Manafort Likely To Run GOP Convention Ops For Trump

The Washington Post reports:

After pleading guilty to money laundering and obstruction of justice, Paul Manafort, the globe-trotting political consultant and former campaign chairman for Donald Trump, asked for leniency in his sentencing, telling a federal judge five years ago that he was nearly 70 years old, struggling with health concerns and remorseful for his actions.

The judge rejected his entreaties in the spring of 2019, ordering Manafort to remain behind bars for more than seven years. Less than two years later, however, Manafort’s criminal record was wiped clean when Trump pardoned him. Manafort has been assisting an effort to launch a Netflix-like mobile streaming and entertainment platform in China that, according to corporate documents, has the endorsement of the Chinese government.

Advisers say Trump is determined to hire Manafort, likely handing him a substantial role at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, because he appreciates that his onetime campaign chairman has remained loyal to him even while serving in prison.

Read the full article.

NEW: Paul Manafort, poised to rejoin Trump world, aided Chinese media deal and returned to international consulting. W/ the great ⁦@isaacstanbecker⁩ and ⁦@bethreinhard⁩: https://t.co/6xyZHyBdzd

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) May 10, 2024