Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’re wondering why Manafort’s defense team just sat there and took a proverbial knee when it was their turn you’ve got to ask yourself one central question.

Why are we even here?
Why did Paul Manafort decide to put his neck in the gallows when almost everyone around him cut deals with the special prosecutor?
Why would a man who’s so clearly fucking guilty sign up to go to jail when he didn’t have to?

Because even though Paul Manafort is so clearly guilty he will not do hard prison time and we all know it.

Trump will pardon him and by doing so he will set a precedent that if you’re willing to stand in the fire publicly at trial, Trump will put that fire out before you’re completely toasted.