Trump says a pardon for Manafort is 'not off the table'


Days after Special Counsel Robert Mueller accused Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, of violating his plea agreement, Trump is signaling that he could receive a pardon.
Trump told The New York Post in an interview Wednesday that he has "never discussed" pardoning Manafort, who in August was convicted of five counts of tax fraud and two counts of bank fraud and who in September pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy. Manafort agreed to cooperate with Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's possible involvement with Russian election interference. That being said, Trump added of a possible pardon, "I wouldn't take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?"
Mueller earlier this week said that Manafort violated the terms of his plea deal by lying to federal investigators about "a variety of subject matters," per The New York Times. The Times also reported that Manafort's lawyer briefed Trump's lawyers about his discussions with investigators, which "inflamed tensions with the special counsel's office." Trump's comments about a possible pardon came just hours after he refused to speak about Manafort in an interview with The Washington Post, saying he did not want to "get in the middle of the whole thing."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Does depopulation threaten humanity?
Talking Points Falling birth rates could create a 'smaller, sadder, poorer future'
-
New White House guidance means federal employees could be hearing more religious talk at work
The Explainer Employees can now try to persuade co-workers of why their religion is 'correct'
-
Real-life couples creating real-deal sparks in the best movies to star IRL partners
The Week Recommends The chemistry between off-screen items can work wonders
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office