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Manafort judge deals blow to Mueller probe
NY Post ^ | July 23, 2018 | 1:15pm | Lia Eustachewich

Posted on 07/23/2018 10:25:33 AM PDT by conservative98

A federal judge in Virginia agreed Monday to grant immunity to five potential witnesses in Paul Manafort’s upcoming trial — but, in a blow to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said their identities would be made public.

Mueller’s team wanted the identities of their witnesses to remain confidential, saying in a filing last week that they haven’t been criminally charged and to avoid “undue harassment.”

But Judge T.S. Ellis, a Ronald Reagan appointee, said they would be identified.

He also ordered Mueller’s office to provide a list of about 30 witnesses to Manafort’s lawyers.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dohj; immunity; jamescomey; lisapage; manafort; manafortoutofcontrol; manaforttrial; manafortwitnesses; mueller; muellermanafort; muellerwitnesses; peterstrzok; podesta; robertmueller; trump; witnesses
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To: TakebackGOP
Rush said a few weeks ago that the judge should have thrown the case out.

A whole bunch of Freepers thought that he would hey also believed the IG report would doom the Mueller probe as well.

Some of us old timers figured it would be more of the same and sure enough it is.

41 posted on 07/23/2018 11:30:02 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
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To: conservative98

When will some judge put an end to this farce?


42 posted on 07/23/2018 11:32:01 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration
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To: enumerated
There’s a theory floating around that the purpose of the Mueller probe was never to get Trump, but rather to provide a pretext for granting immunity to Obama appointees.

I have said that from the beginning, getting Trump would just be a bonus.

Proof will be of course that no one from the DNC, Obama, Hillary camp will ever be charged with anything, because no evidence of any wrong doing will exist and/or the statute of limitations will take care of it.

43 posted on 07/23/2018 11:37:16 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
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To: 2big2fail

Just why can’t they say “I don’t know?”


Because if they are caught lying, their immunity is off.


44 posted on 07/23/2018 11:42:35 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: TakebackGOP

One of my fondest hopes, is that he makes Mueller name the immunized witnesses, THEN throws out the case.


45 posted on 07/23/2018 11:44:42 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: conservative98
Mueller’s team wanted the identities of their witnesses to remain confidential, saying in a filing last week that they haven’t been criminally charged and to avoid “undue harassment.”

There is no "undue harassment" clause in the Constitution.

A defendant has the right to confront his accusers in a public trial.

-PJ

46 posted on 07/23/2018 11:48:18 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog
"Why would that deal a blow to Mueller’s probe (unless the five are all deep-state Democrats who are guilty of crimes under Obama?) "

Probably: Flake...McLame...Collins...Romney...Ryan...

47 posted on 07/23/2018 11:54:25 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: Buckeye McFrog
"Why would that deal a blow to Mueller’s probe (unless the five are all deep-state Democrats who are guilty of crimes under Obama?) "

Probably: Flake...McLame...Collins...Romney...Ryan...

48 posted on 07/23/2018 11:54:25 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: 2big2fail

You are correct, they may very well say “I don’t remember” and then the defense can impeach them as a reliable witness.


49 posted on 07/23/2018 11:54:52 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

because Mueller wanted them to testify without ever releasing name of who it says what...Manafort is entitled to know who is accusing him


50 posted on 07/23/2018 11:55:46 AM PDT by blueyon (The U. S. Constitution - read it and weep)
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To: conservative98

I hope that any immunity granted is extremely specific and limited in nature and scope. No blanket immunity crap.


51 posted on 07/23/2018 11:56:40 AM PDT by Two Kids' Dad (((( Sessions couldn't find his own ass if Al Franken was grabbing it at the time ))))
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To: CIB-173RDABN
Immunity is a double edge sword. Once granted immunity they can not later fall back on the 5th amendment. So if put on the witness stand and asked questions they can not not refuse to answer nor will they be able to play the “I can not remember card”. Do these people really want immunity?

You are exactly right. It could be that Mueller did not want his witnesses granted immunity so he could have an excuse to dismiss the charges.

Mueller is now going to have to turn over every document, notes, records of discussions with those granted immunity, potential criminal violations they committed, etc. This will also apply to conversations and documents between Mueller's team and the witnesses lawyers since there can be not privilege in that situation.

When granted immunity, any lie voids the grant of immunity. Mueller will also have to reveal what facts the testimony from his witnesses are going to prove; in advance.

While the witnesses may be granted immunity in this trial, that does not give them a real immunity from prosecution in future criminal prosecutions if their crimes can be proven with evidence unrelated to their testimony in this trial.

My guess is that Manafort's attorney is going to be able to get the witnesses to assert their 5th Amendment right against self incrimination, or admit to their own significant criminal conduct. Either way, Manafort will never be convicted, or have a conviction reversed on appeal.

52 posted on 07/23/2018 12:02:08 PM PDT by WASCWatch
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To: fortheDeclaration

Mueller will end it because the evidence is so weak, and Mueller was hoping his motion to grant immunity would be denied so he could dismiss the charges based on the unwillingness of his witnesses to testify.

This is blowing up in Mueller’s face.


53 posted on 07/23/2018 12:09:56 PM PDT by WASCWatch
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To: PGR88

The witnesses, who Mueller’s team had sought to keep from public view until they were called to testify, are

James Brennan
Donna Duggan
Conor O’Brien
Cindy Laporta
Dennis Raico


54 posted on 07/23/2018 12:22:28 PM PDT by entropy12 (1 Mil Daca is the shining object to hide 30 mil low quality LEGAL immigrants in last 25 years)
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To: WASCWatch

By the same token, immunity is always limited going forward, so when any of the witnesses starts lying after the testimony is taken or regarding a separate investigation, they are probably then fair game. Statute of limitations clock is reset, too, for perjury or obstruction committed going forward. This is not good for the Obamanites. They will be exposed and scrambling to cover up when immunity may not cover them anymore.


55 posted on 07/23/2018 12:24:36 PM PDT by mywholebodyisaweapon (Thank God for President Trump.)
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To: conservative98

Memorandum in support of Motion to Seal Motion the Government’s Motions for Use Immunity for Trial Testimony

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vgTt4-KNPTNm3J9lVimQHHJjOR2cyDBN/view

These five witnesses have asserted their 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination with Mueller. In other words, they refuse to testify without immunity. So, Mueller knows they have committed crimes, likely similar and worse than anything Manafort has done. Why aren’t they being prosecuted?

Even with immunity, there are plenty of perjury traps for these witnesses. My guess it that if this case goes to trial, they will at some point assert their 5th Amendment right against self incrimination. That will force the judge to dismiss the charges.

It could be that the Judge granted immunity for the witnesses in order to force Mueller to dismiss the charges.


56 posted on 07/23/2018 12:25:06 PM PDT by WASCWatch
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To: entropy12

We all know Brennan, but who are the rest of them?


57 posted on 07/23/2018 12:26:58 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88

Mortgage brokers, real estate brokers


58 posted on 07/23/2018 12:28:29 PM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: Flaming Conservative

Judge postponed case for one Week. Released 5 names on another threar here on FR.


59 posted on 07/23/2018 12:48:28 PM PDT by DrDude (Waiting for the Game to start. Gotta move the Goal Posts again!)
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To: conservative98

I think the “Not this s*** again!” guy has been replaced. LOL


60 posted on 07/23/2018 1:09:00 PM PDT by healy61
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