So the manafort defense team is using this angle: Rick Gates made him do it
lmfao my god. this is hilarious. The defense isn't saying manafort is innocent, but that his homeboy made him not report all those millions he cashed in.
thats.....i dunno what to say about that lol.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
One of the store employees that Manafort shopped at said he was the only client who paid for clothes with wire transfers.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
The defense is most certainly risking their case on gates. Prosecutors say they might not need gates to testify because of the paper trails.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
The defense is most certainly risking their case on gates. Prosecutors say they might not need gates to testify because of the paper trails.
Well, investigations regarding tax violations are almost always about the paper trail...
So I'm not sure they need to have that many witnesses.
I guess the judge wasn't happy about the pictures of Manaforts clothing. But the point of that was that he bought them using wire transfers from outside the US.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
You guys seeing how Trumps tweets are turning into deadly boomerangs aimed back on Trump and his cronies?
How can a President who should have so many critical matters to attend to, be able to spend so much time on tweeting? He keeps this up, he will eventually hang himself...
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers...Socrates
the judge did have a point about manafort not being on trial for having a lavish lifestyle. i agree completely about that.
the defense definitely played their hand way too early by hinging everything on Gates, as they stated in their opening statement.
the witnesses the prosecutors have aren't even necessary, IMO, so its not a set back not to be able to show his purchases.
my only beef with the judge so far is him insisting the prosecutors or witnesses reframe from using the word "oligarch". i understand his reasoning, but i disagree with not using it overall.
i am glad that the judge told them to wrap this up quick, he gave them 3 weeks. but the prosecutors said they only need 2.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
I think it’s fair to show where the money came from to make lavish purchases. Especially if they came from accounts that also had deposits from rich Russians with ties to Putin.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The bookkeeper said Paul Manafort submitted fake financial documents. The accountant testified he hid foreign bank accounts. And a series of businessmen said he used international wire transfers to pay for millions of dollars in luxury items.
On Friday, a tax preparer even admitted that she helped disguise $900,000 in foreign income as a sham loan to lower Manafort's tax bill.
But the most critical moment in the former Trump campaign chairman's financial fraud trial will likely arrive next week with the testimony of his longtime associate Rick Gates, whom witnesses have described as Manafort's "right-hand man" and defense attorneys are looking to blame for any crimes.
Gates, who also served in a senior role in President Donald Trump's campaign, has been a key cooperator for special counsel Robert Mueller's team after he cut a plea deal earlier this year. During that process, he admitted to two felony charges, but when he testifies it will be the first time he'll detail those crimes face-to-face with his former boss and mentor.
The trial, in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first of Mueller's prosecutions to reach a jury. But lawyers have made no mention of Trump or possible campaign coordination with the Kremlin, the central question behind the special counsel's investigation. Still, Trump has made clear his interest in the case, suggesting in a tweet that Manafort was being treated worse than gangster Al Capone. And Manafort's decision to stand trial instead of cooperate has raised speculation that he may be looking for a pardon.
The trial opened with a display of Manafort's opulent lifestyle, then progressed into testimony about what prosecutors say were years of financial deception. In calling Gates, the government will present jurors with the first-hand account of a co-conspirator expected to say Manafort was knee-deep in an alleged scheme to hide millions of dollars from the IRS and defraud several banks.
Manafort's defense team has already signaled that it will paint Gates as an embezzler and liar who took advantage of Manafort and flouted the law without his boss's knowledge. Gates is expected to face bruising cross-examination, and his credibility is likely to be an important test of the prosecution's case.
During the questioning, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III will be both referee and wild card. He has played those roles throughout the trial, repeatedly scolding prosecutors to rein in their depictions of Manafort's lavish lifestyle and demanding that they "move it along." It is not a crime, he has said several times, to be rich and to spend ostentatiously.
Nonetheless, jurors were told of more than $900,000 in expensive suits, a $15,000 ostrich jacket and lavish properties replete with expensive audio and video systems, a tennis court encircled by hundreds of flowers and, as one witness put it, "one of the bigger ponds in the Hamptons."
