This weirdly omits an obvious but important point: Warrants, unlike subpoenas, require probable cause. https://t.co/gQjE1MohjN
— Julian Sanchez (@normative) August 9, 2017
Which, proverbially, grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.
Maybe I’m just a cockeyed optimist, but the news of last month’s pre-dawn raid feels parallel to that little 1973 news filler about a security guard detaining a couple of guys illicitly prowling the Watergate halls. It’s possible Manafort hasn’t yet flipped for Mueller’s investigators, but Paul was always much more interested in the payment than the politics, so why would he waste time laying down cover for a bunch of nitwit amateurs like J-Kush and Donny Jr?
Yes, use of a search warrant is significant. Also, this happened last month – Mueller team is quiet, professional, methodical & thorough. https://t.co/PwiN1ScAya
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) August 9, 2017
Politico, in the evening:
Federal investigators sought cooperation from Paul Manafort’s son-in-law in an effort to increase pressure on President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, according to three people familiar with the probe.
Investigators approached Jeffrey Yohai, who has partnered in business deals with Manafort, earlier this summer, setting off “real waves” in Manafort’s orbit, one of these people said. Another of these people said investigators are trying to get “into Manafort’s head.”
Manafort, who is a focus of the broad federal and congressional investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, is also under investigation for his business and real estate transactions, including some that involve Yohai…
Manafort’s team has repeatedly pushed back on suggestions he’s cooperating with federal investigators. “Paul’s been forthcoming, but he’s not a cooperating witness and any suggestion to that effect is silly,” Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said in a July interview when asked about concerns from former colleagues that Manafort had turned against the Trump team.
People close to Manafort reiterated Wednesday that he has no plans to become a cooperating witness…
Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said cooperating witnesses are “often very significant to make your case” when it gets to trial.
“They can provide direct evidence of what the defendant said or did,” he said. “That’s usually far more compelling to a jury than just looking at documents.”
Mariotti also brushed aside comments by Manafort associates who insist the former Trump campaign manager has nothing about Trump that would matter to investigators. “I wouldn’t take much from it,” he said. “I’d take it with a grain of salt.”…
I'm pretty sure Roger Stone would let you use his name WaPo https://t.co/iRxdkMjPhf pic.twitter.com/3JDI92CL1N
— Local Milk Steak (@ZeddRebel) August 9, 2017
Trump's pals at the National Enquirer really have it in for Paul Manafort. https://t.co/h4K2Cys7zI
— Bruce Bartlett (@BruceBartlett) August 9, 2017
Over the side, Paul! https://t.co/3cyqlcHZl1
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) August 9, 2017
How soon until Trump blurts out the subtext of pinning it all on Manafort?
— Schooley (@Rschooley) August 9, 2017
Pre-Dawn Open Thread: Paul Manafort & the Mills of FatePost + Comments (18)