They did it specifically to keep Trump from pardoning Manafort. Forget Cohen, he turned out to be a lying rat. I doubt Trump wanted to check mate himself.
Mark
The crimes Manafort and Cohen committed have nothing to do with Trump. I don’t think Trump should or will pardon Manafort. Manafort has been dirty since the phony dossier was first written in 2007
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117674837248471543
How Lobbyists Help Ex-Soviets Woo Washington
GLENN R. SIMPSON AND MARY JACOBY
APRIL 17, 2007
Paul Manafort, a former adviser to Mr. Dole’s presidential campaign, has advised a Ukrainian metals billionaire and his close political ally, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. Mr. Yanukovich, who favors closer ties with Mr. Putin’s administration, is embroiled in a power struggle with pro-Western Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
In some cases, the details of how these ex-Soviet clients made their fortunes are murky — and the source, amount and purpose of the fees they pay Washington consultants can be as well. In 2005, for example, Ukrainian politician Yuri Boyko used a Caribbean shell company to pay a Washington lobbyist for help arranging meetings with top Republicans.