The president may feel bad that prosecutors only discovered those crimes because they’re looking hard at everyone connected to the Trump campaign. (In fact, the presiding judge at Manafort’s trial chided prosecutors that their real aim was “getting information Mr. Manafort can give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump and lead to his prosecution or impeachment.”)

But that doesn’t make Manafort any less guilty, or any less of a sleaze.

And it doesn’t justify the president giving ammunition to his enemies who are already talking impeachment — ammunition that might well convince Republicans that he’s abused the powers of his office.