Its amazing how with that and Vir’s wave we have such perfect Stephen Furst joy for these situations
5 Likes
Thanks for joining BB!
But I’m not following the logic there.
8 Likes
I’ve thought all along this is at the core of it. They hoped to make business connections and operate as the (dis)loyal opposition. It’s like The Producers, but not funny at all.
8 Likes
Doesn’t he have two more trials already scheduled? In the states?
Some one explained to me the other day one of the reasons that the charges have been structured the way they are. And why there are multiple trials for different subsets of charges, state and federal. Is likely to do with the way sentencing requirements work.
So you’ve got mandatory minimums. Usually measured in months or low numbers of years, and within that minimum there’s a minimum amount of time you must serve. So your sentence can’t be reduced for over crowding, good behavior, cooperation beyond a certain floor.
But those minimums bracket up immensely if you’re a convicted felon. The example I was given was child porn or trafficking charges which can go from a couple years at minimum, with 18 months to be mandatorily served. To like 10 years with 7 as the floor. So what prosecutors will do. Especially when they’d like some one to flip, but they’ve insisted on going to trial. Is split the charges up. You take at least a few of your slam dunk charges, and charge them federally. And you take that to trial first. So that if (or when) the guy is convicted. Those other charges that are being tried later at the state level. Suddenly carry much, much, much higher minimum sentences. Cooperation, of the testify against somebody else kind, is one of the few things that can bring those minimums down again.
So prosecutions are often structured exactly the way Mueller has structured Manafort’s, to ramp up the pressure and get people to flip. And/or to maximize sentencing minimums to prevent a slap on the wrist.
You look at the number of charges, and what their sentencing structures are like. And even if they convict on a few counts in each trial Manafort could very easily end up spending the rest of his life in jail.
24 Likes
11 Likes
12 Likes
I have friends that believe Trump is going to pardon Manafort for not turning on him. But I’m not so sure. All the dirt on Manafort is getting spilled, and Trump will look very bad if he pardons him. Think back to Nixon - Ford pardoned him before there was any trial, before the dirty deeds were plastered out for everyone to see. I think trump will sit in his pardon pen, and Manafort will go to the big house. Then Manafort will say - get me the Warden - I’m ready to talk.
4 Likes
Wow. That was the perfect gif for … all of this. You, sir or madam or anything in between, have won the internets.
3 Likes
Pardons erase 5th amendment protections. If you can’t be prosecuted, or have already been prosecuted but got off the hook, due to a pardon. You can’t really incriminate yourself if you can’t face prosecution. So Manafort could potentially be compelled to testify on anything covered by the pardon.
And the president’s pardon powers only cover federal crimes, Manafort has multiple state charges pending.
So far what he’s been charged with doesn’t directly impact on the president, so for the time being he can be a convenient patsy. “look at how corrupt Manafort was there’s your problem, yup all him”. Essentially the same tactic Manafort’s trying to use on gates.
So Manafort may believe Trump will pardon him, or can save his ass. And Trump may be dumb enough to do it. But that whole avenue is a bit of a trap, even beyond how it would reflect on Trump. I don’t think it’ll happen, and I think the closer Manafort gets to convinction without a save from Dear Leader. The less loyal he’ll be.
8 Likes
To half of us, Trump already looks fucking terrible.
To the other half, everything is subject to intensive mental gymnastics if that’s what’s necessary to preserve his “reputation.”
Grab ’em by the pussy? He’s a guy’s guy.
Fawns all over Putin? It’s important to have a good relationship with Russia.
Starts a trade war? Finally, someone willing to talk tough with China.
And when all else fails…
He’s a lying traitor? Oh yeah, well, Obama was black and Hillary’s computer had emails on it!
23 Likes
Yea, well…
14 Likes
Apparently they were pretty open about it. I think it was Manafort who detailed some scheme, someone responded with “isn’t that illegal?” and he laughed it off, saying, “Only if we win.”
What’s weird is that almost everyone involved had different, separate schemes for making money out of the loss. All these con-men saw a grift going on and wanted in. (And because it was a con, they were let in, because it didn’t matter who was involved in the campaign - it just had to be somebody.)
10 Likes
(I think I’ve mentioned this in the past, but…)
5 Likes
11 Likes
Someone explain why this is anything but minor news. Please! really.
Gates copped a plea because he broke the law in connection with Manafort with the expectation of testifying against Manafort. All’s come to pass. So exactly why makes it so important? What was expected – planned – happened.
I like seeing the trailer for the main event.
8 Likes
I should be excited for this beginning…but I am not. I want the main event please.
2 Likes
Now see, Ricky, that wasn’t so bad was it? It feels good to get these kinds things off your chest.
“It sure does, Ms. Bunbain!”
Paul, don’t you have anything you’d like to share with the class?
“NO!!!”
5 Likes
What do you want to bet that Paulie knew Gates was fluffing his expense reports, but considered a few hundred thousand here and there tip money for his chief co-conspirator?
Considering the “suck up and shit down,” character of this administration and almost everybody associated with it, I wouldn’t count on it. It is NEVER “enough” money for these guys.
3 Likes
2 Likes
