My prediction...Manafort will be more terrified of the Russians than the rest of his life in prison.

[Miles Archer]

I posted an NYT article earlier today about Tuesday's trial. It has nothing to do with collusion at this point. It's a fraud trial, it's all about where the money went.

I'll make two predictions, when all of the trials are over.

1). If at any point in any of the trials, Manafort has the opportunity to point his finger at the Russians to save his own hide, he'll take the prison sentence. There won't be a single word about Russian wrongdoing that passes his lips. He knows the consequences of loose lips sinking his ship.

2). Trump won't pardon him. He's more terrified of Cohen, and if Cohen flips, there won't be a pardon there either. But I do believe Manafort is on the short list of people that Trump will happily let take the fall. He'll save the pardons for Don Jr. and Jared. All he needs is one "bad guy" to justify pardoning everyone else.

We shall see.

[RockRaven]

1. Yup, nothing can stop them from eventually slipping you nerve agent or radioactive material

along with the entirety of your family. He might be in jail, but every single blood/by-marriage relative isn't dead.

[democratisphere]

2. Agreed. drumpf is scared of putin and the russians too.

[lindysalsagal]

9. And when you remember that, everything makes sense.

[democratisphere]

10. Sure does.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I have always thought that as well.

It explains why he hasn't flipped or negotiated a plea.

[2naSalit]

4. I think you're right about that...nt

[uponit7771]

5. K&R, ie the UK deaths

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Manafort,Page,Cohen,Stone,they all are

afraid of anyone smell of Vodka and wearing lots of bling.

[Gothmog]

7. Manafort is more afraid of Russia than prison

Link to tweet

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Manaford was more afraid of Russia than Prison - before he actually started doing real time

Now that he has lost his special treatment in jail we will see. There is something about having to spend 24 hours in what must seem like Hell to a man like Manaford, followed by another 24 hours, followed by 24 more etc. stretching endlessly into the future that could make him rethink his priorities and willingness to be alive under those conditions.

[NastyRiffraff]

11. That picture...

is a picture of a man who has lost hope. He's fucked either way; it's a long prison term or getting killed by Russians. I think at least one of the recent Russian killings may have been warnings to Manafort.

[maxrandb]

12. Well, like Henry Hill in Goodfellows

Whether he talks or not, he's a dead man...might as well talk and take your chances. At least you may avoid prison.