Aides expect Trump to go rogue on Manafort pardon

[DonViejo]

The president's comments are being read as a signal that he wants to ignore his lawyers and exonerate his former campaign chairman.

By NANCY COOK 08/24/2018 04:44 PM EDT

President Donald Trump’s lawyers and a cadre of informal White House advisers claim they’ve convinced him not to pardon Paul Manafort — but White House officials expect the president to do it anyway.

The president’s characterization of his former campaign chairman as a victim and “brave man” is being read by aides as a signal that Trump wants to use his unilateral authority to issue pardons to absolve Manafort, according to eight current and former administration officials and outside advisers.

“Trump is setting it up. He’s referring to the investigation as a ‘witch hunt’ and saying this never would have happened to an aide to Hillary Clinton,” said one former campaign official.

Three senior administration aides said the president has not expressed to them directly any immediate intention of pardoning Manafort, who was convicted earlier this week on eight counts of felony tax evasion and bank fraud. Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer, told The Washington Post on Thursday that the president had agreed not to pardon Manafort, who faces a second trial on lobbying violations in Washington next month, until after the midterms if at all. Giuliani did not return a call for comment.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/24/trump-manafort-pardon-white-house-aides-795712

[exboyfil]

1. No doubt a bunch will get lame duck pardons

It will be interesting to see if he issues a pardon before he becomes a lame duck.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Going with his gut again.

I make it plain to my law clients that they always can decide what they want to do -- but with consequences. I carefully explain the consequences of each option, the advantages/disadvantages. And if they lean toward an option that will hurt them, I have them sign a disclaimer for the file which is protect me from malpractice or an ethics violation where they may claim I didn't stop them from their improvidence. And then I recommend they find another lawyer.

[monmouth4]

3. Would he do this to show Putin he at least tried?...n/t

[2naSalit]

4. Probably and to

make himself feel better thinking it will help protect him.

[HipChick]

5. How does it help him with state cases?

[2naSalit]

6. It doesn't but I think his

delusional mind thinks that he can beat these charges if he covers for the convicted nonflippers.

[Snellius]

7. That would be stupid of him. If pardoned what stops him from writing a tell-all book?

What can they do to him and he really needs the money. Don't think loyalty and scruples will get in the way.