The big question is: What does Mueller believe Gates knows -- and about whom? Gates can help flip ManafortIt's quite clear from Mueller's aggressiveness regarding Gates and Manafort over the last 48 hours that the special counsel is upping pressure on both men to cut plea deals. "Notwithstanding that Rick Gates pled today, I continue to maintain my innocence," Manafort said in a statement Friday afternoon. First, his title was "campaign chairman" but he was really the campaign manager. If Gates has enough knowledge to convince Manafort that he's out of options and needs to cooperate with Mueller, that's something else entirely.

Source: CNN February 23, 2018 21:22 UTC