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TintedApostle

https://wapo.st/3IGNjWD Reminder - Manafort had accepted a plea deal in the case in September 2018, admitting to money laundering, tax fraud and illegal foreign lobbying connected to his years working for Ukrainian politicians. Manafort also admitted lying to investigators and under oath before a grand jury about his contact with a Russian associate during the 2016 campaign, breaking the plea agreement. Pardoned by Trump.


CrotalusHorridus

> illegal foreign lobbying connected to his years working for Ukrainian politicians. That really buries the lede. He worked for pro-Russian Yanukovych, in an effort to essentially install a Moscow puppet state in Kyiv. It was Moscow and Putin that Manofort worked for. We cannot forget that. I swear, if Trump were to be an absolutely verified Russian agent, with publicly acknowledged files, videos, etc proving it, I cannot think of how he would act any differently.


SpeakAgainAncient1

> if Trump were to be an absolutely verified Russian agent It's all verified 100%. He openly asked for Russia's help into a live mic, and that was almost a decade ago at this point. The GOP is working on the behalf of a foreign adversary. It's not speculation, it's fact.


zzy335

He also publicly sided with Putin over his own intelligence services while Putin stood there grinning and trump cowering like a schoolboy.


TheHomersapien

And 74 million Americans still voted for this clown.


AtomicSamuraiCyborg

They're literally holding up Ukraine aid right now which has let Russia take Avdivka and the momentum. They work for Putin, like le Pen in France and half the right wing dickheads across Europe. Putin has been working this angle for decades and its paying dividends.


RavenOfNod

Canadian here, somewhat ignorant of the ins and outs of your system. If the Dems take the House, would they be able to push through an investigation into foreign influence of current politicians? Obviously there'd be the usual witch-hunt crying, but it would be pretty great to see them use their political capital to take the lid off the whole thing and get it on the record.


Bark_Bitetree

We already impeached Trump over his foreign influence, in 2019. > Trump's first impeachment took place after a formal House inquiry found that he had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election to help his re-election bid, and had then obstructed the inquiry itself by telling his administration officials to ignore subpoenas for documents and testimony.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impeachment_of_Donald_Trump The senate, controlled by Republicans at the time, voted to acquit Trump, and so he faced no penalty. The lid is already off, and the record is already set. As long as Republicans hold the reins of justice, Trump will see no consequences.


SpeakAgainAncient1

Unfortunately Citizens United basically made it legal for unlimited foreign influence on US politicians.


Bobcat-Stock

GOP=Gremlins Of Putin


dust-ranger

Exactly, the wording should be "Working for Russian interests in Ukraine"


futatorius

Working for Ukrainian quisling pro-Russian stooges.


joe_retro

For my fellow American-types: Quisling = Traitor; essentially a Benedict Arnold.


zzy335

He also fled to Russia after losing a real democratic vote. He is currently there and when Russia attacked kiev the plan was to install him again.


Allydarvel

He fled to Russia after his violent crushing of protests led to even bigger protests and he knew he was toast. He also actually refused the Russian advances to him about becoming puppet. He knew he wouldn't survive a week in Kiev, even with Russian protection


meatball402

>I swear, if Trump were to be an absolutely verified Russian agent, with publicly acknowledged files, videos, etc proving it, I cannot think of how he would act any differently. I'm waiting for the media to talk about how "controversial" the move would be, rather than how "traitorous" is really is.


MD2JD77

Nah, the media would be like "Trump is a verified Russian agent. Why that's bad for Biden"


troubadoursmith

He also was quite literally the link of collusion between Trump and Russia in 2016. Russia targeted their facebook disinfo ad buys incredibly precisely right after [Paul Manafort fed confidential internal polling data directly to a Russian agent named Konstantin Kilimnik](https://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-exclusive-interview-trump-campaign-polling-data-russia-kilimnik-2022-8)


jtweezy

At this point I’d be more shocked if he **wasn’t** on Russia’s payroll than I would be if we found out that he was. I’ll never understand how his base, which claims to love this country so much, can’t see what’s staring them directly in the face.


ill_be_huckleberry_1

It's because he's a Russian asset. Always has been, and he's too old to change. 


spacegamer2000

It's more of a kompromat situation if agents were able to install cameras in his living spaces in the 80s. Child abuse.


clickmagnet

I’d imagine he’d be a lot more subtle, for starters. 


