'Even a blind person' can see Mueller using Manafort to 'target' Trump: judge

Washington Times ^ | June 28, 2018 | By Rowan Scarborough

[Jim Robinson]

A federal judge says “even a blind person” can see that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is prosecuting Paul Manafort as a way to acquire evidence against his “true target,” President Trump.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III made the comment in an opinion released this week that nonetheless sided with Mr. Mueller and against Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager. He rejected Mr. Manafort’s argument that the Mueller-brought tax-evasion indictment exceeded the special counsel’s authority and should be dismissed.

Judge Ellis, sitting in the Eastern District of Virginia, expressed dismay at the special counsel system and at Mr. Mueller in particular.

“Given the investigation’s focus on President Trump’s campaign, even a blind person can see that the true target of the Special Counsel’s investigation is President Trump, not defendant, and that defendant’s prosecution is part of that larger plan,” he wrote. “Specifically, the charges against defendant are intended to induce defendant to cooperate with the Special Counsel by providing evidence against the President or other members of the campaign. Although these kinds of high-pressure prosecutorial tactics are neither uncommon nor illegal, they are distasteful.”

In negotiations between Mr. Mueller and Trump attorneys over a possible interview, the prosecutor has said Mr. Trump isn’t a target––a specific Justice Department term that means the government has evidence the person committed a crime...

[marktwain]

This approach was used in an appeal to a federal district court. The court through it out, essentially saying it was a necessary prosecutorial tool.

I believe you are correct.

But we have not been able to have a court so rule, yet.

[Maris Crane]

Ellis did the same thing Comey did.

Thoroughly disappointed. Spineless Ellis.