[detbuch]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

You are correct

The major beneficiary of Manafort’s actions is Vladimir Putin himself, who the IC concludes directed the 2016 attack..& who can maintain plausible deniability as long as Manafort doesn’t spill the beans

Remember that Manafort was the linchpin of Russia’s efforts with the Trump campaign. He was the one with direct contacts with Russian intel. He was the one sharing info with them. He was the one who owed a Russian oligarch $10M...but worked for the campaign for free.
Manafort initially claimed to be cooperating with Mueller. But he wasn’t: In fact he was secretly continuing to do work for Ukraine, tampering with witnesses, and lying to Mueller’s team. Mueller discovered that Trump had been dangling a pardon behind the scenes.
Manafort was in a position to spill ALL THE BEANS. He was pushing Russian disinfo (that Ukraine interfered in the election) as far back as 2016. He was sharing campaign polling data with Russian intel. Writing in “code” to his Russian oligarch debtor.
Soooo...it was (and is) really important to both Trump AND Putin to keep his mouth shut. That is what that pardon was about. HOWEVER, remember that the NY AG has an indictment lined up on Manafort on other state charges. Trump’s pardon won’t reach those.

He also continues to be a fair interview subject for FBI counterintelligence; and if he lies to them in such an interview, that’s a new crime and one that, after Jan. 20, his pal Trump won’t be around to help him with.
So, the story is not over for Manafort or Tweety because as McConnell said "While the president alone possesses the power to pardon, it's important to remember that he is not personally exempt from federal laws that prohibit the corrupt actions of all government officials."

So on January 6th, Trump will lose again -- just as he lost on November 3rd, just as he lost during every successive stage of the electoral college vote process, and just as he lost in every court challenge re the election.

These unproven (baseless, as anti-Trump media would put it) narratives are why Kavanaugh was chosen?