Kenneth Starr: ‘We’re behind the veil of ignorance’

Former Clinton independent counsel Kenneth Starr said Sunday that the American public is "behind the veil of ignorance" as special counsel Robert Mueller's probe unfolds, and there is no way to know whether former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's recent plea deal portends more legal turmoil for President Donald Trump. “What one finds out in getting into an investigation is, 'Oh my word' — there are different avenues that come to you," Starr said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union." "We just don’t know," he added. "We’re behind the veil of ignorance.” News of Manafort's plea deal came days before the longtime GOP operative was due to appear in a Washington, D.C., courtroom to face charges of foreign lobbying and money laundering. Manafort was previously found guilty of eight counts of bank and tax fraud in a separate trial that took place in Virginia last month. Friday’s plea agreement said Manafort "shall cooperate fully, truthfully, completely and forthrightly with the Government and other law enforcement authorities identified by the Government in any and all matters to which the Government deems the cooperation relevant.” Starr on Sunday praised the agreement Manafort reached with Mueller's federal prosecutors as a major step toward uncovering the truth about Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. "The real significance of what's happened is we’re much closer to getting the truth than we were before this plea," Starr said. "It is so terrific for the investigation and, frankly, for the American people that we’re moving forward. We're getting someone who may be knowledgeable," he said. Trump on Saturday broke his silence on Manafort's plea deal, blaming the special counsel in a tweet for a spate of recent polls that show the president's approval rating dwindling ahead of this fall's midterm elections. "While my (our) poll numbers are good, with the Economy being the best ever, if it weren’t for the Rigged Russian Witch Hunt, they would be 25 points higher!" Trump wrote online. "Highly conflicted Bob Mueller & the 17 Angry Democrats are using this Phony issue to hurt us in the Midterms. No Collusion!" The president lashed out again Sunday morning, tweeting: "The illegal Mueller Witch Hunt continues in search of a crime. There was never Collusion with Russia, except by the Clinton campaign, so the 17 Angry Democrats are looking at anything they can find. Very unfair and BAD for the country. ALSO, not allowed under the LAW!" Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani also tweeted about the plea deal on Saturday, writing: "Another road travelled by Mueller. Same conclusion: no evidence of collusion President did nothing wrong." Starr on Sunday urged the president not to pardon Manafort, saying such a move would be "unwise," and compared Trump's criticisms of the special counsel to the treatment he received from President Bill Clinton's administration during the Whitewater investigation. (Starr was on CNN to tout his new book: “Contempt: A Memoir of the Clinton Investigation.”) "I think that the Trump White House and the lawyers are taking a page from the Clinton playbook," Starr said. "Attack the prosecutor." source: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/16/kenneth-starr-manafort-veil-ignorance-825768 #Headlines by: qforgey@politico.com (Quint Forgey)

Original Post: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/16/kenneth-starr-manafort-veil-ignorance-825768