Manafort, Gates Under House Arrest.
BALDWIN: All right. Let's go out to federal court to my colleague Jessica Schneider who has been watching the comings and goings here in the news with regard to Paul Manafort and Rick Gates here and these indictments and how they pled and the bond and how figures that were set, Jessica. What did the judge grant them?</s>JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brooke. We are learning all about the conditions of release for both Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. Of course, both of them pleaded not guilty, but still they will be confined to home arrest. That means that they cannot leave their home unless for certain specified reasons like seeing the doctor or meeting with their attorneys or of course, appearing here at court. Now we know that the government requested these very tight conditions of bond. In fact, Paul Manafort released not only on home arrest, but also on a $10 million unsecured bond. Rick Gates on a $5 million unsecured bond. And the government had argued that both of these men considering the seriousness of their charges and also their net worth in addition to the fact that there might be a flight risk as reasons for asking the government for that home arrest and that high bond and, of course, the judge did acquiesce to the government's request, setting that high bond. Both Paul Manafort, and Rick Gates they will have to stay at their home. Again, not leaving, only for those specified reasons. And they will have undergo daily monitoring. They will have to check in with their monitors daily. Rick Gates at the eastern district of Virginia. Paul Manafort will have to check in with authorities in D.C. He'll also be monitored by the authorities in D.C. What was also interesting about this is that the net worth of both of these men coming out in this proceeding. Paul Manafort said to be worth $20 million to $100 million. Rick Gates the government said he was worth between $2 million and $30 million. Of course, their extreme high net worth, a factor in this, the fact that they will have to be in their homes being monitored, checking in on a daily basis and not being allowed to leave except for those very specified reasons including being here at court. And Brooke, we know that they will be back in court on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. So, this will likely be months of court hearing, because this is an extremely lengthy indictment, 31 pages. Each of these men facing 12 counts and now while they wait this out they will be forced in that home arrest -- Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: Yes, Jeffrey Toobin saying this one's going to take a long time looking at the details in the indictment. Jessica, thank you so much. We did have cameras pointed outside that courthouse, as well as Paul Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing spoke. It was quick, but here he was.</s>KEVIN DOWNING, ATTORNEY FOR PAUL MANAFORT: I think you all saw it today that President Donald Trump was correct. There is no evidence that Mr. Manafort or the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government. Mr. Manafort represented pro-European Union campaigns for the Ukrainians and in that he was seeking to further democracy and to help the Ukraine come closer to the United States and the EU. Those activities ended in 2014. Over two years before Mr. Manafort served in the Trump campaign. Today you see an indictment brought by the office of special counsel that is using a very novel theory to prosecute Mr. Manafort regarding a thera filing. (15:40:00) The United States government has only used that offense six times since 1966 and only resulted in one conviction. The second thing about this indictment that I myself find most ridiculous, is a claim that maintaining offshore account, to bring all your fund into the United State as a scheme to conceal from the United States government is ridiculous. Thank you.</s>BALDWIN: There you have it. Jamil Jaffer is with us. He's a former associate White House counsel to President George W. Bush. He's an adjunct law professor at George Mason University. Professor welcome back. You just listened to the brief statement from Mr. Downing ending with this is ridiculous. What do you make of what he just said?</s>JAMIL JAFFER, FORMER ASSOCIATE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Well look, I mean obviously, he's representing his client and he's defending his client's position. And he obviously makes a good point about the use of foreign registration violations. But you know, it's clear that Mr. Manafort thought he had to register or he had to register more recently and the fact that they're bringing charges about his prior failure to register and then all the transactions that went around it. The question of whether they were trying to evade taxes or bringing money to the U.S. improperly are valid claims by the special prosecutor and we'll see how it plays out in court. But not surprising his attorney will take that position. He's defending his client.</s>BALDWIN: Sure. If you were White House counsel right at this very moment what would your biggest concerns, be seeing the former campaign chairman adviser is in a bit of trouble?</s>JAFFER: Yes, I mean, look, I think the obvious concern is that these charges are not really brought to bring Paul Manafort to justice for those issues, but to put pressure on him to cooperate either fairly or unfairly in the ongoing investigation the special counsel has. And so, if I were White House counsel that's what I would be concerned about.</s>BALDWIN: The other players in the Trump orbit, both current and past, Jared Kushner, Michael Flynn and you have the timing of today's indictments coming earlier than expected. Papadopoulos cooperating with investigators. You know, it seems like on that same vein, the White House should be concerned.</s>JAFFER: Well, look, it's hard to know. When nobody saw the Papadopoulos plea coming, and I think in part because the plea and the online charges are about lying in the course of the investigation. This oftentimes happens in the special counsel investigations. In fact, more often than not -- the charges you've seen in prior special counsel investigation whether it Whitewater and the Clinton era or during the Bush administration. They're about some ancillary figure, about the smaller issue that don't go right to heart of the investigation. So, I wouldn't read this as a sign that they're on to something in the larger investigation, but just that they're able to make charges and try to put pressure on folks within the orbit in order to try and see if they can't get something more.</s>BALDWIN: Jamil, what do you read into just the scope? What we've learned reading through this Manafort indictment? Going back to financial dealings way before the campaign into his life circa 2006. What does this tell you about what Mueller and his team is doing?</s>JAFFER: I think it's clear that Mueller doesn't see his ambit restriction just to the election-era things and that's actually been a problem and issue for a lot of other special prosecutors. They've been coitized roundly for going well beyond the scope of their original focus. But as I mentioned before, you know, this is what happens a lot in special counsel investigations. And more often than not when we've seen special counsel doing before, they've indicted folks. Something's not directly related. Look at the Monica Lewinsky matter. You know, not directly related to the underlying investigation. That's been a source of criticism. So, we'll see what happens here. Now Bob Mueller is a sharp guy. He's a serious prosecutor and he'll do the right thing here. And so, I think we'll see how this investigation plays out. But clearly, they'll try to pressurize the folks involved to see if they can't get more to move up the chain.</s>BALDWIN: Jamil Jaffer, thank you. As Paul Manafort's attorney called the charges against his client ridiculous. We're going to dig into the back story on the former Trump campaign chairman and his right-hand man Richard Gates. Stay with me.