Do the charges have to be related to the campaign? Is it possible that these charges are related to Manafort's sketchy business dealings in general, and doesn't necessarily mean anything re: the trump campaign?
I'm wondering how excited we should be. I know that any charges or arrest are significant, but I'm trying to figure out how significant this one is in terms of trump.
No, the charges don't have to be specific to the campaign or collusion. However, as the Trump campaign manager, everything arguably relates to the election. It goes to motivate in the broader conspiracy (which I think will be one of the later charges). If Manafort is indebt to Russian oligarchs or commits other crimes that they are aware of (like money laundering), then these guys have leverage over him and can influence his behavior. This is integral to the collusion charge (what's in it for each side).
Post by georgeglass on Oct 30, 2017 8:01:06 GMT -5
It's funny -I've been googling his name for months expecting things- and jokingly told H I was putting a sticker over the camera on my computer (and that I was surely on a list for even knowing his name). I've known him for years socially (not like I go to his house, just that we'd talk if we were both out somewhere).
It seems highly likely that Paul Manafort was deeply involved in a network of money laundering and financial crimes connecting Russia, Ukraine and other post-Soviet states to the US. That is something that long predated and exists independently of Russian involvement in the 2016 campaign. A number of people in Trump’s orbit and certainly Trump himself are part of that. A lot of that money channel goes into real estate and major construction projects. If the collusion channel exists it almost certainly grows out of the money laundering channel. Since the crimes are likely more clear cut and easier to prove on the money channel, it makes sense for the prosecutions to begin there. Such prosecutions might be use to pry free evidence about the collusion channel or it might end there.
Do the charges have to be related to the campaign? Is it possible that these charges are related to Manafort's sketchy business dealings in general, and doesn't necessarily mean anything re: the trump campaign?
I'm wondering how excited we should be. I know that any charges or arrest are significant, but I'm trying to figure out how significant this one is in terms of trump.
No, the charges don't have to be specific to the campaign or collusion. However, as the Trump campaign manager, everything arguably relates to the election. It goes to motivate in the broader conspiracy (which I think will be one of the later charges). If Manafort is indebt to Russian oligarchs or commits other crimes that they are aware of (like money laundering), then these guys have leverage over him and can influence his behavior. This is integral to the collusion charge (what's in it for each side).
Also Manafort worked at the campaign FOR FREE. The stupidity of these people.
No, the charges don't have to be specific to the campaign or collusion. However, as the Trump campaign manager, everything arguably relates to the election. It goes to motivate in the broader conspiracy (which I think will be one of the later charges). If Manafort is indebt to Russian oligarchs or commits other crimes that they are aware of (like money laundering), then these guys have leverage over him and can influence his behavior. This is integral to the collusion charge (what's in it for each side).
Also Manafort worked at the campaign FOR FREE. The stupidity of these people.
Channeling Trump's people: "No, see, it wasn't for free, there was a quid pro--oh wait, we're in deep shit."
MSNBC has the indictment. There are 12 counts: conspiracy against the United Sates, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agents of a foreign principal, false and misleading (Fara?) statements, false statements on seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts
Nah Christmas will be when the family indictments start I can't wait! Oh what I wouldn't give to see Ivanka, Kushner, and Cheeto junior led off in handcuffs.
Holy crap. I was expecting baby charges: money laundering, tax evasion. Mueller is pulling no punches with "conspiracy against the United States." This is huge