Politics, US Pol
@Oasus Fascinating! Sounds like quite an unusual step to take - Manafort must've *really* been trying his luck. It's tempting to think he's afraid of the consequences of revealing too much about the powerful figures behind the funding of escapades as these, but my guess is it's inherent - like Cheetolini, they've known themselves to be basically above the law their entire lives.
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah @Oasus@snouts.online This may be a cynical read, but for him to not be cooperating at this stage — when he is looking at the rest of his life in jail and already incarcerated — indicates he’s thinking more about threats to his life and his family than the possibility of life in prison.
Which means whatever he knows may be damning enough to powerful people that it’s a logical play.
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah @Oasus@snouts.online I guess this substantively doesn’t add much other than agreement, so I guess it’s better to wait and see. And, also agreed that it’s a really strange position.
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah @Oasus@snouts.online PS: https://twitter.com/Popehat/status/1067229453242130432
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah @Oasus@snouts.online PPS: Marcy has an interesting take on what might be going on here: https://www.emptywheel.net/2018/11/26/manafort-tests-the-theory-of-an-unpardonable-plea/
Politics, US Pol
@Goldkin @Oasus Hmm! The payoff noted does seem like an interesting wrinkle, indeed.. I'm doubtful Manafort was acting with any particular motive, but being able to issue a (hopefully) public report that can't be sat on by Whitaker /would/ make for Quite Interesting reading. =:D (Though, how much would he want to say, /until/ it's all done?)
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah Marcy’s hypothesis is that he’s choosing to speak through legal filings that the public can see, given the amount of scrutiny on his case docket.
This helps explain the amount of detail and timing of the IRA indictment, as well as how Manafort was originally and supplementally charged.
Her assumption is, that will happen again here, too.
Politics, US Pol
@porsupah @Oasus@snouts.online On the other hand (deleting the longer version), people smarter than I am on this are also saying it could indeed be inherent (as above, and supported by attorneys like Ken White) or completely unrelated to Manafort’s intent at cooperation.
I guess it’s important to remember that it doesn’t need to be just one of these things. I think we’ll find out more closer to sentencing.