I previously wrote about Paul Manafort’s plight here and here. As covered by RedState’s Kira Davis just hours ago, the former Trump campaign chairman was found guilty Tuesday on eight of 18 charges of fraud levied against him.

Though likely to face between eight at ten years, given the maximum sentence for each count, Manafort could be looking at 80 years behind bars.

Speaking to reporters as he deplaned in Charleston, West Virginia, President Trump shared his thoughts on the verdict:

“Paul Manafort is a good man. He was with Ronald Reagan. He was with a lot of different people over the years, and I feel very sad about that. It doesn’t involve me, but I still feel – you know, it’s a very sad thing that happened.”

The Commander-in-Chief was quick to point out that Manafort’s guilt has nothing to do with Trump-Russia collusion. Oh, and also: witch hunt, everybody.

“This has nothing to do with Russian collusion. This started as Russian collusion; this has absolutely nothing to do – this is a witch hunt, and it’s a disgrace. … They started out, looking for Russians involved in our campaign. There were none. I feel very badly for Paul Manafort. Again — he worked for Bob Dole, he worked for Ronald Reagan. He worked for many people. And this is the way it ends up.

“It was not the original mission, believe me. It was, uh, it was something very much different. So, it had nothing to do with Russian collusion. We continue the witch hunt. Thank you very much.”

The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on the remaining ten counts, which will be tossed into the mistrial bin.

Manafort’s verdict marks a move forward in the Trump news narrative — a onetime campaign aide found guilty, no doubt to be hailed by the Left as a chink in the President’s armor, whether Manafort’s deeds implicate Trump in anything or not.

Paul’s next trial begins September 17th, and it involves foreign lobbying, money laundering, and lying to the FBI. The man has really stepped in it. The only thing that could save him now is a pardon from Donald J. Trump.

Do you think the President would do such a thing? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

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