Important point: Manafort probably watching Ukraine developments
As the Ukraine mess comes into focus for investigators and the nation with each new bit of evidence, there's someone sitting in prison who Trump said 'could sink him and his presidency.' Paul Manafort has not cooperated with prosecutors to the extent expected...probably because he and his co-conspirators saw a way out of the mess and into a pardon. Manafort was important to the Mueller investigation, but along with stonewalling by others his silence was likely one of the reasons why Mueller didn't describe conspiracy as strongly as he could have. (Barr is likely another reason, but that's a different point.)
As Abramson points out, the Ukraine plot really had two major objectives: rehabilitation of Russia and rehabilitation of Manafort. Biden might be a third objective but is relatively minor compared to the national security implications of the first two -- a bonus. Abramson points out that the corrupt Ukraine scandal MAY have been created during the time Mueller could have been the major threat to expose the Russia scandal, which in many ways is much worse than just Ukraine.
In addition to benefitting Russia the Ukraine scandal, if successful, could have been a reason to grant Manafort a pardon, thereby removing Manafort as a threat to Trump. NOW...if Trump/Putin Ukraine propaganda fails and Manafort thinks he'll die in prison, IS HIS MOTIVATION TO SPILL THE BEANS A BIT DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE? Will Manafort be tempted to 'sink' Trump? Is this the time the ongoing Russia counter-intelligence investigations begin to merge with Ukraine investigations?
Schiff appears to be on top of this per tweets today. And if impeachment continues along these lines and they focus on the deep, longer treachery associated with Russia...look out!
Good stuff every day here:
https://twitter.com/SethAbramson
this thread:
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