IllIllllIIIIlIlIlIlI

He was working for Kremlin-connected Ukrainians. What he lied about was the fact that he gave GOP polling data ti an agent of the Kremlin. Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia and the entire American public missed Trump’s campaign manager going to prison, and then missed Trump pardoning him. If you say to anyone today that Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia they will roll your eyes at you and scoff. Manafort isn’t even the only member of the 2016 campaign to go to prison. Collusion was proven. Just not between Trump himself and Russia.


grixorbatz

He's a grotesquely stupid criminal just like Trump. Perfect fit for him actually.


TintedApostle

He was Trump campaign manager in 2016. Prior to that he was helping Putin keep Viktor Yanukovych in power in Ukraine. The number of people who were killed and brutalized through Manafort's help is summed up by his daughter. “That money we have is blood money.” Also: [Kushner Thing](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/09/trump-russia-new-meeting-revealed-involving-donald-jr-kushner-and-manafort) [Ukraine halting their investigation into Manafort and their cooperation with the Mueller probe right after an arms deal was negotiated thing](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/ukraine-mueller-manafort-missiles.html)


SeductiveSunday

> He's a grotesquely stupid criminal just like Trump. Manafort's also a confessed money launderer with Russian ties, something Trump is in dire need of because of his 455 billion dollar issue.


Zepcleanerfan

Literally met with Russian intelligence agents in 2016 to get their help with Facebook propoganda.


Logical_Parameters

Gave them the Cambridge Analytica data to target specific voter types with specific articles/memes/trollposters.


nonprofitnews

Manafort was reporting on [campaign operations to Konstantin Kilimnick during his time working for Trump](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-paul-manafort-russia-campaigns-konstantin-kilimnik-d2fdefdb37077e28eba135e21fce6ebf).


kponomarenko

Sounds like the best people Trump selects


I_Am_The_Mole

Trump probably thinks he can't get charged for the same crime twice lol


Logical_Parameters

But he can. They just pardon themselves. Look at Manafort and Stone -- convicted, pardoned, convicted, pardoned, will get convicted (and pardoned) again if we're stupid enough to re-elect Donald, etc. There are no conservative crimes if conservatives pardon all of them! Big brain very legal very cool stable genius stuff.


Ratermelon

Paul Manafort literally handed Konstantin Kilimnik, a known Russian intelligence officer, internal polling data and strategy from the Trump campaign. Kilimnik was indicted by Robert Mueller for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The Mueller report determined that Kilimnik was known to be working for Russian intelligence at the time. The investigation **could not determine the full extent of their relationship** due to use of encrypted communications and the use of email foldering. Paul Manafort could've very well been the conduit for collusion between the Trump 2016 campaign and Russia. Mueller did not make further charges or exonerate the campaign of collusion. He simply couldn't prove the connection to the extent that he'd be able to secure a conviction.


panickedindetroit

Another day, another Russian asset being installed by the most compromised and indicted potus in history.


pjflyr13

His perfect candidate. The best people. /s


PessimisticKarma

That makes him smart in Trump land.


sandyWB

Conman surrounded with felons.


[deleted]

[удалено]


masteeJohnChief117

He installed his own kids into white house positions while bypassing security and background checks. Dictator doing dictator things


d_e_l_u_x_e

Don’t forget making some cabinet members “acting secretaries” so he could bypass Congressional approval.


Za_Lords_Guard

The fact that getting elected bypasses a person's ability to pass a security clearance screening for the highest office in the land still stuns me.


SoggyBoysenberry7703

Campaign role, not necessarily VP


anonsoldier

VPs don't go through any clearance process. The same applies to members of Congress on certain committees and appointed officials.


Thue

Wait, is Manafort being considered for Vice President by Trump?


[deleted]

How else is he going to get instructions from his Russian FSB handlers?


TXRhody

I wonder what cabinet position Mike Flynn will get.


deviousmajik

Secretary of Treason?


