Mueller’s bluff is being called.
He probably thought Manafort would fold and accept plea deal and roll on Trump, making up lies about POTUS that Mueller could use.
Manafort didn’t roll, and now Mueller has no choice but to pursue the case without looking like an obvious fraud. Better to get hammered in court than to admit you were wrong.
My prediction:
Hung jury. Mueller refiles. Gets a friendlier judge on the next roll of the dice and a conviction, long AFTER the midterms. Manafort appeals and this drags on for years.