Radio host Mark Levin says media “ideologues” will not focus on the real story behind Monday’s indictment of Paul Manafort because it would make special counsel Robert Mueller look bad.
Mr. Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, pleaded not guilty to money laundering and other charges related to the FBI’s investigation of Russian meddling into the 2016 election, but Mr. Levin says journalists should be examining Mr. Mueller’s tenure as FBI director from 2001 to 2013.
“Listen to me clearly: You’re not gonna hear this on these news programs ’cause they’re dolts, or they’re ideologues, or they’re cutting jokes,” Mr. Levin said Monday night, Conservative Review reported. “If these are serious charges, the statute of limitations would’ve legitimately run out on the earlier years that they’re talking about, with respect to the conspiracy charge.”
Mr. Levin, who also served as a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese during the Reagan administration, said federal officials had access to Mr. Manafort’s travel records, tax returns and other documents related to lobbying work in Ukraine if they wanted to put a case together years ago.
“That means somebody dropped the ball,” Mr. Levin said. “This predates his campaign. This predates his announcement that he’s running for president of the United States. There’s no Donald Trump world involved in any of this. Mr. Mueller, with your tens of millions of dollars — and you and your crack hacks — this is the best you could do? Now you’re going to try and pressure these guys to flip? … This isn’t about justice. This isn’t about seeking the truth. This is about doing everything possible to make a case against the president of the United States when you don’t have a case against the president of the United States.”
Mr. Manafort turned himself in early Monday, although a federal judge ordered him placed under house arrest. The 68-year-old was released after a $10 million unsecured bond was set at a federal courthouse in Washington.
Rick Gates, an aide and business associate, was also charged in the 12-count indictment. He was released after a $5 million unsecured bond was set.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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