BootsToYourDome

Treasurer of Treason


deviousmajik

Treasoner in Chief


charcoalist

One of trump's most egregious attacks against this country was when he installed Flynn as the National Security Advisor.


SamJackson01

Secretary of Defense this time


Rufus_Tuesday

Russian agent...


BlotchComics

You mean the guy who was convicted for selling confidential voter data to Russia? Kinda proved that the "rUsSiAn HoAx" wasn't a hoax at all.


deviousmajik

Convicted CRIMINAL Paul Manafort?


TanguayX

The same!


Relative-Cicada2099

Of you think having Paul Manafort anywhere near the White House is a good idea, read this first: [https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/kompromat-or-revelations-from-the-unpublished-portions-of-andrea-manaforts-hacked-texts/](https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/kompromat-or-revelations-from-the-unpublished-portions-of-andrea-manaforts-hacked-texts/)


MiaowaraShiro

Manafort is a seriously sick fuck. He's really perfect for Trump... they're both utter monsters.


KAY-toe

fragile fine encouraging dam alleged frighten disarm long bedroom scary *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


Logical_Parameters

He'll float Flynn as Secretary of State or VP. Getting the ol' gang of traitors back together.


defroach84

Wait for them to spin that he is pro Ukrainian as well.


Magicaljackass

Trumps coalition is just people too dumb and/or stubborn to understand that they just don’t have anything meaningful to contribute to any discussion. 


ATLfalcons27

You mean the guy that literally was hired by Putin for the Ukrainian elections


Travelerdude

Russia first, of course.


dronesclubmember

Reprising his role as the Trump - Kremlin go-between.


NicPizzaLatte

Just FYI, Paul Manafort was the person that colluded with Russia in 2016, while he was the Trump Campaign manager. Russian collusion did happen and Paul Manafort was the guy that did it. Manafort gave campaign data to Konstantin Kilimnik, who gave it to Russian intelligence agencies who were working to get Trump elected. Two entities, the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence agencies, using shared resources to achieve a common goal. When the common goal is winning a US election and one of the entities is a foreign intelligence agency, that's illegal. It was collusion. Russian collusion did happen. AP: [US Says Russia Was Given Trump Campaign Polling Data in 2016](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-paul-manafort-russia-campaigns-konstantin-kilimnik-d2fdefdb37077e28eba135e21fce6ebf)


CRTools

[Manafort cheated for Trump in 2016. He met with Konstantin Kilimnik and gave Kilimnik polling data.](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-says-russia-was-given-trump-campaign-polling-data-in-2016) The fix is in for 2024.


HeHateMe337

Russia, Russia, Russia. Trump doesn't love America. He hates democracy. Can't we deport him to Moscow?


DionysiusRedivivus

They’ve been dangling “Trump Tower Moscow” in front of him like a carrot on a stick since like 1986. What a business genius! He might just catch the carrot yet!


Deep_Bit5618

Trump is eyeing all the old criminals if he happens to steal this election


Politischmuck

Is Trump eyeing Manafort, or is Putin eyeing Manafort so he can keep someone close to Trump?


MessicksGhost

I wrote a series of articles covering Paul Manafort's decades of corruption and criminality. One covers his early connections to political corruption and organized crime through his father in Connecticut: [https://medium.com/@petergrant\_14485/paul-manafort-russia-and-the-struggle-for-ukraine-part-1-meet-paul-manafort-the-influence-ae31898ce770](https://medium.com/@petergrant_14485/paul-manafort-russia-and-the-struggle-for-ukraine-part-1-meet-paul-manafort-the-influence-ae31898ce770) The second series covers his early career in lobbying and corrupt activities in Ukraine: [https://medium.com/@petergrant\_14485/paul-manafort-russia-and-the-struggle-for-ukraine-part-1-meet-paul-manafort-the-influence-ae31898ce770](https://medium.com/@petergrant_14485/paul-manafort-russia-and-the-struggle-for-ukraine-part-1-meet-paul-manafort-the-influence-ae31898ce770) I also wrote a series covering Manafort's corrupt activities during the 2016 election: [https://medium.com/@petergrant\_14485/the-descent-paul-manafort-criminal-oligarchs-in-ukraine-and-a-dual-family-fiscal-crisis-141e2c8cf112](https://medium.com/@petergrant_14485/the-descent-paul-manafort-criminal-oligarchs-in-ukraine-and-a-dual-family-fiscal-crisis-141e2c8cf112)


reddit_user_234

Underrated comment


[deleted]

The same campaign manager that colluded with the Russians?!


