The judge rejected his entreaties…, ordering #Manafort to remain behind bars for >7 yrs. <2 yrs later, however, Manafort’s #criminal record was wiped clean when #Trump#pardoned him among the dozens of allies, extended family members & fmr campaign staffers allowed to walk free. W/his freedom, Manafort hardly retired to a quiet home life. Instead, the longtime #power broker —briefly brought low by the investigation into #Russian#ElectionInterference— reengaged in international consulting.