Robert Mueller just sent Paul Manafort to jail. Here’s who’s going to jail next.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller succeeded in placing Donald Trump’s campaign chairman behind bars today, where he’ll remain through the end of his trial – and likely for the rest of his life – unless he cuts a plea deal against Trump. Now that Manafort has fallen, the focus is on who will get locked up by Mueller next. Some big Trump-Russia names are imminently headed to jail and/or prison.
Michael Cohen: By all accounts, he has just a few days to go through with a plea deal or he’ll be arrested. If he cuts a deal, he’ll go free for now, but based on precedent, he’ll end up serving multiple years in prison at the completion of his cooperation. If he fails to a cut a deal, he’ll face criminal charges that could send him to prison for most or all of his life.
George Papadopoulos: Two weeks ago, Robert Mueller filed court papers confirming that Papadopoulos’ cooperation was complete, and that he was ready for sentencing. He’s facing a guideline of zero to six months in prison for lying to federal investigators. For reference, Alex Van Der Zwaan ended up serving one month in prison for similar charges.
Roger Stone: Mueller’s grand jury recently hauled in witnesses who are the closest to Stone, meaning that an indictment is very near. Stone has acknowledged in interviews that he’s “prepared” to be indicted and arrested.
Michael Flynn and Rick Gates: They’ve each cut plea deals, and will go to prison once they’ve completed their cooperation period. Based on precedent, they’re likely each looking at prison sentences in the four to six year range.
Everyone else: Based on the aggressive and wide ranging nature of Robert Mueller’s investigation, it’s clear that he intends to put everyone in prison who has committed any crime in the Trump-Russia scandal. That means we’re just getting started, and it’ll end with Donald Trump and his family. As we’ve explained, Trump can not magically pardon his way out of this.
