Posted on 07/31/2018 9:08:28 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The first trial to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe is set to start Tuesday when former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort appears before a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia.
Mr. Manafort is facing 18 criminal counts, including bank and tax fraud, which could net him 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The charges stem from Mr. Manafort’s lobbying in the Ukraine on behalf of politicians with ties to Russia. Prosecutors have alleged he was paid more than $60 million for his work, which includes support of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yankovich.
Government attorneys say Mr. Manafort engaged in a scheme to hide his income from the IRS and other authorities in the United States. Instead of paying taxes on the income, they say he used it to support a lavish lifestyle that included three homes, a $21,000 watch, a $105,000 car and New York Yankees season tickets.
Roughly 500 pieces of evidence and up to 35 witnesses are expected to be presented by prosecutors. One of those witnesses is Mr. Manafort’s former business associate Rick Gates. He was charged along with Mr. Manafort, but pleaded guilty and has cooperated with Mr. Mueller’s team.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I just hope that Manafort has assurances from PDJT of a pardon.
Wired Sources;
@WiredSources
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BREAKING: Attorney representing Paul Manafort say there’s “No chance” he will cooperate with Robert Mueller’s targeting of Team Trump
8:58 AM - 31 Jul 2018
https://twitter.com/WiredSources/status/1024323341430214656
“I just hope that Manafort has assurances from PDJT of a pardon.”
And then the State of New York would take a bite from that apple.
I’d ride it out, plead the fifth, take my lumps, get my pardon, enjoy some sand and sun, write a fiction book about shady cops, enjoy more sun and sand!
Of course - because collusion isn’t a crime - it’s cooperation with foreigners that liberals are suggesting ought to be a crime, but only when Republicans do it. When Democrats do it, they’re just engaging in a kumbaya session to avoid war. And when Dems do it, any suggestion by Republicans that this is vaguely unpatriotic, is brushed off as McCarthyism and Cold War nostalgia.
Looking forward to counting all the times the name ‘Podesta’ comes up in this trial.
IMHO, this biggest part of this is that he must be let out of solitary for the trial.
Mueller hasn’t broken him yet, and that punishment is now mush less severe.
They are trying to establish that it isn’t a crime so that Hillary can also say what she did isn’t a crime as well.... classic gas lighting
Mulehead’s Witch Hunt and Manafort legal problems all trace back
to Jeff Sessions recusal.
Thanks Jeff.
Discovery should be interesting. Wonder if Mueller was counting on a plea bargain.
And what ever happened to Gen. Flynn?
Will this be decided by a judge or by a jury?
If by a judge, that’s unfortunate, as they all seem to be biased against anything and everything proposed by Manafort’s lawyers. Ask again if you can change the venue.
If I were Mueller I’d really be ashamed of myself. His efforts to screw Trump through Trump’s associates is so transparent. Even though Sessions has recused himself he is a fool for not stepping in and shutting this charade down. Disgraceful for an AG to tolerate this in his department.
Mueller’s team has specified in filings with the court that there are no charges related to Russian collusion/Russian interference in U.S. elections. This will not be reported by the MSM who will spin everything to imply collusion and interference.
I’m not in favor of someone breaking the law.
It would be very interesting to me, if Manafort were able to wage a decent defense, and crush the prosecution.
I’ll bet the witness list will be a who’s who of Democrat operatives.
It seems the prosecutors Mueller used were all Democrats.
I can’t help but think this is something like the IRS being focused on Conservatives. I don’t know if Manafort is a Conservative or not, but he did work for Trump, and that is good enough for these Leftists.
I’m curios how this will play out, and if we’ll ever hear the real truth of it.
Congratulations to little Bobby Mueller and his band of Clintoon shysters. They all went phishing and shot a sitting duck.
Tax fraud. Far less than Marc Rich, who was pardoned by Bill Clinton. So pardon Mr. Manfort. end of story.
I hope that he is found innocent, if he is innocent.
If he is guilty, then I have mixed feelings.
Obama’s justice dept passed on prosecuting him. It’s clear Mueller targeted him because he became Trump’s campaign manager.
Someone shouldn’t be targeted for becoming involved in a political campaign. But someone shouldn’t be able to wipe past misdeeds away by becoming involved in politics either.
Here is praying that true justice is served.
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