Manafort Lied to Mueller and Now We Know Why Trump Looked So Scared on Election Night

If the House had stayed under Republican control, Trump and Manafort would be sitting pretty right now. Trump could pardon Manafort for every crime he has committed--including the crime of lying to Mueller--on the grounds that his lies prove that he stayed loyal to the POTUS, and in Trump's universe (the world of organized crime), loyalty is more important than honesty or obeying the law. While some state might choose to prosecute Manafort for other crimes, it is quite likely that Kavanaugh, as part of his soul selling to get on the Supreme Court--had already promised that if Manafort was charged by a state for something that he admitted to Mueller, double jeopardy laws would come into play. Or Kavanaugh might argue that Trump's pardon covered even state crimes as long as they were uncovered in a federal investigations.

However, that plan backfired when the Democrats regained control of the House--and the ability to subpoena witnesses. Were Trump to pardon Manafort now, the Democrats in Congress could demand that the former Trump aid testify. In public. Without pleading the Fifth since he would no longer be in legal jeopardy. If Manafort lied to Congress , then Mueller would tell on him--and another round of federal prosecution would begin, this one even more politically dangerous to Trump than the first since all of Manafort's testimony--and the nature of his lies--would be public.

That means Manafort must remain un-pardoned--even though he now faces many years on federal prison for lying to Mueller as well as for his other crimes. Unless....

If I were a wily, scheming manipulator of politicians, I would have foreseen the possibility that the House would flip. Or that Trump might not deliver the promised pardon. And I would have bought myself insurance by making certain that I had solid evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Trump and Pence. And Jared and Ivanka. And others. I would have placed that evidence someplace secret and secure. And then, I would have my attorneys talk to Democrats in Congress. I would promise to reveal that iron clad evidence and spill my guts in front of Congress and the nation, in essence offering Trump's head up on a platter like the head of John the Baptist--in exchange for a promise from Congress that nothing I reveal to them will be used against me. If at all possible, I would have solid evidence of a conspiracy between me and Trump to lie to Mueller in exchange for a presidential pardon.

The ball is in your court, Congressional Democrats. Mueller has given you all you need to take down Trump. Prison for the Cheeto Haired Pussy Grabber is no longer a long shot.

Trump has one last play he can make---pardon Manafort, get him sprung from jail and on a plane bound for Russia before the new House Dems are sworn in and before any federal or state prosecutor can arrest him again. Which means we need reporters camped out at whatever federal prison is housing Manafort 24/7 and state prosecutors standing by with arrest warnings in hand.

This may be a very entertaining Christmas.