Manafort could be forced to flip on Trump by the Manhattan DA using leverage Mueller doesn't have: ex-prosecutor

Writing at the Daily Beast, Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, -- who was asked to step down by President Donald Trump -- claimed Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has leverage over former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort that special counsel Robert Mueller doesn't have - and could force the indicted businessman to flip on the president.

According to the former prosecutor, moments after Manafort was sentenced for crimes prosecuted by Mueller's office, Vance hit Manafort with fraud charges that could tack on even more years to his prison time.

"Cooperation didn’t pan out for Mueller against Manafort, who was a potentially valuable source of information in light of his reported relationships with Russian oligarchs, his position as campaign chair during the summer of 2016, when a portion of the party platform was changed to favor Russia, and his attendance at a meeting at Trump Tower in June 2016 with Russians for the stated purpose of obtaining disparaging information about Trump’s campaign opponent, Hillary Clinton," McQuade writes.

In the federal case, Manafort could always count on a pardon from Trump if pressed too far and threatened with more prison time. Not so with Vance's charges.

"The one limitation on his pardon power is that while he [Trump] may use it for people who have been convicted of federal crimes, he has no such power over state crimes," McQuade explained. " That’s where state charges against Manafort can work as a backstop."

"The Manhattan DA’s indictment charges 16 counts, alleging mortgage fraud, falsifying business records and a scheme to defraud. While New York’s protective double jeopardy rules may create some litigation risk for the fraud charges, the counts for falsifying business records are unique to state law and seem unlikely to pose the same challenge," she elaborated.

The ex-prosecutor went on to speculate how far Vance might go.

"Is Vance’s goal simply to ensure that Manafort is held accountable by facing prison time for his crimes?" she suggested. "Or is Vance instead thinking that by applying more pressure on Manafort, he can do what Mueller could not—convince him to cooperate by neutralizing President Trump’s pardon power. "

You can read more here.