The random dude from California who plead guilty to helping the Russian fraudulently conceal foreign transactions might have confessed for want of resources. The rest of them have had the resources and connections to enable them to present a vigorous defense at trial. It should be clear by now that Flynn, Papadopoulos and Gates do not anticipate that President Trump will be able to issue them pardons. This may mean that they believe that Mueller has evidence that will deny the President the political space in which to issue pardons. This would be something like evidence that Manafort coordinated with the Russians during his time at the helm but the coordination was limited to Manafort. Such a finding would vindicate the President but make it politically dangerous to issue pardons. There are of course other possibilities of varying flavors of plausibility. But there is a reason these men are pleading guilty and that reason is that someone is guilty of something and something big. These pleas aren’t for probation after all, Gates agreed to a nearly 5 year recommendation. That is not I’m innocent but think of the children time. That is I am guilty as sin but let me tell you about my friend who I can prove is even more guilty time. They all know who the friend is and what he did and they are all running scared. We are not nearly worried enough.
The thinking that the Mueller investigations ultimate goal will be impeachment of President Trump has always seemed a bridge too far. I think the most likely outcome is to create a new “Scooter Libby” for this administration so that the Democrats can continue the fiction that “Trump colluded” come the elections. It’s a thin reed to cling to, but it is something and majority of Democrats ain’t too bright to begin with.
The way things sit now it looks like Manafort will be the goat.
Ok, since you believe all of what you posted, what do you think Mueller is going after? Do you seriously think Trump decided to run for president when some Russian planted the idea into his head? Or that somehow Putin and Trump decided, hey, you run for president and we'll figure out a way to make you win because Hillary is going to be the Dem candidate. Then she will take over the DNC, have her secret use of a non-secured email server come out, be a lousy candidate, collapse during the 9/11 memorial, etc?
If Mueller is going down that road, it's preposterous. Sure, he can manufacture something that seems like a crime, but it's still preposterous. Trump had talked about possibly running for president years (and numerous election cycles) before he finally did.
looks like they are going after Manafort because he has the nerve to protest his innocence & file a lawsuit and he might win it.
“Such a finding would vindicate the President but make it politically dangerous to issue pardons.”
Nonsense. What’s dangerous about it, and which nitwits would step forward to make the threats? And in what form would those threats manifest themselves?
And nutty Maxine Waters threatening impeachment doesn’t count.