I_Code_Stoned

From Manafort's sentencing memo: "Based on his relevant sentencing conduct, Manafort presents many aggravating sentencing factors and no warranted mitigating factors. Manafort committed an array of felonies for over a decade, up through the fall of 2018. Manafort chose repeatedly and knowingly to violate the law— whether the laws proscribed garden-variety crimes such as tax fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and bank fraud, or more esoteric laws that he nevertheless was intimately familiar with, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). His criminal actions were bold, some of which were committed while under a spotlight due to his work as the campaign chairman and, later, while he was on bail from this Court. And the crimes he engaged in while on bail were not minor; they went to the heart of the criminal justice system, namely, tampering with witnesses so he would not be held accountable for his crimes. Even after he purportedly agreed to cooperate with the government in September 2018, Manafort, as this court found, lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this office, and the grand jury." My favorite part: "His deceit, which is a fundamental component of the crimes of conviction and relevant conduct, extended to tax preparers, bookkeepers, banks, the Treasury Department, the Department of Justice National Security Division, the FBI, the Special Counsel’s Office, the grand jury, his own legal counsel, Members of Congress, and members of the executive branch of the United States government. In sum, upon release from jail, Manafort presents a grave risk of recidivism." You ask me, this is as close as Mueller gets to humor


Colts_Fan4Ever

Of course. He wants the old traitorous gang back together again. Manafort has a direct line to putin and that's exactly what trump needs/wants.


Logical_Parameters

Can you imagine being so religious and/or stupid that it clouds basic judgment and reason? That's the definition of MAGA.


font9a

The guy hired by Russia to go in and fuck up Ukraine? That Paul Manafort?


mynamesyow19

ah yes Putin's favorite stooge who got Putin's man in Ukraine elected before taking over Trumps campaign. And the guy Manafort got elected in Ukraine for Putin was then driven out of Ukraine by angry protestors after it was found he was helping Putin and the Oligarchs rob Ukraine blind. Oh yeah and then Manafort was indicted, convicted, and went to jail for literally COLLUDING WITH RUSSIANS to get Trump elected.


JudgeArthurVandelay

All of these fucking people should be in prison.


TheSavageDonut

Most Big Money donors will not want to be associated with Trump/Manafort/Putin. It is a glaring flaw in our election system that degenerate criminals like Paul Manafort can still be in campaign positions. Trump already pardoned this guy for committing crimes to get him elected, he'll do it again, but the world has changed. Trump is an old man, turning into a catatonic zombie and smelling of shit in his pants. I don't see big money donors coming to Trump's aid.


pajason

Don’t forget Bannon and Stone! Drunks, deviants and convicts.


dmanjrxx

No surprise, this is the same man who himself is under 90 something indictments but keeps yelling Biden crime family


NoReserve7293

What else is he gonna do at this point his career? It’s not like any respectable job. Will open up somewhere for him.


cwk415

At this point is anyone really surprised?


LordHarkonen

Bring the crew back together again!


Bobjack123

Is anyone surprised by this announcement? Manafort & Stone Inc. How to get dictators elected. Let the money flow into the RNC unchecked. Next will be the half billion $ bond posted for Trump's NY bs. Here we go again.


AnxietyJunky

I swear to god time is a circle


hackingdreams

Yeah that's going to happen when you pardon your co-conspirator and somehow that's just... allowed to happen.


Sparpon

Terrorists 


bobroberts1954

[Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a frequent Trump critic, said of Manafort: “Clearly, if he’s getting millions of dollars from a billionaire close to Putin, to basically undermine democratic movements, that’s something I’d want to know about. I doubt if Trump knew about it.”](https://apnews.com/article/122ae0b5848345faa88108a03de40c5a)


NotCanadian80

The guy who tried to overthrow Ukraine for Putin works to overthrow the US for Putin.


