Hours after reports former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his associate Rick Gates were indicted as part of FBI special prosecutor Robert Mueller's probe of Russian involvement in the 2016 election, the White House refused to rule out pardoning the two.
At a rancorous briefing for White House reporters Monday afternoon, Newsmax pointed out to press secretary Sarah Sanders both Manafort and Gates were indicted for things that occurred in their private business rather than anything connected with the campaign.
Under such circumstances, we asked, "would the president consider or rule out pardoning either of them?"
"I haven't had any conversations with him about that," Sanders replied. "I think we should let the process play through before we start looking at those steps."
The 12-count indictment against Manafort and Gates chages them with hiding payments for work they did for the Ukraine government of former strongman Victor Yanukovich and hiding the payments (from 2006-16) by laundering it through various U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships, and banks.
Manafort faces up to 15 years and one month in prison, while Gates faces up to 12 years and seven months. Both have pled not guilty to all charges.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.