One-by-one, a retired carpenter, a natty clothier and a high-end landscaper detailed how Manafort paid them in international wire transfers from offshore companies.
Prosecutors say Manafort used those companies to stash millions of dollars from his Ukrainian consulting work, proceeds he omitted year-after-year from his income tax returns. Later, they say, when that income dwindled, Manafort launched a different scheme, shoring up his struggling finances by using doctored documents to obtain millions more in bank loans.
On Friday, one of Manafort's tax preparers admitted that she helped disguise $900,000 in foreign income as a loan in order to reduce his tax burden. Cindy Laporta, who testified under an immunity deal with the government, acknowledged that she agreed under pressure from Gates to alter a tax document for one of Manafort's businesses.
All told, prosecutors allege that Manafort failed to report a "significant percentage" of the more than $60 million they say he received from Ukrainian oligarchs. They sought to show jurors how that money flowed from more than a dozen shell companies used to stash the income in Cyprus.
Though the names of those companies appeared on wire transfers and at times on his bookkeeper's ledger, both Manafort's accountants and his bookkeeper say they never knew the companies — and corresponding offshore bank accounts — were controlled by Manafort.
When they appeared, the bookkeeper and accountants said, they thought the companies were clients or, in some cases, lenders.
But defense lawyers are trying to convince the jury that Manafort was consumed by his consulting business and left the particulars of his finances to professionals and, in particular, to Gates.
"Money's coming in fast," Manafort's lawyer, Thomas Zehnle, told jurors at the trial's beginning. "It's a lot, and Paul Manafort trusted that Rick Gates was keeping track of it."
______________
now i get the strategy of the prosecution team. they have such a solid, lock down case, that they really didn't need gates to testify at THIS trial. the defense team best shot, which they said as much in their opening statements, is to basically pin all of this down on gates.
won't work. So they are gonna get manafort all probably all of these specific financial charges. and then use the momentum going into the actual conspiracy charges in september's trial, which will be the money laundering charges, as well as the failure to register as a foreign agent.
Manafort is looking at spending the rest of his life in prison on just the current trial alone, nevermind when the next one starts.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
You guys seeing how Trumps tweets are turning into deadly boomerangs aimed back on Trump and his cronies?
How can a President who should have so many critical matters to attend to, be able to spend so much time on tweeting? He keeps this up, he will eventually hang himself...
Nature calls. And for Trump, it calls often.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
Gates says he and Manafort didn't report 15 foreign accounts, knew it was illegal By Katelyn Polantz, Stephen Collinson, Kara Scannell and Elizabeth Landers, CNN
Updated 4:58 PM ET, Mon August 6, 2018 Who is Rick Gates? Play Video Trump WH 3 Trump on Manafort: I feel a little badly about it
Mueller: Manafort attempted witness tampering Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Manafort campaign ties now part of Mueller investigation WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Prettyman Federal Courthouse after a bail hearing November 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. Manafort and his former business partner Richard Gates both pleaded not guilty Monday to a 12-charge indictment that included money laundering and conspiracy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Judge rejects Manafort's effort to dismiss case NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Former Donald Trump presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort looks on during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Judge in Manafort case: Mueller aims to hurt Trump sanders whpb White House: No discussion of Trump pardons Paul Manafort, advisor to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign, checks the teleprompters before Trump's speech at the Mayflower Hotel April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A real estate billionaire and reality television star, Trump beat his GOP challengers by double digits in Tuesday's presidential primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Deleware, Rhode Island and Connecticut. "I consider myself the presumptive nominee, absolutely," Trump told supporters at the Trump Tower following yesterday's wins. Manafort's history in the political spotlight Paul Manafort walks outside the William B. Bryant US Courthouse Annex on October 30, 2017 in Washington,DC. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of conspiracy and money laundering after the Justice Department unveiled the first indictments in the probe into Russian election interference. Manafort, 68, and business partner Rick Gates, 45, both entered not guilty pleas in a Washington court after being read charges that they hid millions of dollars they earned working for former Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) Manafort sues Mueller over Russia probe File photo - Paul Manafort , senior aid to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends an event on foreign policy in Washington on Wednesday April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC, USA. Corruption investigators in Ukraine say an illegal, off-the-books payment network earmarked $12.7 million in cash payments for Donald Trump's presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort, the New York Times reported Monday. It is not clear if Manafort actually received any of the money designated for him from 2007 to 2012 while working as a consultant for pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych's party, the Times said. Photo by Olivier Douliery/Sipa USA Manafort traveled under fake name UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 30: FILE PHOTO Rick Gates looks on as GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump checks the podium early Thursday afternoon in preparation for accepting the GOP nomination to be President at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday July 20, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) Who is Rick Gates?
