The New York Times reported Monday evening that federal prosecutors have accused Paul Manafort of witness tampering.
In a stunning revelation, The New York Times reported Monday evening that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office has filed documents with the federal court accusing former Trump campaign manager and longtime associate Paul Manafort of witness tampering.
According to The New York Times, those court documents said that “Mr. Manafort tried to contact witnesses by phone and through an encrypted messaging program.”
Prosecutors said that was a violation of Mr. Manafort’s release while he awaits trial. They asked a federal judge to revise the terms of his release or revoke it entirely, which would send him to jail until trial.
An F.B.I. agent, Brock W. Domin, wrote in court documents that at least one witness reported Mr. Manafort’s contact and said that he appeared to be trying to coach their story about Mr. Manafort’s lobbying practices.
Legal experts and pundits had been questioning whether something was about to happen with Manafort after Trump posted two tweets over the weekend mentioning Manafort as he has said little to nothing about him subsequent to his surrender to federal authorities on October 30, 2017 to face several federal charges — which include alleged bank fraud and foreign lobbying violations.
“As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn’t the FBI or Department of “Justice” have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!” he tweeted, adding: “Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time (he represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole & many others over the years), but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldn’t have been hired!“
CNN reported that: “Former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg responded to Trump’s tweets by saying the President was demonstrating “selective memory” about the reasons for Manafort’s hiring.”
“Donald, Nice selective memory,” Nunberg wrote on Twitter. “You hired Paul because you were losing the delegate fight during the primary. If you stuck with Lewandowski, you wouldn’t have been the nominee. You’re lucky Paul worked for you.”
Monday morning, that speculation increased when Trump posted a tweet regarding his power to pardon himself and others, claiming that the Mueller investigation was “unconstitutional.”
“As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!” he tweeted regarding his power to pardon himself.
Noted former criminal investigator and defense attorney Seth Abramson disputed Trump’s claim in a Twitter thread that began with the following statement:
“The Constitution doesn’t allow a president to pardon himself—or any person with whom he has illegally conspired. No serious scholar believes “self-pardoning” is legal. This thread discusses why Trump’s latest claim is false and dangerous.”
(THREAD) The Constitution doesn't allow a president to pardon himself—or any person with whom he has illegally conspired. No serious scholar believes "self-pardoning" is legal. This thread discusses why Trump's latest claim is false and dangerous. I hope you'll read and share it. pic.twitter.com/hoHimTZcrg
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) June 4, 2018
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