Posted on 08/01/2018 11:30:55 AM PDT by mandaladon
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors raised the possibility on Wednesday that an expected star witness may not testify against President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, while Trump asked for an end to the Russia probe that led to the charges.
On the second day of Manafort’s trial, the first stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 14-month investigation of Russia’s role in the 2016 U.S. election, the judge also tried to rein in prosecutors in their description of Manafort’s lavish lifestyle.
Manafort’s consulting work for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine that earned him $60 million also took the spotlight in testimony in federal court in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia. Prosecutors questioned veteran political consultant Daniel Rabin about the work he did for Manafort. Manafort, 69, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Rick Gates, Manafort’s former business partner, was expected to be a star government witness, and the defense assailed him in its opening statement to jurors on Tuesday as an embezzler. Gates pleaded guilty to making false statements after being indicted by Mueller.
U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis asked the prosecution whether they planned to have Gates testify.
“He may testify in this case, he may not,” said attorney Uzo Asonye.
With the jury out of the room, the judge complained about prosecutors’ efforts to show that Manafort’s life was luxurious and blocked them from showing one document on home renovations.
“Mr. Manafort is not on trial for having a lavish lifestyle,” Ellis said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Mueller’s prosecution team seem more like thugs than respectable lawyers.
Ruh-Roh, Raggy!......................
They never expected to get to Trail
Bu bu but .. Russia!! stormy! kids in cages!! Helsinki!! IDs in grocery stores!!
“”””Mueller’s prosecution team seem more like thugs than respectable lawyers.”””””””””””
They thought they could try the case in the media. Now that it is in the courtroom they have to use actual facts.
Now that it is in the courtroom they have to use actual facts.
Manafort has an Ostrich Jacket ,just the facts ,LOL
The whole thing feels like a Stalinist Show Trial — fortunately (and amazingly) this judge doesn’t seem to want to play that game.
They have Nothing and they’re not afraid to say it
Sorry to have to correct you but the Mueller mob are thugs.
It’s nice of you to be gentle by saying seem but they really don’t deserve a break.
Mueller’s group of prosecutors include all Obama-Clinton biased enthusiastic Trump-haters who will do anything, legal or quasi legal or illegal in order to get Trump and his family and associates no matter what.
The crime mobs do exactly the same thing. Including breaking into an enemy’s home with their family asleep pre-dawn and throwing clothes, underwear, and family mementos and pictures on the floor and looking at all their files and letters.
Ugly witch hunt, killing this guy with their only motive being a hope to incriminate Trump with something...Anything..And to squeeze Manafort hoping he has dirt on Trump. Disgusting.
And that’s not happening. They lose again while using Manafort as a pinata.
They have no case without Gates. Manafort is pleading ignorance and saying that Gates was the one who cooked the books. I think the prosecution decided not to call him because they know that he is going to lie. If a lawyer knows his witness is going to lie, he can be disbarred for calling him to testify.
I get the feeling this is going to be a show trial. At the end the prosecution will not have proven their case and Manafort will walk. If Manafort is convicted, he can appeal on the grounds that Mueller had no constitutional or statutory authority to investigate him, much less to raid his house or seize his records and that the conviction must be overturned.
“Mr. Manafort is not on trial for having a lavish lifestyle,” [judge] Ellis said.
Oregon Trail?
It certainly is difficult for the prosecution where, as here, the Judge is neither a fellow-traveler, nor awed by the drumbeat of the MSM. Instead, the Judge not only believes in the law, but follows it by requiring the Special Counsel’s dream-team actually to prove a case.
And when he wins his appeal he can sue and get his money back with some icing on it.
Manafort has all the dirt on Gates he needs to completely impugn the guy’s reliability as the state’s star witness.
Or ask the judge for a judgment to acquit based on no reasonable jury would convict based on the evidence (or lack thereof) that was presented.
Ellis might go for it if it continues on like this.
-PJ
Rick Gates, Manafort’s former business partner, was expected to be a star government witness, and the defense assailed him in its opening statement to jurors on Tuesday as an embezzler. Gates pleaded guilty to making false statements after being indicted by Mueller.
gates can be impeached (as a witness) because he was already caught lying...who are you going to believe, a convicted liar or me?
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