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(CNN)Special counsel Robert Mueller has filed new charges against former Donald Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates.
In the 37-page indictment in Virginia, prosecutors describe a "scheme" in which the two longtime business partners allegedly laundered $30 million, failed to pay taxes for almost 10 years and used real estate they owned to fraudulently secure more than $20 million in loans.
The indictments show increasing pressure from Mueller on the former top Trump campaign officials and highlight his aggressive effort to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and any related matters uncovered during the investigation.
They also hit Gates as the attorney who has been negotiating his plea deal with Mueller for more than a month takes over for Gates' in-court legal team, and as another sealed criminal charge hangs over the case in Washington.
Manafort's spokesman, Jason Maloni, said in a statement that Manafort "is innocent of the allegations set out in the newly filed indictments and he is confident that he will be acquitted of all charges. The new allegations against Mr. Manafort, once again, have nothing to do with Russia and 2016 election interference/collusion. Mr. Manafort is confident that he will be acquitted and violations of his constitutional rights will be remedied."
White House special counsel Ty Cobb said in a statement: "The White House has repeatedly declined to comment on the matters involving Mr. Manafort and Mr. Gates given the fact that none of the charges pertain to the campaign or to the White House."
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/new-charges-manafort-and-gates/index.htmlLots of speculation on reddit politics about why Manafort isn't flipping. Some think he's waiting on a pardon from Trump, but with this new indictment Manafort can be charged with state crimes as well, which the president can't pardon. I tend to think there wasn't any real collusion, so Manafort doesn't have anything substantial to give if he flips.
It's an interesting topic though... what would happen if Trump preemptively pardoned all of these people? Manafort, Gates, Flynn, etc. Democrats and the media would go crazy, but I think Trump and his right-wing propaganda machine have done a good job undermining the legitimacy of the special counsel, at least among his base. Many prominent Republicans have warned the president not to interfere with Mueller's investigation, but I wouldn't bet on congress holding Trump accountable. I think the cult members here would defend it.