Trump’s Lawyer Raised Prospect of Pardons for Flynn and Manafort as Special Counsel Closed In

[Confounding]

Thoughts?

Trump’s Lawyer Raised Prospect of Pardons for Flynn and Manafort as Special Counsel Closed In

A lawyer for President Trump broached the idea of Mr. Trump pardoning two of his former top advisers, Michael T. Flynn and Paul Manafort, with their lawyers last year, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.

The discussions came as the special counsel was building cases against both men, and they raise questions about whether the lawyer, John Dowd, was offering pardons to influence their decisions about whether to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation.

The talks suggest that Mr. Trump’s lawyers were concerned about what Mr. Flynn and Mr. Manafort might reveal were they to cut a deal with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in exchange for leniency. Mr. Mueller’s team could investigate the prospect that Mr. Dowd made pardon offers to thwart the inquiry, although legal experts are divided about whether such offers might constitute obstruction of justice.

Mr. Dowd’s conversation with Mr. Flynn’s lawyer, Robert K. Kelner, occurred sometime after Mr. Dowd took over last summer as the president’s personal lawyer, at a time when a grand jury was hearing evidence against Mr. Flynn on a range of potential crimes. Mr. Flynn, who served as Mr. Trump’s first national security adviser, agreed in late November to cooperate with the special counsel’s investigation. He pleaded guilty in December to lying to the F.B.I. about his conversations with the Russian ambassador and received favorable sentencing terms.

 

[depotoo]

Did his lawyer raise the prospect or did theirs...

 

[TheOldSchool]

We already know Trump will pardon felons and criminals if the political winds shift the right way. I would not be surprised if he pardoned Manafort and Flynn, considering what little respect he has for the rule of law.

 

[mudwhistle]

Thoughts?

Trump’s Lawyer Raised Prospect of Pardons for Flynn and Manafort as Special Counsel Closed In

A lawyer for President Trump broached the idea of Mr. Trump pardoning two of his former top advisers, Michael T. Flynn and Paul Manafort, with their lawyers last year, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.

The discussions came as the special counsel was building cases against both men, and they raise questions about whether the lawyer, John Dowd, was offering pardons to influence their decisions about whether to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation.

The talks suggest that Mr. Trump’s lawyers were concerned about what Mr. Flynn and Mr. Manafort might reveal were they to cut a deal with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in exchange for leniency. Mr. Mueller’s team could investigate the prospect that Mr. Dowd made pardon offers to thwart the inquiry, although legal experts are divided about whether such offers might constitute obstruction of justice.

Mr. Dowd’s conversation with Mr. Flynn’s lawyer, Robert K. Kelner, occurred sometime after Mr. Dowd took over last summer as the president’s personal lawyer, at a time when a grand jury was hearing evidence against Mr. Flynn on a range of potential crimes. Mr. Flynn, who served as Mr. Trump’s first national security adviser, agreed in late November to cooperate with the special counsel’s investigation. He pleaded guilty in December to lying to the F.B.I. about his conversations with the Russian ambassador and received favorable sentencing terms.

I'll see your pardon and raise you 6 fun filled nights with Stormy Daniels.

 

[WorldWatcher]

Thoughts?

Thought #1: Don't do it, political suicide.

Thought #2: If Trump pardon's Manafort before trial and conviction, then there is an argument to be made that is an act of obstruction of Justice and would be an impeachable offense. (I'm not saying Trump can't Constitutionally pardon Manafort before the trial, but on the other hand there is nothing preventing Congress from viewing that as obstruction.)

Through #3: Do it, please do it. If Flynn and Manafort are pardoned they (a) accept that they committed the crimes for which they are pardoned, and (b) can no long claim a 5th Amendment right not to answer questions in a court of law due to self-incrimination. Self-incrimination applies to criminal actions and if those actions have already been pardoned, then there is no 5th Amendment claim. Failure then to testify becomes criminal contempt of court, a crime then not covered under the pardon. Or perjury if they lie to the court.



>>>>

 

[mudwhistle]

Thoughts?

Thought #1: Don't do it, political suicide.

Thought #2: If Trump pardon's Manafort before trial and conviction, then there is an argument to be made that is an act of obstruction of Justice and would be an impeachable offense. (I'm not saying Trump can't Constitutionally pardon Manafort before the trial, but on the other hand there is nothing preventing Congress from viewing that as obstruction.)

Through #3: Do it, please do it. If Flynn and Manafort are pardoned they (a) accept that they committed the crimes for which they are pardoned, and (b) can no long claim a 5th Amendment right not to answer questions in a court of law due to self-incrimination. Self-incrimination applies to criminal actions and if those actions have already been pardoned, then there is no 5th Amendment claim. Failure then to testify becomes criminal contempt of court, a crime then not covered under the pardon. Or perjury if they lie to the court.



>>>>

Yeah, and if Trump were to walk up to Obama and shoot him in the face.....that would be bad.


So much for idle speculation.