[lee martell]

How soon could the president pardon Manafort if he chose to do so? Right after a quilty verdict makes Manafort ‘a convict’?

[Blue House Sue]

“How soon could the president pardon Manafort if he chose to do so? Right after a quilty verdict makes Manafort ‘a convict’?”

Tonight, Trump could be pardoning him at this very moment.

[scrabblehack]

Oh no, even prior to conviction, even prior to indictment...consider Ford and Nixon.

[cynwoody]

How soon could the president pardon Manafort if he chose to do so? Right after a quilty verdict makes Manafort ‘a convict’?

As soon as he wants. Pardons don't require a conviction. From Presidential Proclamation 4311 (boldface added):

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.