Remind me ... who is Paul Manafort?
Accountants: Manafort falsified loan documents Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse after an arraignment hearing March 8, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort pleaded not guilty to new tax and fraud charges, brought by special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russian interference investigation team, at the Alexandria federal court in Virginia, where he resides. A trial date has been set for July 10, 2018. Alex Wong/Getty Images Jury seated in Paul Manafort trial Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at US District Court on June 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. - Manafort faces charges including conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy against the United States. Manafort was the first to be indicted by Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Today's hearing includes Manafort's arraignment on new charges concerning attempts to tamper with potential witnesses via an encrypted messaging platform. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) 5 witnesses named in Paul Manafort trial Paul Manafort, advisor to Donald Trump, is seen on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 2016. Manafort's journey to center of Mueller's investigation Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. Drew Angerer/Getty Images AP may have led FBI to Manafort storage unit Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse after an arraignment hearing March 8, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort pleaded not guilty to new tax and fraud charges, brought by special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russian interference investigation team, at the Alexandria federal court in Virginia, where he resides. A trial date has been set for July 10, 2018. Alex Wong/Getty Images Judge revokes Manafort bail, sends him to jail Trump WH 3 Trump on Manafort: I feel a little badly about it
Mueller: Manafort attempted witness tampering Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Manafort campaign ties now part of Mueller investigation WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 06: Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Prettyman Federal Courthouse after a bail hearing November 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. Manafort and his former business partner Richard Gates both pleaded not guilty Monday to a 12-charge indictment that included money laundering and conspiracy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Judge rejects Manafort's effort to dismiss case NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Former Donald Trump presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort looks on during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Judge in Manafort case: Mueller aims to hurt Trump sanders whpb White House: No discussion of Trump pardons Paul Manafort, advisor to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign, checks the teleprompters before Trump's speech at the Mayflower Hotel April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A real estate billionaire and reality television star, Trump beat his GOP challengers by double digits in Tuesday's presidential primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Deleware, Rhode Island and Connecticut. "I consider myself the presumptive nominee, absolutely," Trump told supporters at the Trump Tower following yesterday's wins. Manafort's history in the political spotlight Paul Manafort walks outside the William B. Bryant US Courthouse Annex on October 30, 2017 in Washington,DC. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of conspiracy and money laundering after the Justice Department unveiled the first indictments in the probe into Russian election interference. Manafort, 68, and business partner Rick Gates, 45, both entered not guilty pleas in a Washington court after being read charges that they hid millions of dollars they earned working for former Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) Manafort sues Mueller over Russia probe File photo - Paul Manafort , senior aid to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends an event on foreign policy in Washington on Wednesday April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC, USA. Corruption investigators in Ukraine say an illegal, off-the-books payment network earmarked $12.7 million in cash payments for Donald Trump's presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort, the New York Times reported Monday. It is not clear if Manafort actually received any of the money designated for him from 2007 to 2012 while working as a consultant for pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych's party, the Times said. Photo by Olivier Douliery/Sipa USA Manafort traveled under fake name UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 30: FILE PHOTO Rick Gates looks on as GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump checks the podium early Thursday afternoon in preparation for accepting the GOP nomination to be President at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday July 20, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) Who is Rick Gates?
Remind me ... who is Paul Manafort?
