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Former Trump aide Rick Gates to plead guilty; agrees to testify against Manafort, sources say

Well the 'music' has stopped for Manafort, if it was for the last of 3 'plea deal chairs'. He has no one left to give up in a plea deal, UNLESS, EXCEPT.....

Source: Los Angeles Times

By DAVID WILLMAN FEB 18, 2018 | 11:25 AM | WASHINGTON

A former top aide to Donald Trump's presidential campaign will plead guilty to fraud-related charges within days – and has made clear to prosecutors that he would testify against Paul J. Manafort Jr., the lawyer-lobbyist who once managed the campaign.

The change of heart by Trump's former deputy campaign manager, Richard W. Gates III, who had pleaded not guilty after being indicted in October on charges similar to Manafort's, was described in interviews by people familiar with the case.

"Rick Gates is going to change his plea to guilty,'' said a person with direct knowledge of the new developments, adding that the revised plea will be presented in federal court in Washington "within the next few days.''

That individual and others who discussed the matter spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a judge's gag order restricting comments about the case to the news media or public.

Read more: www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-rick-gates-plea-deal-20180218-story.html

This is why Gates' attorneys spent so much time this week talking to Mueller and his staff.

The investigation is accelerating, and heads will start falling all over the place. It may also be why Mueller has vehemently fought bail for Manafort and, in fact, hinted at additional charges against him.

The indictments on Friday serve as a vaccination against being fired by trump, he simply CAN'T be dismissed now.

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