My Letter to Paul Manafort

Mr. Paul Manafort
Inmate number 00045343
Northern Neck Regional Jail
PO Box 1-60
Warsaw VA 22572

Dear Mr. Manafort:

There is nothing to be done about the past, but the good news is that every day is a new day and a new opportunity to change direction.

I suspect you know that most religions have some element of confession to them. Confession is not a weakness, but a strength -- it means you are tough enough to face what you did and to atone for it.

No, it is not fun. Yes, it is humbling. But it is not a weakness.

Can you take what comes next? I don’t know. Probably -- at least for a time.

You are smart and a hell of a salesman. You made your living in the persuasion business. But be careful; your intelligence and ability to rationalize and “talk pretty” are no longer a super power that will hold you in good stead. You may be able to kid yourself (always the easiest person to fool) but you are not going to be able to turn a judge, a jury, or the seasoned federal prosecutors that are now riding out against you.

So what now?

Who is your client?

What should be your goal?

Let me make it simple: your family is your client.

They need you to make choices that obviate your spending the rest of your life in prison.

You know what to do. It’s not a weakness, but a strength. If it is not the last thing you do, it is the most important thing you can do for your family at this critical time.

Sincerely,

(name and address)