Accountants: Manafort falsified loan documents Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse after an arraignment hearing March 8, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort pleaded not guilty to new tax and fraud charges, brought by special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russian interference investigation team, at the Alexandria federal court in Virginia, where he resides. A trial date has been set for July 10, 2018. Alex Wong/Getty Images Jury seated in Paul Manafort trial Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at US District Court on June 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. - Manafort faces charges including conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy against the United States. Manafort was the first to be indicted by Special Counsel Robert Muller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Today's hearing includes Manafort's arraignment on new charges concerning attempts to tamper with potential witnesses via an encrypted messaging platform. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) 5 witnesses named in Paul Manafort trial Paul Manafort, advisor to Donald Trump, is seen on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 2016. Manafort's journey to center of Mueller's investigation Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. Drew Angerer/Getty Images AP may have led FBI to Manafort storage unit Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse after an arraignment hearing March 8, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort pleaded not guilty to new tax and fraud charges, brought by special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russian interference investigation team, at the Alexandria federal court in Virginia, where he resides. A trial date has been set for July 10, 2018. Alex Wong/Getty Images Judge revokes Manafort bail, sends him to jail Trump WH 3 Trump on Manafort: I feel a little badly about it Alexandria, Virginia (CNN)Rick Gates, the key prosecution witness in the tax and fraud trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, told jurors Monday he had committed crimes alongside -- and at the direction of -- his former partner.
Swamp on trial: Why people are hooked on the Manafort case Swamp on trial: Why people are hooked on the Manafort case Gates stated he and Manafort had 15 foreign accounts they did not report to the federal government, and knew it was illegal. Gates said he did not submit the required forms "at Mr. Manafort's direction." The testimony from Gates, a former adviser to Donald Trump, comes after reaching a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller earlier this year to testify against his former partner in a lucrative international political consulting firm. Manafort stared directly at Gates as he read aloud the details of his plea agreement, which could see him receive a reduced sentence, at the direction of a prosecution lawyer. Gates did not make eye contact with Manafort as he took the stand wearing a yellow tie and navy blue suit. As well as serving as Manafort's right-hand man in their multimillion-dollar business, Gates was also Manafort's deputy on the Trump campaign. His testimony represents the biggest test yet for Mueller's investigation even though this case does not directly play into the issue of alleged cooperation by the Trump campaign in Russian election interference. Track the latest developments in the trials of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The President is watching proceedings carefully as Mueller appears to be moving closer to his inner circle on multiple fronts and has complained that Manafort has been treated like a mobster -- even as the White House has tried to open up some distance between Trump and his former campaign chairman. The defense in the case is likely to subject Gates to an intensive cross-examination after arguing during opening statements that he embezzled millions of dollars from Manafort and then turned against him under pressure from Mueller. RELATED: Swamp on trial: Why people are hooked on the Manafort case Monday's court proceedings began with Manafort's accountant Cindy Laporta completing her testimony. Last week, she said that Manafort asked her to falsify numbers related to his company's profits. Other bookkeepers who worked with Manafort testified that he was intimately involved in all his financial dealings. Baked Alaska and birthday cake: Memorable lines from the Manafort trial judge, T.S. Ellis Baked Alaska and birthday cake: Memorable lines from the Manafort trial judge, T.S. Ellis Prosecutors allege that Manafort financed a lavish lifestyle featuring sumptuous residences and extravagant wardrobes by using millions of dollars in profits that he hid from tax authorities then turned to bank fraud when his income started to dry up. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all charges. CNN's Jim Scuitto contributed to this story
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Manafort trial Judge TS Ellis taunts and torments Mueller team: 'Tears in your eyes'
By Kaitlyn Schallhorn
Fox News
Judge criticizes Mueller team in Manafort trial
One of the most highly talked about cases of the year is taking place inside Judge T.S. Ellis’ courtroom – and he's making sure Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team knows it.
Mueller’s team has leveled multiple charges of tax and bank fraud against Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, particularly pertaining to his political work in Ukraine.
