Posted on 08/11/2018 6:58:42 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
An unexplained delay Friday in the criminal trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort put court proceedings behind schedule as the case extends into its third week.
Prosecutors were planning to call their final witness on Friday, but lengthy discussions between Judge T.S. Ellis III and attorneys from both sides during the morning hours pushed back witness testimony for the day into the afternoon. Neither the jury nor courtroom attendees were privy to the nature of the talks, and Ellis gave no explanation once the trial resumed, prompting speculation ranging from a possible plea deal to restricting testimony from a government witness.
The trial is now slated to resume on Monday at 1 p.m., and the judge appears ready to resume the brisk pace that defined the trial before Friday’s setback.
Ellis told the jury that while he cannot predict exactly how much longer it will take for special counsel Robert Mueller’s legal team to finish presenting their case, government attorneys have at least one more witness they expect to take the stand for about an hour on Monday.
The defense will then have the opportunity to present its case. Defense attorneys have not indicated whether Manafort will take the stand.
After the defense rests, both sides will present their closing arguments. Ellis said that portion of the trial will be limited to two hours.
He also encouraged attorneys to shorten their closing arguments, saying two hours is a long time to keep a juror’s attention.
“It is no accident TV programs are only half an hour,” he quipped, evoking laughter from the courtroom.
Ellis limited opening statements to 30 minutes for each side when the trial commenced.
The trial is seen as the first courtroom test for Mueller’s Russia probe. Manafort is facing 18 counts of alleged bank and tax fraud.
Ellis is going to need a sense of humor to put up with the circuses. Flying into grim rages isn't working.
Hmmm, any chance Manafort turns state evidence in exchange for a !ight sentence?
My guess on how it all began ...
Tony Podesta used to work with Paul Manafort. Hillary’s campaign manager, John Podesta knew of a lot of their activities.
When Manafort was appointed Trump campaign manager, I am sure Hillary and team sought information on Manafort. John and Tony Podesta were good places to start.
obama, hillary, and the rest of the swamprats had almost complete control of our government. They could get the FBI, CIA, DOJ, to act on their beck and call.
Still amazing to see how desperate the MSM and Left are to link this to the ‘Russia Investigation’ when these charges arise from tax and fraud charges when Manafort was working with the Democrat’s and Podesta’s.
Unless this involves Russian banks, or Russian taxes, or even Russian salad dressing, it has nothing to do with Russia. It has much to do with the lapdog media willingness to believe that there is any substance to any of this.
Ellis has made himself the focus of the trial.
Well it was Russian money paid to Manafort to help prop up Putin’s puppet regime in Ukraine.
Mueller Obstruction of Justice,
he tries to get the judge removed,
and he distracts and delays the trial.
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