From the annals of mind-boggling news comes word that special counsel Robert Mueller is dropping his support of a bail deal for former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort after Manafort was caught working with a Russian intelligence operative to influence public opinion of his case as recently as last week! The Huffington Post writes:
Mueller’s team allege that Manafort and a colleague were “ghostwriting an editorial in English regarding his political work for Ukraine” as recently as Nov. 30.
The article apparently has not been published, and it hasn’t been revealed for what outlet it was intended.
“Manafort worked on the draft with a long-time Russian colleague of Manafort’s, who is currently based in Russia and assessed to have ties to a Russian intelligence service,” Mueller’s team wrote.
“The editorial clearly was undertaken to influence the public’s opinion of defendant Manafort, or else there would be no reason to seek its publication (much less for Manafort and his long-time associate to ghostwrite it in another’s name). It compounds the problem that the proposed piece is not a dispassionate recitation of the facts,” Mueller’s team wrote.
Manafort’s attorney told Mueller’s team that they would take steps to make sure the op-ed wasn’t published, according to the court filing.
Oops! Too little, too late on that one. It turns out old habits are hard to break even when you're under federal indictment.
Prosecutors are arguing that his attempt to sway public opinion is a clear violation of a court order prohibiting him from trying the case in public. Manafort had been confined to his house with an ankle monitor but had worked out an $11 million bail agreement last week that would free him from House arrest. Just guessing he should probably put on his snuggy and settle into his couch.