Real Law Review: Manafort Plea Explodes, Attorney Privilege Breached, Pardon?

TL;DR

Paul Manafort's breach of his plea agreement with the Mueller team has significant consequences, including his lengthy jail sentence, exposure of his communications with President Trump, and potential inability to receive a pardon.

Transcript

• This episode of Real Law Review was made possible by Skillshare. Learn to think like a lawyer for free for two months by clicking the link in the description. Paul Manafort lied so much that the Mueller team is ripping up his plea agreement. This is very unusual and this has huge implications for the entire Trump legal defense team. Let's think l... Read More

Key Insights

• 😄 Manafort's breach of the plea agreement means he will face a lengthy jail sentence and lose any reduction in sentencing he would have received.
• 👥 The Mueller team won't be able to use Manafort as a cooperating witness or rely on his testimony at trial.
• 😤 Manafort's breach exposes his communications with President Trump and the Trump legal defense team, potentially bringing significant legal implications.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is Manafort going to jail for a long time?

Manafort is facing a lengthy jail sentence because he lost most of the crimes alleged in the Virginia case and pleaded guilty in the D.C. case, which typically results in a reduction in sentencing.

Q: How has Manafort exposed his communications with President Trump and the Trump team?

Manafort's breach of the plea agreement means that the attorney-client privilege and joint defense agreement no longer protect their communications. These communications could now be discoverable and used against Manafort and the Trump team.

Q: Can a pardon save Paul Manafort?

Even if Manafort receives a pardon from President Trump, he could still face additional charges at the state level and potentially be retried for the crimes for which the jury hung in Virginia. A pardon only covers federal crimes.

Q: What are the implications of Manafort's breach for the Trump legal defense team?

Manafort's breach means that the Trump legal defense team may have unknowingly shared information and communications that are no longer protected by attorney-client privilege, creating potential legal consequences for them.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Manafort was convicted in a federal court case in Virginia and agreed to plead guilty in a separate case in Washington, D.C. in exchange for reduced sentencing and cooperation with the Mueller investigation.

• Manafort's plea agreement required complete and truthful cooperation, and any breach would relieve the government of its obligations, while leaving Manafort's guilty pleas intact.

• The Mueller team recently filed a status report stating that Manafort committed federal crimes by lying, which constitutes a breach of the plea agreement.