Two Glaring Questions: Why Stone and Why Not Manafort?

[berni_mccoy]

And a third question: why just commute the sentence and not provide a full pardon?

These are important questions that need answering. Commuting leaves Stone a felon. Does this mean Trump acknowledges what he did as being wrong?

One could argue Manafort was just as loyal to Trump as Stone because even when Manafort was officially cooperating with the investigation, he was secretly betraying it and feeding info to Trump.

Is Trump waiting until the very end? Did he not wait for Stone because Stone threatened to sing?

Many questions follow...

[blm]

1. Stone knows way more of the really dirty stuff going back decades.

[Siwsan]

2. I'm guessing trump*'s short attention span??

[writes3000]

3. Trump's actions are only about helping himself. Stone absolutely threatened to spill.

There is no doubt in my mind.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Timing.

Trump couldn’t commute Manafort when he was sentenced. Mueller was still ongoing.

And not a full pardon for either Manafort or Stone because they can’t be compelled to testify.

But both are now spared of prison.

[berni_mccoy]

7. Manafort is only out of prison for a short time of his full sentence

He will have to go back. There is no reason Trump couldn’t commute his sentence now.

[BKDem]

5. We're giving Trump too much credit for logical thinking

He's not capable of rational thought. Everything he does is a knee-jerk reaction.

[berni_mccoy]

8. Heh true.

[HotTeaBag]

6. My humble opinion is that because Stone was much more active in the various cover-ups

and Russian goings on and he wasn't at all sure that Donald would win in November, he realized there was a very good chance of him being left to rot in jail without a pardon which didn't sit well.

He probably simply said 'let me out or I will crush you'.

As far as the commutation, it allows Stone to continue to fight to clear his own name which he apparently feels that he can do. In reality, it makes no real difference - he'll still be hired by the same sleezebags that always hired him to do their dirty work - the conviction will be a badge of honor. And he'll be able to raise money to 'fight' the deep state who persecuted him for so long.

He'll be a bigger hero now than he ever was.

[quaker bill]

9. Stone has "get out of jail free" cards

signed by every Republican President since Nixon.

[SallyHemmings]

10. I think Manafort is afraid of his bankers

He may be quite content.

Doesn't he owe some Russian oligarch a ton of money?

And,

Stone knows EVERYTHING!

I am not surprised.

Vote November 3 and take two friends.

[Jersey Devil]

11. Trump will pardon Stone after the election

My guess is that Trump's advisors believe a commutation is less politically damaging than a pardon. After the election he will pardon Stone, Manafort, everyone who was prosecuted with regard to Russia, plus Kushner and then, in a final flourish, Trump will pardon himself. Whether he can pardon himself is a legal question that would not be resolved for quite some time.

[CincyDem]

14. After losing in 2020, Trump will pardon Pence, resign, and Pence will pardon Trump. n/t

[Jarqui]

12. Commuting or pardoning Manafort is pointless

because NY State can prosecute him for other stuff
He cannot escape via double jeopardy.

Since Trump commuted Stone's sentence, Stone could get snagged by subsequent charges unless Trump gives him a broad pardon on his way out the door - as I expect he will for his whole family, etc. But again, Trump's pardons do not cover state laws and even Trump is vulnerable to those.

[Bayard]

13. Wouldn't Stone have to testify if he was pardoned?

[kairos12]

15. My limited legal understanding

is that he was to receive a pardon he would surrender his 5th Amendment Rights. He then could be called before a Grand Jury or Congress and have to testify. I could be in error, but this is what I understand.

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. Stone couldn't take the fifth with a pardon nt

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Stone is probably closer to that inner circle. Remember, Ginny Thomas was at Stone's house

the day before he was arrested. Seriously, there is enough there to remove Clarence Thomas from the bench. I'm sure of it.

[abqtommy]

18. I have another question. Do the fools Manafort and Stone (and other players) remember what

happened to Epstein? I sure do...

[Mike 03]

19. Roger Stone is still of use to Trump. Manafort has nothing more to offer.

Just a theory. Trump is always and only thinking of what someone can do for him.

EDIT: Roger Stone is an Alt.Right icon (see Alex Jones and Infowars). Manafort, not so much. His own daughters detest him.