The New York indictments could turn Manafort against Trump. This is a big deal.

[shockey80]

Manafort kept quiet and lied because Trump sent the message that he will pardon him. That no longer matters. Manafort has no choice now, he will have to give up Trump or spend the rest of his life in prison. He will try and make a deal.

[DURHAM D]

1. Not sure about that.

The NY charges seem to be about mortgage fraud. Does not seem related to Trump.

[imanamerican63]

2. But Manafort could expose for illegal mortgage fraud?

Just one more thing for Trump to worry about?

[Calista241]

3. I don't think Manafort turning would mean anything.

He's lied to prosecutors multiple times. He lied after agreeing to a cooperation agreement. Anything he says now will not be accepted by either side. He might be able to get get the media to pay attention, but that won't help him with his case.

[Hortensis]

4. Someone on NPR said this means Manafort

will spend the rest of his life in prison. Perhaps making a deal against Trump would be a wild card or something, but these charges are serious and they are pardon proof.

Love the Manhattan DA’s timing of the announcement.

[Moostache]

5. As long as the last steps he takes as a free man are into a cell, I'm good...

Justice for him was always going to be the assurance that his days as a free man and criminal about the globe were over and his debt would be paid in full. He will die incarcerated and disgraced and in the end, that is how it should be regardless of the whims of Judge Ellis and his "otherwise blameless life".

Manafort always struck me as a buffoon from his ham-fisted handling of Trump's convention (especially the Melania plagiarism of Michelle Obama) to the witness tampering to the reneged cooperation agreement...he is a poster child for stupid, over-entitled, over-connected idiot criminal. Good riddance to society, now rot in a cell Paulie.

[Perrenial Voter]

6. It would be nice, but I don't think it is Trump he is covering

for. I think he is afraid of Putin and his henchmen, for whom he worked for quite some time. It does not appear that they take well to people turning on them, and it's not at all clear that the government can give him a deal to protect himself and his family.

[lindysalsagal]

7. Holding out for a pardon....

And it's probably a good bet....