On Friday, as big news so often does, news broke that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team would indict at least one person in relation to their investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign’s relation to it. Word was that the indictment would come as soon as today, which may have been the first time quite so many people were looking forward to the end of a weekend. Today did not disappoint.
Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, who left that job during the 2016 campaign after news reports of his shady dealings, has been indicted on several counts, including “conspiracy against the United States” and “conspiracy to launder money.” An important thing to note is that the charges (you can read the full indictment for yourself here) focus on Manafort’s business dealings, filings, and false statements about being a foreign agent—nothing we didn’t already know. However, it’s likely that the indictment is a step towards getting Manafort to “flip” on Trump and help the investigation on its way, and people are excited.
Dear Paul Manafort: FLIP! pic.twitter.com/082DBnpWL5
— Stefan Hayden 📎 (@StefanHayden) October 30, 2017
Also indicted was Richard Gates, a Manafort crony who continued working with the Trump team well after Manafort himself left, and there’s speculation going around that the indictment of both men at once means Mueller’s team is planning to use each of them to pressure the other into flipping. Still, expect the pro-Trump line to be that the lack of information in the indictment that’s incriminating for Trump is an indication that he’s being exonerated.
But that can’t rain on the internet’s parade, after last night had something of a Christmas Eve vibe, and everyone enjoys the feeling that time actually is moving forward, contrary to how this year feels, and the investigation along with it:
Clinton picked a career politician with questionable ethics just like her. Birds of a feather…
— Paul Manafort (@PaulManafort) July 23, 2016
I love a poorly aged tweet. https://t.co/jBuqxrFAeV
— 👻Imani Gandy👻 (@AngryBlackLady) October 30, 2017
.@newtgingrich: “Nobody should underestimate how much Paul Manafort did to really help get this [Trump] campaign to where it is right now.”
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) August 20, 2016
This tweet did not age well. https://t.co/Zb06hlhjzr
— Ray W█████ (@rayjwatson) October 30, 2017
Especially since part of the Manafort indictment, involving the FBI raiding Manafort’s home, had to do with an email retention policy:
It was the emails that got him https://t.co/OwW5z4K0Br
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) October 30, 2017
And of course, there was the predictable mocking of how Fox News decided to cover the events:
CNN: Paul Manafort arrested
MSNBC: Paul Manafort arrested
Fox and Friends: pic.twitter.com/SNEZlFPfP1— Emilia (@PoliticalEmilia) October 30, 2017
Fox News right now: pic.twitter.com/YTq9R3k1LS
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) October 30, 2017
Fox News right now pic.twitter.com/DK8KyDpoW5
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) October 30, 2017
CNN: Paul Manafort surrenders to authorities.
MSNBC: Paul Manafort surrenders to authorities.
Fox & Friends: pic.twitter.com/7eH6HGgmRy— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) October 30, 2017
CNN: Manafort Surrenders
MSNBC: Manafort Surrenders
Fox: We Think Hillary’s Hair Probably Committed Treason— Kashana (@kashanacauley) October 30, 2017
But wait! There’s more. In the time since I started writing this, the Special Counsel’s office revealed that, back on October 5, a Trump campaign Foreign Policy Adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI—specifically about meetings with Russia about the campaign:
Includes details of additional emails within the Trump campaign after he met “Putin’s niece” to arrange meetings with Russia. Campaign supervisor said “Great work” pic.twitter.com/EjJKwTyVFp
— Pwn ██ ██ ███ (b)(5) (@pwnallthethings) October 30, 2017
Statement says Papadopoulos “lied about the extent, timing, and nature of his communications” with Russian figures. pic.twitter.com/cwYxpEM60t
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) October 30, 2017
MORE: Statement says Papadopoulos informed the campaign and then-candidate Trump of Russian connection. pic.twitter.com/NdDVuxlKyI
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) October 30, 2017
That one’s going to be a lot harder to play off, but Trump is already on Twitter seizing upon the predictable spin about Manafort, so we’ll probably get to watch him try. It could also mean that Papadopoulos will assist the investigation. Grab your popcorn, folks.
(image: Ildar vector / Shutterstock.com)
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