



Close video Spammer's arrest eyed for Trump Russia ties Rachel Maddow reports on the latest developments in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possibility of coordination with the Donald Trump campaign, including the arrest of a Russian hacker in Spain. Rachel Maddow reports on the latest developments in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possibility of coordination with the Donald Trump campaign, including the arrest of a Russian hacker in Spain. share tweet email Embed



But it wasn’t long before Manafort started climbing the rungs of the Trump campaign ladder, and the candidate eventually put Manafort in charge of the entire campaign. That, too, is difficult to understand – because he was such an odd fit for the job. The Republican lobbyist nevertheless maintained his position as campaign chairman for much of 2016, through critical points in the campaign.



How’d this happen? The New York Times had The story of how Paul Manafort ended up leading Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has always been a strange one. As the Russia scandal continues to unfold, questions surrounding Manafort’s role in the Republican operation are of growing importance.Initially, you’ll recall, Manafort wasn’t Trump’s campaign chairman, but rather, was brought on to help Trump secure the necessary number of delegates at the Republican convention. This wasn’t a ridiculous role for Manafort – he’s played a similar role at previous GOP conventions – but his relevant experience was nearly four decades ago. If you were a leading Republican presidential candidate looking for a hand wrangling delegates, Paul Manafort probably wouldn’t be on any major contender’s list.But it wasn’t long before Manafort started climbing the rungs of the Trump campaign ladder, and the candidate eventually put Manafort in charge of the entire campaign. That, too, is difficult to understand – because he was such an odd fit for the job. The Republican lobbyist nevertheless maintained his position as campaign chairman for much of 2016, through critical points in the campaign.How’d this happen? The New York Times had an interesting report over the weekend on Manafort’s successful sales campaign, from himself to the man who would eventually become president.

On Feb. 29, 2016, Mr. Manafort, the former lobbyist and Republican operative who now sits at the nexus of investigations into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election, reached out to Mr. Trump with a slick, carefully calibrated offer that appealed to the candidate’s need for professional guidance, thirst for political payback – and parsimony.



The letters and memos provide a telling glimpse into how Mr. Trump invited an enigmatic international fixer, who is currently under investigation by United States intelligence services, a Senate committee and investigators in Ukraine, to the apex of his campaign with a minimum of vetting. The answer? Through family and friends, handshakes and hyperbole.





Manafort impressed Trump, in part by emphasizing his home in Trump Tower, and in part by emphasizing his willingness to work for free.



What’s still unclear is why Manafort was so eager to climb aboard the Trump train in the first place. TPM’s Josh Marshall had Neither Trump nor any one on his team sought out Manafort – the two were not close before the race – and it was the lobbyist who reached out to the campaign, seeking a role.Manafort impressed Trump, in part by emphasizing his home in Trump Tower, and in part by emphasizing his willingness to work for free.What’s still unclear is why Manafort was so eager to climb aboard the Trump train in the first place. TPM’s Josh Marshall had a good piece on this:

So why did Manafort get hired? That’s a very good question. The upshot of the [New York Times’] story, though it doesn’t say so directly, is that there’s no clear explanation at all. The go between, according to Thrush’s article, was Tom Barrack, a mutual friend who seems like a surprisingly normal figure for the Trump world. Who knows whether there’s a story there? The key thing seems to be that Manafort really, really wanted the gig. And he was willing to do it for free, even though there’s nothing in Manafort’s history that suggests any interest in doing anything for free ever.



Why was Manafort so focused on getting in with Trump?