"Toontime: Reality Sucks for Manafort

credit: K. Siers
BC Idonwanna sez: Also, he no have to do it.

The latest in the Russian Connection investigation:  Robert Mueller revealed in court documents filed Friday, that the Special Counsel uncovered additional emails directly connecting Robert Stone to Russian intelligence operation Gucifer 2.0 and "Organization I", widely considered to be Wikileaks.  The emails were discovered in response to subpoenas issued by his office.  Stone previously claimed he never communicated directly with Wikileaks, but used a go-between, Randy Credico. Credico has repeatedly denied being Stone's source.  Emails show that Stone did communicate with Jerome Corsi to get in touch with Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder.

The Special Counsel recommended that Paul Manafort serve 19.5 years in prison, slightly less than the maximum under federal sentencing guidelines of 24.4 years.  Manafort is reportedly 69 years old, but prosecutors said his age should not be considered a factor in sentencing. Manafort has already served eight months in jail. Their recommendation reflects the seriousness of the financial crimes perpetrated by Manafort to "maintain his extravagant lifestyle, at the expense of various financial institutions." Manafort sent fake financial statements to secure mortgages when payments from his consulting clients dried up.

He spent lavishly on luxury goods, including landscaping services to maintain the flower bed shaped as the letter 'M' in front of his Hampton mansion. Court documents say he committed crimes, "for no other reason than greed, evidencing his belief that the law does not apply to him." Manafort was convicted by an Alexandria, VA jury in August on eight counts of financial fraud arising out of his representation of the former pro-Russian Ukrainian government. A month later he pleaded guilty in Washington DC to two felony conspiracy charges as part of a plea agreement that dropped other potential charges to which he confessed. He was found guilty last week of violating that agreement to cooperate. Sentencing in his DC case is set for March 13th.

Robert Gates, Manafort's deputy, was present at the August 2nd cigar room meeting in Manhattan with Russian operative Konstantin Kliminik. His sentencing has been put off several times with apparent good reason. He is cooperating with the Special Counsel, and his testimony is probably responsible in large part for Manafort's dire straits. But he faces another front: Southern District of New York prosecutors are investigating illegal inaugural committee contributions. That committee was chaired by Thomas J.Barrack Jr., a long time friend of Individual I. Robert Gates was also his deputy. Gates has already admitted personally misusing campaign funds. So far he has avoided the limelight, but that may change as the investigations continue into year two.

credit: T. Egan
Wackydoodle sez: I betch'ya!