Several articles I saw asked why Mueller brought so few charges against Manafort and Papa when there were clearly others available. This article indicates the potential reasoning. If you don't want to read it, the short of it is: if Mueller brought all of his charges against Manafort and Papa, Trump could pardon them and Mueller would be left with nothing. If Mueller only files some of the charges, he can leave in his back pocket others that he can then give to the states to prosecute. Trump can't pardon away state prosecuted cases.
To put another way, if Papa is guilty of 1, 2, and 3, Mueller only brings forward 1. If Trump pardons Papa of 1, Mueller then hands off the cases for 2 and 3 to the NY prosecuting attorney. The NY AG can then proceed prosecuting Papa without having to worry about Trump mucking it up. If Papa is prosecuted by Mueller for 1, 2, and 3, and Trump pardons them, Mueller is left with no leverage and Papa walks.
A pretty brilliant way to get around Trump's pardon power. It would also likely lead to only the lower level stuff being brought by Mueller with the bigger stuff left in his pocket so as to keep a hammer over the defendants' heads.
To put another way, if Papa is guilty of 1, 2, and 3, Mueller only brings forward 1. If Trump pardons Papa of 1, Mueller then hands off the cases for 2 and 3 to the NY prosecuting attorney. The NY AG can then proceed prosecuting Papa without having to worry about Trump mucking it up. If Papa is prosecuted by Mueller for 1, 2, and 3, and Trump pardons them, Mueller is left with no leverage and Papa walks.
A pretty brilliant way to get around Trump's pardon power. It would also likely lead to only the lower level stuff being brought by Mueller with the bigger stuff left in his pocket so as to keep a hammer over the defendants' heads.
