Russia Investigation Heating Up

[Fortybox]

He can, but it won't undo the sentence that's already been rendered. Remember, separation of powers. The Executive doesn't have any say in sentencing.

[Tgo01]

Yeah, why would Manafort cooperate with the feds instead of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Are you talking about him "flipping" so he can receive a plea deal on the charges he wasn't convicted of, or are you talking about "flipping" in regards to the charges he was already convicted of?

[Androidpk]

both

[Tgo01]

Not a lawyer but I've seen multiple other lawyers say that Manafort can make a deal with the prosecutors at any time, even now.

I'm sure he can make a deal with prosecutors all he wants but according to federal guidelines it's way too late to make a deal on the charges he has already been found guilty of.

[Tgo01]

both

Well that's just dumb. He's facing what, 80 years in prison for what he's already been convicted of? Chances are he's going to die in prison anyways unless he gets a pardon, why would he make a plea deal for the other charges and ruin his only shot at a pardon?

[Androidpk]

Because he hasn't been sentenced yet. If he makes a deal with the prosecutors they can bring that to the judge. He doesn't HAVE to accept but he can and likely would.

[Tgo01]

Because he hasn't been sentenced yet. If he makes a deal with the prosecutors they can bring that to the judge. He doesn't HAVE to accept but he can and likely would.

That's a plea deal, it's way too late to make a plea deal.

[Androidpk]

Manafort can still make a deal with Mueller.

[Tgo01]

Manafort can still make a deal with Mueller.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_11

Subdivision (e)(5) makes it mandatory that, except for good cause shown, the court be notified of the existence of a plea agreement at the arraignment or at another time prior to trial fixed by the court.

According to federal guidelines a plea agreement has to be made prior to the start of trial. The trial has concluded and he was found guilty, it's way too late for a plea agreement.

Sure I guess Manafort could just ask Mueller "Pretty please ask the judge to give me the bare minimum sentencing", but that would be it. There is no way for Mueller to have any of the charges that Manafort has been convicted of dropped.

Seems like a huge gamble on Manafort's part when his best bet is a complete pardon.

[time4fun]

True. He hasn't been sentenced yet though, by Ellis, so if he wants the best deal possible he better act fast.

I totally forgot that part haha. There's so much going on with all of this that Manafort already feels like old news.

What a weird time we live in.