“On the surface, it will be because they did register, well after their activities, but before anyone called them out on it.”
Yes. I think Davis registered as a foreign agent.
Manafort also is being prosecuted more for laundering the money.
The Podesta/Davis Clinton operatives are experts at skirting the law.
Manafort is and always has been second rate.
It was a huge mistake to use him - he was never a Trump guy and was foisted on Trump by the RNC after Lewandowski was forced out.
It probably was, but Trump was new to DC, and they needed someone to whip the votes. I've read, IIRC, that Trump fired him when it became clear he was trying to embezzle--or at least direct in an obscure way--campaign funds to unspecified advertising sources.