Serious point to ponder: Why did Manafort lie?

[Stinky The Clown]

To protect Trump?

To protect himself from . . . . . ?

Omerta?

It is inexplicable to me.

[mindem]

1. Because he's a republican?

N/T

[MiniMe]

2. He is scared of Putin

Putin poison's people

[Stinky The Clown]

4. That's highest on my list of suppositions

[sellitman]

5. Agreed

Putin will enact revenge on Manafort and his family. No doubt.

[Glimmer of Hope]

14. This is what I think too but I wonder if Mueller knows and has offered protection.

Protection seems impossible though.

[Golden Raisin]

16. And/or they mysteriously and "accidentally" fall out of 4th floor

windows or off of balconies.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Because he thought he'd get away with it.

Almost everyone who lies, whether it's a small, insignificant one ("Honest, honey, you look GREAT in that dress!&quot or a huge one ("I am not a crook" or even better, "Two of the finest public servants it has been my privilege to know&quot most people at least temporarily believe what they are saying, and even when they don't -- especially when the don't -- they just hope it won't come back to bite them.

[Grasswire2]

6. For the pardon.

No lie, no pardon.

[mobeau69]

7. Why have they all lied?

That is the question. WTF are they all trying to cover up. That answer will be found in the last chapter. Guaranteed to be mind blowing. Rump may well end up convicted of treason.

[Ilsa]

8. Indeed, what stinks so much, what is so devastating that

they'd risk their freedom to protect? How fucking bad is it?

[Volaris]

11. They sold out their country for Republican Party Power.

And when that becomes widley understood, the GOP as it currently exists, will go the way of the Whigs.

The thing they're trying to protect, is the 2 party-system as they understand it. When they fail, there may well be ONLY Dems and Dirty Liberalism for about 30 years or so....MORE than enough time to drag this nation into the 22 century like is needed, and bury the rocks they're gonna go hide under.

[struggle4progress]

9. Maybe he's done it so often, he can't break the habit

[manor321]

10. I and others have been saying for two years that the truth is very bad

IMHO, the truth about the collusion case is extremely bad. So bad that numerous people have been lying repeatedly.

IMHO, it will be so bad the Congress will have no choice but to impeach. The only question I think is how many Republican Senators, if any, will vote to remove.

[world wide wally]

12. Force of habit

[moondust]

13. Adam Schiff

apparently just told Rachel that it may be because telling the truth would have been so damaging to Trump that Manafort knew he would never get a pardon if he told the truth.

(I wasn't listening too closely but that's the gist of what she just told Lawrence.)

[bdamomma]

15. This was Malcolm Nance

on Stephanie Miller Today. Please listen to this.

[Wellstone ruled]

17. Conspiracy in plain sight.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

18. People Make The Choice To Commit Perjury, Even Knowing The Consequences, Because......

..........they fear the repercussions of the truth coming out. In this case, I can only come up with three possibilities.

1. He thought he could get away with it (not at all likely, considering he'd already worked out a plea deal to spill his guts in exchange for leniency--he was NOT trying to protect himself from a longer sentence).

2. He feared reprisals from the Russians.

3. He was protecting Trump, possibly in exchange for the promise of a pardon.

I see NO other possibilities.

[Hassler]

19. He's a Repug. He's a partner with Stone, he's a friend of Cheeto's, he's an arrogant prick and

A convicted felon. Thoughts and prayers.

[gratuitous]

20. The "why" is a tantalizing question

But ultimately, I don't think even Manafort could untangle all the competing interests, fears, privileges, pitfalls, and all the rest of his motivations for anything he does. Lying? What's shading the truth when you've done all Manafort has done in his life for personal fame and fortune?

I don't suppose the prosecutor is going to be inclined to shrug and let him off with a "Well, whaddya gunna do?" It has also been my experience that judges really dislike being lied to, and federal judges dislike it to the power of Marine drill instructor. Whose shoes are too tight.

Paul Manafort better get comfortable with the idea that he will spend the rest of his natural life in prison, and he will never again wear a tailored suit worth thousands of dollars. The blood of his victims will stain him forever.

[defacto7]

21. At some point it becomes pathological.

They can't even decern the ethical difference between truth and lies. But I also go with the Russian threat scenario.

[triron]

22. Adam Schiff has an explanation that makes sense to me

after 42:42