Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was recently convicted on eight counts of bank fraud and tax evasion from about a decade ago, and Manafort faces another trial soon on additional criminal charges related to lobbying on behalf of foreign interests, which he did in the years prior to briefly joining Trump’s team in 2016.
Now, rumors are swirling among the Washington media and political establishment about how Trump will ultimately respond, and though he has reportedly been counseled not to do so, there are some who believe the president will eventually pardon Manafort of those convictions.
According to Politico, who cited “eight current and former administration officials and outside advisers” in their report, some believe that Trump’s kind words for Manafort following his conviction — he called him a “brave man” and a “victim” — could be an effort to lay the groundwork ahead of a pardon or commutation of sentence.
Victim of the ‘witch hunt’
“Trump is setting it up,” a source who identified him or herself as a former official from Trump’s campagin said. “He’s referring to the investigation as a ‘witch hunt’ and saying this never would have happened to an aide to Hillary Clinton.”
Politico reported that three senior aides to the president said Trump has not spoken directly about pardoning Manafort, and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said that Trump had agreed to not issue a pardon for Manafort — at least until after the midterm elections.
Manafort’s crimes have nothing to do with Trump or alleged Russian collusion, but they are being persued by Robert Mueller, whose investigation Trump has often called a biased and one-sided “witch hunt” designed to ruin those around him and eventually bring him down as well.
“He certainly does not need to do it,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said of the potential pardon. “The things Manafort has been convicted of have nothing to do with Trump.”
Gingrich added: “The president thinks Manafort’s biggest crime was running the Trump campaign. If he had run the Clinton campaign, then he would have gotten immunity and never would have had any problems.”
Potential political firestorm
There is no arguing that President Trump has the executive authority to issue pardons to any individual he chooses, but a pardon in Manafort’s case would undoubtedly spark a political firestorm and prove quite unpopular among the far-left and bipartisan political establishment.
A pardon of Manafort prior to his being tried on all alleged crimes — and prior to the midterm elections — would likely be viewed as an effort to obstruct justice and would be seized upon by Democrats to rally voters in opposition to Trump’s presidency.
[show_poll poll_id=757]
But even a pardon of Manafort after the trials and midterm elections are completed would likely cause consternation, as it would be viewed as a signal to other potential witnesses, and may appear as though Trump had walked back his vow to “drain the swamp.”
Trump has reportedly been counseled by many to avoid any appearance of impropriety that would come along with a pardon of Manafort, but the president is known to place great trust his instincts, so there is really no telling if Trump will ever address the controversial topic.
454 Responses
This page definitely has all of the information I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hi there, I believe your web site may be having internet browser compatibility issues. Whenever I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, wonderful site!
This excellent website certainly has all of the information and facts I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Very good article. I certainly appreciate this website. Continue the good work!
bookmarked!!, I love your website!
There is certainly a lot to learn about this subject. I like all of the points you made.
This is the perfect website for everyone who really wants to find out about this topic. You understand a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic that has been discussed for decades. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
I truly love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you develop this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own blog and would like to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thank you!
May I simply just say what a comfort to find someone who genuinely understands what they are talking about on the web. You certainly understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you aren’t more popular given that you most certainly have the gift.
Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post and also the rest of the website is very good.
Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it won’t disappoint me just as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, however I truly thought you would have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.
This website definitely has all of the info I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
You have made some good points there. I checked on the web to learn more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.
Howdy! This post couldn’t be written much better! Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I most certainly will forward this information to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!
I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I found this during my search for something regarding this.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through many of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m certainly delighted I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!
Hi there! This article couldn’t be written any better! Going through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a great read. I appreciate you for sharing!
Great info. Lucky me I came across your site by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!
I blog frequently and I genuinely thank you for your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of your website and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.
Greetings, I think your website could be having web browser compatibility problems. When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Besides that, fantastic blog!
That is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate info… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this subject here on your website.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It’s the little changes that make the most significant changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
I really like looking through an article that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
This is the right web site for anyone who wants to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic that has been discussed for a long time. Excellent stuff, just great!
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!
Saved as a favorite, I like your site!
Great post. I am facing many of these issues as well..
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me breakfast simply because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your web page.
Greetings, I think your blog might be having web browser compatibility issues. When I take a look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, fantastic site!
You’ve made some decent points there. I looked on the net for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after looking at some of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!
I like reading through an article that will make people think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who was doing a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your blog.
Hi! I simply wish to offer you a big thumbs up for the excellent information you have right here on this post. I will be returning to your site for more soon.
I need to to thank you for this excellent read!! I certainly enjoyed every bit of it. I have got you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…
I quite like looking through an article that can make people think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!
Hello, I do think your web site may be having browser compatibility problems. When I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart from that, wonderful site!
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be useful to read through content from other authors and practice something from their web sites.