| First, Donald Trump's former campaign chair was sentenced to a total of 7.5 years in federal prison for a decade's worth of financial and lobbying crimes, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
If you'll recall, these charges stem from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election, though they do not involve collusion or conspiracy related to the election.
Manafort's judge, Amy Berman Jackson, addressed the court today, saying Manafort "is not public enemy No. 1. He's not a victim, either."
While Manafort's legal team -- and people such as President Donald Trump -- say the case proves there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, Berman Jackson says that is "simply a non sequitur."
And despite Manafort's apologies to the courtroom in Washington, his lawyers' arguments about the absence of any charges directly linked to collusion were "just one more thing that's inconsistent with the notion of any genuine acceptance of responsibility," Berman Jackson said.
Less than an HOUR later, Manafort got a one-two punch, of sorts, when the Manhattan district attorney announced state fraud charges against him.
The district attorney in New York charged Manafort with mortgage fraud, falsifying business records and conspiracy. Manafort has not yet entered a plea in that case.
And on top of it, President Donald Trump is being publicly pressured against any sort of immediate pardon for Manafort.
"The point is, pardoning Manafort would be a, would be seen as a political disaster for the President," Sen. Lindsey Graham said today. "There may come a day down the road, after the politics have changed, that you'd want to consider an application of him like everybody else, but now would be a disaster."
The Point: Admit it: You probably had a better Wednesday than Paul Manafort.
-- Lauren | 
Post a Comment