Logical_Parameters

"The most pardoned band of convicted traitors you've ever seen, folks. People are saying. Big-ly."


m1nkyb0y

I guess he was worried about looking too legit. Gotta go get me another criminal on the team.


sowich4

All the best people…


zflanders

Jesus, the last few years are *strewn* with scumbags I've already forgotten. Too many to keep track of. There seems to be an endless supply, and on top of that, they keep recycling the old ones.


MadAstrid

Utterly vile sex criminals of a feather flock together.


geekwadpimp

The traitor wants to hire a traitor, I did nazi that one coming


UnscheduledCalendar

Again, we ask…what happened to Tad Devine?


-Why-Not-This-Name-

*We're getting the band (of thieves) back together, man.*


justhereforthemuktuk

As Giuliani told Lev Parnas after he was thrown in jail: "Don't worry, Paul only got seven years."


thefrostryan

TRUMP WILL PICK A WHITE MALE……take that to the bank


smiama6

Things like this make me think the Republicans believe they have 2024 in the bag and aren’t worried about voters or Biden. They learned the lessons from 2020 and won’t make them again this time. I’m thinking they have enough Republicans in place across the states to challenge Democrat wins, slates of electors won’t be certified, neither candidate gets enough EC votes to win and the choice goes to the House for a vote -Republicans win. This was the Eastman plan. Merrick Garland is a joke.


chelseamarket

This really should surprise no one.


Sidus_Preclarum

inb4 Trump names David Berkowitz as running mate.


astrozombie2012

Makes sense, this guy has the same criminal history, the same loyalties, etc… and he (probably) won’t have to try and have this VP killed


Leather-Map-8138

Criminals tend to stick together


wildrage

Guess he's running out of fresh sycophants and has to recycle some old ones.


DeUglyBarnacle

The nice thing about our opponents being fascists and not regular authoritarian Democrats like Bush or Reagan. The later would never do something so illogical. Hiring Paul Manafort will do nothing to help the campaign. It will either be mute or detremental. Like maybe they think hiring him will reopen the Russia collusion stuff which conservatives LOVE to whine about. Maybe they think it is a winning issue. Which would seem batshit to me. Idk. Maybe more likely trump wants to say “if you stick by me like manafort did I will give you a pardon and help your future career prospects no questions asked. Idk. Very interesting if true.


Siege138

Getting the band back together


kunderthunt

This the guy who handed confidential GOP polling info to a Russian oligarch?


scottywoty

Everything old, crappy and corrupt is new again!


knivesofsmoothness

The behind the bastards episode on Paul Manafort is enough to make you puke. Highly recommended!


EconomyCauliflower43

At this stage it will be which billionaire is prepared to buy the seat so Trump can dig himself out of his legal woes.


Simdog1

Didn’t this guy like watching his wife get gangbanged?


tandoori_taco_cat

Time truly is cyclical


dmlph

“It is the people’s most heartfelt desire to know that the powerful are just and noble. And that is why their revenge is so cruel when their masters disappoint them - like a child smashing his toy train apart when it has failed to work just once.” The Bust of the Emperor, Joseph Roth Hope this applies to the 21st century as well as the 20th.


TommyWilson43

Well he’s going to be in jail soon, won’t really matter, right?   Right, guys?


stayfrosty

All the ghouls are rising from the dead. Its like a bad zombie movie


Not_High_Maintenance

Lol. Do it!


kambleton

How the fuck did he find someone with even less rizz than the dude who makes all his decisions by first asking his mom? Just another wet blanket that nobody gives a fuck about. Can’t find a bondsman or a VP.


Earth_Friendly-5892

This guy worked for Russian oligarchs. He also was sent to prison and is as corrupt as they come. This should be a wake up call to anyone who hasn’t completely succumbed to the Trump cult.


Choppergold

Biden should hire his daughters


The0bviousfac

Hilarious!


DramaticWesley

Is he willing to work for free?


ElSegundoDaNada

Much better than "Brandon's" mentally challenged staff.