PAUL MANAFORT/ROBERT MUELLER/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Paul Manafort had something very, very special that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III wanted so badly: His cooperation. Today, as he promised to plead guilty to a set of reduced charges, Manafort agreed to cooperate ‘fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly’ with the special counsel’s investigation. Documents Mueller might want to inspect? Manafort has agreed to provide them. His attendance and participation at prosecutor debriefings? Done. Perform from the witness stand for prosecutors? You betcha. Why is Manafort’s cooperation so valuable to Mueller? He’s been operating inside Trump World for almost four decades and, as Trump’s campaign chairman for the crucial period including the Republican convention, he is the most powerful of all Trump’s aides and associates to be indicted. As an experienced political strategist and lobbyist, he excels at snooping out the weakness and strengths of other operators. He has kept score over the years and now his score book is about to drop onto Robert Mueller’s desk. Manafort’s defection also stands as a personal rebuke to President Donald Trump, who as recently as Aug. 22 was tweeting his admiration for Manafort for refusing to flip. ‘Such respect for a brave man!’ Trump wrote. Manafort’s move likewise sends a signal to others in the investigation to cut a deal before Mueller cuts them down in court.”
–Jack Shafer, “Week 69: Mueller Finally Comes Between Manafort and Trump,” Politico, September 14, 2018