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Manifort is doing exactly what Trump would do, double down by raising the stakes for everyone (Himsself, Mulller, Trump). It would appear Manifort has info\evidence that will take down Trump. Manifort is not loyal to Trump, he won't spend his life in prison as a noble Trump Hero. If Trump won't pardon him, and Manifort is forced to go to prison, Manifort will at some point expose Trump as part of a deal to get out of prison. Manifort doesn't want to take down trump, and Trump doesn't want to be exposed. At this point I'd say Trump and Manifort have a pardon deal if Manifort continues to protect trump. Very likely Manifort will be pardoned and immediately leave the country to a location where he is safe from extradition.
We have to think of it from Trumps and Maniforts perspective; laws are for losers, so they feel they need to do whatever it takes to protect themselves and their personal fortunes. Better they stick together as partners in crime than turn on each other because they both loose. A pardon solves both their problems, and cost them nothing. The worst that can happen to Trump is that he forced out of office and goes back to playing golf and making deals to build Trump towers in NK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc. He accomplished his goal, make first hand personal relationships with the biggest criminals (dictators) in the world who are not restrained by laws or ethics. If they don't like someone, well we all know what happens to people who get in their way, and trump respects that use of raw uninhibited power for personal gain, and wants to be associated those type of powerful people who can take care of his problems in much the same way. He is fucking pissed off that he can't even get his AG to go after his enemies, let alone order the CIA or FBI to murder political enemies or journalists on his behalf.