WATCH: Key Judiciary Democrat wonders if ‘pardons are being dangled’ for Paul Manafort and Jerome Corsi

After former Donald Trump chairman Paul Manafort reportedly violated his plea agreement, a former prosecutor and key congressional Democrat explained the big picture news.

The Manafort revelations by special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors came the same day that conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi claimed he had turned down a plea deal.

Within minutes of the Manafort news being released, "Hardball" host Chris Matthews was joined on the phone by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA). The former prosecutor sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

"I don't know why a guy would lie at this point, who's he covering for?" Matthews asked.

"Well Chris, it is also is suspicious that Jerome Corsi is getting cold feet," Swalwell noted.

"You have to wonder, are pardons are being dangled in front of these guys as they're in cooperation agreements," Swalwell explained. "That's something, I'm sure the Mueller team will be looking at. And now, something a new Congress will be looking at."

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