But while Manafort is the one on trial, the prosecution has often been on the receiving end of Ellis’ rebukes. The judge has lashed out at them for a variety of alleged missteps, from how they address him to how they’ve sought to portray the defendant.
Ellis has also cautioned the team about the high bar set for conviction; prosecutors have to prove Manafort knowingly violated bank and tax laws related to his political work overseas.
Here’s a look at some of the more colorful comments Ellis has directed toward Mueller’s team and key witnesses. Crying prosecutor?
This courtroom sketch depicts Rick Gates, right, testifying during questioning by prosecutor Greg Andres, standing at left, as former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, far left, sits with his lawyer Kevin Downing as Manafort's trial continues at federal court in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. U.S. district Judge T.S. Ellis III presides at top right. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Prosecutor Greg Andres, standing at left in this courtroom sketch, has been rebuked multiple times for how he's looked at or spoken to Judge T.S. Ellis in court. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Ellis seemed to suggest a prosecutor was so discouraged he was crying in his courtroom.
“I understand how frustrated you are. In fact, there’s tears in your eyes right now,” Ellis said Monday, according to a Bloomberg-obtained transcript.
When the prosecutor, Greg Andres, denied Ellis’ claim, the judge said, “Well, they’re watery.”
EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT MUELLER’S RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
Before the exchange, Ellis had rebuked Andres for not looking at him while he was talking.
“Look at me! Don’t look down,” Ellis said.
When Andres said he was looking at a document, Ellis said “that’s B.S.”
And on Wednesday, Ellis chastised Andres again for how he speaks to him. At one point, Andres responded with a simple “yea.”
“Be careful about that, this is not an informal proceeding,” Ellis warned. ‘You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort’
In May, Ellis accused Mueller’s team of caring more about a Trump impeachment than prosecuting Manafort for alleged crimes. He also suggested the team was seeking “unfettered power” in its investigation.
“You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort,” Ellis said during the preliminary hearing. “You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever.”
Ellis also questioned the scope of the investigation, saying, “We don’t want anyone with unfettered power.”
HERE’S WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED IN MUELLER’S RUSSIA PROBE SO FAR
“You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort. You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever.” - Judge T.S. Ellis
Mueller’s team said its authorities are laid out in documents, including the August 2017 scope memo, and some powers are secret because they involve ongoing investigations and national security matters.
But Ellis summed up the argument of the special counsel’s office: “We said this is what the investigation was about. But we’re not going to be bound by it.”
Undermining star witness testimony This courtroom sketch depicts Rick Gates on the witness stand as he is cross examined by defense lawyer Kevin Downing during the trial of former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on bank fraud and tax evasion at federal court in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. U.S. District court Judge T.S. Ellis III presides. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Rick Gates, seen in this courtroom sketch on the witness stand, testified that he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Paul Manafort when he was working with him. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)
Even Rick Gates, Manafort’s former business associate and star witness for the prosecution, hasn’t been able to escape Ellis’ retorts.
During the trial, Gates testified that Manafort “was good at knowing where the money was and how to spend it.”
Ellis interjected, saying, “he wasn’t that great at it” if Gates was able to steal money from Manafort without him noticing.
Gates has testified he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manafort when he was working for him. He said the extra cash was used for “bonus money” and “family money” to pay off an American Express credit card – without Manafort’s knowledge.
RICK GATES RETURNS TO STAND AS ANGRY JUDGE LASHES OUT AT PROSECUTORS
Mueller dropped numerous bank and tax fraud charges against Gates after he struck a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
Prosecutors earlier had suggested they might not call Gates to the stand, but Ellis told them they “can’t prove conspiracy without him.” ‘We don’t convict people because they have money’
Ellis has repeatedly rebuffed Mueller’s team as they sought to present evidence for the jury regarding Manafort’s wealth and “lavish lifestyle” – particularly photos of his closet, showcasing his expensive clothes.
“To parade all this again seems to be unnecessary, irrelevant and may be unfairly prejudicial,” Ellis said.
