President Donald Trump’s comment calling former campaign chairman Paul Manafort a “very good person,” despite 18 criminal charges against him, was a “strategic” message to Manafort that he could be rewarded with a pardon if he keeps his mouth shut, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said Friday on MSNBC. “I think the whole Manafort trial is very sad,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One on Friday. “He happens to be a very good person. I can pardon you in the future,’” said Vance. Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing said Friday that his client’s team “really appreciates the support of President Trump.”

Source: Huffington Post August 18, 2018 02:03 UTC