I've Covered Foreign Lobbying for 20 Years and I'm Amazed Manafort Got Busted

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/30/paul-manafort-indictment-foreign-lobbying-russia-probe-215764

 

True. There were similar exposes on how European banks and financial institutions flout their own anti-money laundering and anti-corruption rules to do business with various Russian dirty operators. This is shameful enabling of plunder of Eastern Europe (and, of course, other parts of the 3rd world).

...none of which makes Manafort less of a prolific sociopath and a traitor (seeing how he promoted anti-Americanism and anti-NATO sentiment for his clients in Ukraine). In fact, it is astoundingly dumb for a seasoned mercenary like him to dramatically raising his profile by heading a campaign. Greed got better of him, whether he was paid directly to influence Trump or hoped to benefit later by selling influence. And of course, the most charitable explanation for Trump campaign elevating this guy to the place of prominence is sheer incompetence. According to your link, Manafort's exploits were extensively covered in the media over many years. So either Trump's campaign missed all that, failed to appreciate its significance, or took a calculated risks hoping to use Manafort's Russia connections. Which paints Trump as either shockingly terrible manager, or craven sociopath like Manafort, or both.