the thread

contains Mueller's 2011 speech showing his awareness of "multinational, multi-billion dollar" criminal gangs--He's known for A LONG TIME what we have recently realized

[pbmus]

11. Exactly....and Welcome to DU

[Kitchari]

17. Thanks, pbmus!

[MelissaB]

14. Does anyone have a link to Mueller's speech on video?

I know I saw it many months ago and was telling my husband about it.

I'd love a link if anyone has it handy.

[Lonestarblue]

18. I think this is the Mueller speech mentioned here.

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/speeches/the-evolving-organized-crime-threat

Well worth reading.

[MelissaB]

25. Yes, that's the speech. I'm looking for the video.

I could have sworn I've seen it.

[mac56]

15. K & R

[Hermit-The-Prog]

16. looks like GOPer elixir

This has all the ingredients needed to explain Moscow Mitch and the Russiapublicans.

[Achilleaze]

37. #MoscowMitch and the #Russiapublicans - Traitors to America

[Hermit-The-Prog]

38. Deripaska and the Senate Russiapublicans are best buddies (nt)

[certainot]

19. they need to put trump on suicide watch

[liberaltrucker]

27. Or provide the cyanide

[certainot]

31. he has stories to tell

[zaj]

20. Holy crap, I'm 4 tweets in and both relieved and terrified.

Mueller is way ahead of us, and the GOP has been lost to a global mob enterprise.

WTF!

[Mme. Defarge]

21. So what happens if the take-down is successful?

Will their funds be frozen? Can they be taken into custody, prosecuted and sent to prison? If so, by whom?

[orangecrush]

22. K&R

[bluestarone]

23. KICK

[sharedvalues]

26. Let's not get too conspiratorial. Manafort-Putin is enough.

Yes, it's true that in Putin's Russia, oligarchs and corporations and the spy services all do crimes and use money to buy Western interests.
Yes, it's true that Manafort is likely a Russian asset.
Yes, it's true that Putin attacked America by using money; American oligarchs have as much in common with Russian billionaires and Putin as they do with American workers.

But we don't have to go farther than that. Maybe Mogilevitch is involved in election hacking. Or maybe not.

But we KNOW everyone in Russia reports up to Putin. And we have two links:
Trump -> Manafort -> Kilimnik -> GRU -> Putin
And
Putin -> Peskov/oligarchs -> Moscow Tower dangle -> Cohen -> Trump

That's collusion we know about. Let's not get too speculative about crime bosses and the mob until we get new real info about them.

There's enough bad stuff between Putin and Trump.

[world wide wally]

28. As much of a squirel Manaforts is, I think it was threats to his family that makes him want to do it

[LiberalFighter]

29. corrupt government official McConnell

[RAAD2]

30. Putin Is The Don

Not the orsnge menace.

[Cha]

34. I would say so.. who's the whipped one

here?

[wiggs]

32. What are the chances Manafort is doing both...lying for show and cooperating with

Mueller at the same time?

Wouldn't it make sense that Manafort publicly makes a show of NOT cooperating, thereby extending his life perhaps, while at the same time helping Manafort bring down the cabal that threatens him the most? Who chooses life in prison when offered lesser deals?

Didn't Trump tell friends that if Manafort flipped Trump would be in big trouble? Manafort must have the goods....

Manafort enters into plea agreement, then Mueller and Manafort decide that the best way forward is to not let the public know that he's cooperating...then the story is that Manafort broke the plea agreement. If Manafort isn't needed for trial testimony, he could work behind the scenes and answer Mueller questions...point Mueller in right directions...and live for a bit in high security prison while the world thinks he's a loyal Putin/Trump hack?

Why didn't DOJ pursue the pretty big remaining count that the jury was hung on? And weren't there other state indictments that were dropped?

[MFM008]

33. He must have had

Reliable assurances maggot will pardon him.
I believe maggot will pardon every single criminal
Involved in the Mueller investigation from Mike Flynn to Russians.
Hes crazy enough to do it.

[Nevermypresident]

35. IMO, our MSM has not delved enough into transnational crime (and trump's role in it). Most

adult Americans are familiar the old Gambino, Columbo, etc. italian mobs operating in the U.S., but are clueless about the current transnational mobs (think mobsters without borders).

Not only is it terrifying, but it helps to connect the dots. Don the Con was certainly not smart enough to be a Mogilevich but has been a willing and enthusiastic participant, i.e. moneylaundering their dirty money.

[Achilleaze]

36. US media needs to get off their knees and tell these stories

k and r

[BSdetect]

39. The weakest link (in the defense against such gangs) is corruption of Govt. officials / bureaucrats.

[JudyM]

40. Right on. And the lack of conflict of interest rules for Congress and the Supremes plays right into

that.... Until we get a grip on the integrity of our government and elections, our country - and planet - will continue slipping into oblivion. Isn’t that a pleasant thought for a Saturday...

[Pluvious]

41. We are SO god damned fortunate Al Franken caught Sessions in...

We are SO god damned fortunate Al Franken caught Sessions in the lie that led to Rosenstein being able to appoint Mueller.

That last line...

This whole mess is runs deep.
Way bigger than just Manafort and Comrade Combover...

[FakeNoose]

42. K & R bookmarking

There's a lot to read here and I'm gonna save this for tomorrow.
Thanks for posting this! It's all interesting stuff.