Thread by @HoarseWisperer

Here’s the thing about Trump’s pardon power:

If Trump pardons someone, they can no longer plead the fifth about whatever their pardon covered.

So, Trump needs to *dangle the pardon* to try to keep the person from talking...

1/

The person then needs to refuse to cooperate as Mueller marches them straight into a conviction and heavy sentence.

Then AFTER they’ve done their part and are staring at prison, they need to pray Trump comes through.

Trump.

The narcissist.

The liar.

2/

Angling for a pardon is a calculated wager that if someone puts their entire future at risk to help Trump, he’ll look out for them right at the moment when they’re no longer useful to him.

Meanwhile, Manafort has been in jail for months and is poised to die in prison.

3/

People are understandably worried that Trump could pardon his way out of all of this...

...but that only works if people at great risk of prosecution are willing to bet their lives on Trump coming through.

Nobody in Trump’s world will stare down that barrel and not panic.

4/

I’m not even sure his own kids would take lengthy jail sentences in the hopes he’ll save them.

Jared would sell him out.

Ivanka would sell him out.

The only one dumb enough to bet his future on daddy is probably Junior.

5/

At the end of the day, Trump’s pardon power is only as good as his co-conspirators’ faith in him.

In other words, it ain’t worth much.

There is no honor among thieves. Trump is the biggest thief of them all. And all the other thieves no it.

6/6