And so it begins with Manafort. Is anyone surprised?

There will be more. . . . Don Jr., Ivanka, Jared Kushner and Tom Barrack were big backers and advocates for Manafort being the campaign manager. We shall see.

Waiting for “Fake News” comments from THE Twitter account.

Pardons are probably being prepared.

No. Manafort predated Flynn in the sense that he was the campaign manager; Flynn came a little later.

Drip…drip..drip… we’re going to see a procession of indictments. Probably sort of slow at first, but then picking up speed.

The question is: Will any of the early indictees roll over and implicate Trump, in exchange for a lesser jail sentence?

Not surprised, always thought Manafort was one of the dirtiest and probably easiest to corner. Honestly thought that’s why they parted ways so quickly during the campaign. Everyone got what they wanted (the campaign got dirt and backers, Manafort got his name out there and probably tripled his rates) but someone in the campaign recognized who they were attached to and it was time to move on.

They’re saying the Manafort case had some statute of limitations issues that required it to come out quickly. The rest of the investigation is still going on.

I think Flynn is the big wild card. Think about his psychology a bit (obviously I don’t know him, just think about what we do know and his demeanor). Retired lifelong army guy who is a registered Democrat but was forced out of his last job and into consulting.

From wikipedia:

On April 30, 2014, Flynn announced his retirement effective later that year, about a year earlier than he had been scheduled to leave his position. He was reportedly effectively forced out of the DIA after clashing with superiors over his allegedly chaotic management style and vision for the agency. In a private e-mail that was leaked online, Colin Powell said that he had heard in the DIA (apparently from later DIA director Vincent R. Stewart) that Flynn got fired because he was “abusive with staff, didn’t listen, worked against policy, bad management, etc.“According to The New York Times, Flynn exhibited a loose relationship with facts, leading his subordinates to refer to Flynn’s repeated dubious assertions as “Flynn facts”.

Remember he wanted to deal with congress before testimony, but they didn’t want to give any sort of immunity protection. I always think those things are at least somewhat informed by behind the scenes meetings. Someone has something on him and someone in Congress knew that.

Read the section regarding consulting work here as well

The guy was forced out of his last job, switched parties for the election, switched sides on Turkey for payment, and now is under investigation.

That guy has reason to be angry, and appears ready to talk for the right deal. I think he’s your Huckleberry.

Nope.

Anybody who operates as an agent for a foreign government without registering with the DOJ is going to get into trouble. Manafort has lobbied for such cool guys as Ferdnand Marcos, and Mobutu Seko, and did not register. It is no wonder he is in trouble.

Are you thinking Manafort, if even convicted, will be offered a special deal if he can divulge information on the Trump campaign? The charges cover Manafort’s activities from 2006–2014, 2–10 years before his involvement with the Trump campaign— and do not even involve Russia.

George Papadopoulos is maybe more important as he has now admitted being in contact with the Russians while he worked for Trump. I think Flynn may be the real bombshell however given that Trump tried so hard to ensure he wouldn’t be investigated.