Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chairman, was slated to await his next trial from Rikers Island, a New York jail complex infamous for violence and inmate abuse. Then, Attorney General William Barr’s newly minted top deputy came calling.
According to the New York Times, Jeffrey Rosen, who was confirmed as deputy attorney general on May 16, told Manhattan prosecutors that he was monitoring where Manafort was being held. Shortly after, prison officials announced that he would not be transferred to Rikers, but would wait for his next trial in a Manhattan facility or a Pennsylvania federal prison.
Prosecutors told the Times that the intercession was highly unusual, as most federal inmates facing state charges are held on Rikers. They also said that the decision is usually left to the discretion of the warden running the prison where the inmate is held.
Rosen intervened just days after Todd Blanche, one of Manafort’s lawyers, asked the Bureau of Prisons to keep Manafort out of Rikers.
There may be good reason to do this.
As much as we all like to see Trump conspirators suffer, I would prefer that nothing happen to Manafort in custody. If this keeps him safe but still behind bars so he can stand for charges I’m fine with it. He’s not a sympathetic figure, no need for him to get beat up and show up to court visibly injured and get some undeserved sympathy.
Surely it looks fishy, and could be. Surely this administration has not earned the benefit of the doubt (quite the opposite). Surely I have no problem them getting bad press about it even if it was the appropriate thing to do.
This will not be the last time someone within Trump’s orbit intervenes to ease the plight of Paul Manafort.
“We’re watching out for you. Remember that. Possible pardon to come…”
That put the ‘b’ right back in “Subtle”.
Corrupt…an adjective and a verb.
Yeah, because living with the consequences of their actions is for the little people, folks with powerful friends can’t be put in uncomfortable situations, no matter what their offense.