Alan Dershowitz, a defender of President Trump amid the Russia investigation, called Paul Manafort’s guilty plea Friday a “big win” for special counsel Robert Mueller.
Trump’s former campaign chairman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Manafort had faced seven charges related to his work lobbying on behalf of Ukraine.
[Read Paul Manafort’s plea agreement]
“Potentially, it opens up lots of doors that probably haven’t been opened before,” the Harvard law professor said on MSNBC.
“I think from the point of view of Mueller, this is a big win. This is a big gain because he gets access to somebody,” he continued.
As part of the plea agreement, Manafort must cooperate “fully, truthfully, completely and forthrightly” with federal prosecutors in “any and all matters as to what the Government deems the cooperation relevant.” He’s also agreed to testify as needed in the Mueller investigation.
Manafort was set to face trial, his second stemming from the Russia investigation, in Washington later this month.
While the White House should be worried about the plea deal, Dershowitz said, there’s “nothing” that he can testify to that would lead to Trump’s impeachment.
“Remember, he’s not a credible witness,” Dershowitz said, noting that Manafort pleaded guilty to obstructing justice.