“Mr. Manafort is not on trial for having a lavish lifestyle, but for not reporting income on his taxes,” Ellis also told prosecutors.
A LOOK AT TS ELLIS, THE JUDGE IN THE MANAFORT, MUELLER CASE
He said the photos would seem “unnecessary, irrelevant” and potentially “prejudicial.”
“Enough is enough. We don’t convict people because they have a lot of money and throw it around,” he said. Watch your language
Ellis put a lid on the use of the word “oligarch” by prosecutors to describe the wealthy Ukrainians Manafort associated with in his business dealings. He said the word has “pejorative” meaning that isn’t relevant for this particular case.
Ellis said the word could also make it seem as though Manafort has associated with bad people – and make him seem guilty by association.
“It’s not the American way,” he said. ‘They made a mistake when they confirmed me’
Ellis told lawyers on both sides that judges should have patience – only he doesn't.
“Judges should be patient. They made a mistake when they confirmed me. I am not patient,” Ellis said.
He made the remark as he cautioned the attorneys against spending too much time arguing over evidence a witness would be asked about.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
earlier this year, he was the same judge who tried to put on this tough guy display about how the case doesnt seem to fall under mueller's scope of authority, which had all the conservatives cheering.
he then ended up ruling that the case against manafort must proceed.
he's annoying, and just pulls dog and pony shows that easily plays the trump supporters, cause they have proven they will fall for anything.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Prosecutors are expected to rest their case Friday against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, after days of occasionally dramatic testimony in Manafort's bank fraud and tax evasion trial and some testy exchanges with the trial judge.
Prosecuting attorneys for special counsel Robert Mueller got a rare, and narrow, acknowledgment from U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III that he likely erred when he angrily confronted them a day earlier.
The judge's comments came Thursday, during the eighth day of trial, as prosecutors began presenting the bulk of their bank fraud case after spending days largely on tax evasion allegations.
Thursday's testimony was devoid of some of the drama of recent days, when longtime Manafort deputy Rick Gates was confronted about having embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manafort and was forced to admit on the witness stand to an extramarital affair.
On Thursday, a group of bank employees told jurors about discrepancies and outright falsehoods contained on Manafort's loan applications.
Melinda James, a Citizens Bank mortgage loan assistant, testified that Manafort told the bank that a New York City property would be used as a second residence, but she found it listed as a rental on a real estate website. That distinction matters because banks regard loans for rental, or investment, properties as riskier and may impose restrictions, including on how much money they're willing to lend.
Jurors saw an email from Manafort to his son-in-law, Jeffrey Yohai, in which he advised him that an appraiser was looking to schedule a visit to the property.
"Remember, he believes that you and Jessica are living there," Manafort wrote in the email, referencing his daughter.
Airbnb executive Darin Evenson also told jurors that one of Manafort's New York City properties was offered as a rental through much of 2015 and 2016 — a direct contradiction of the documents the longtime political consultant submitted to obtain a $3.4 million loan.
Manafort also asserted on a loan application that he did not have a mortgage on a separate New York property, even though he actually did, and signed paperwork indicating he understood that he could face criminal penalties for providing false information to the bank.
The prosecution has called more than 20 witnesses, including Gates, and introduced a trove of documentary evidence as they've sought to prove Manafort defrauded banks and concealed millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts from the IRS. But along the way they've not only faced an aggressive defense team but a combative relationship with Ellis.
The judge has subjected the prosecution to repeated tongue-lashings over the pace of their questioning, their large amount of trial exhibits and even their facial expressions. But on Thursday, Ellis told jurors he went overboard when he erupted at prosecutors a day earlier for allowing an expert witness to remain in the courtroom during the trial.
"Put aside my criticism," Ellis said, adding, "This robe doesn't make me anything other than human."
Prosecutors had asked Ellis to tell the jury that he made an error in admonishing them during the Wednesday testimony of IRS agent Michael Welch.
Ellis had heatedly confronted prosecutor Uzo Asonye, saying he hadn't authorized Welch to watch the entirety of the trial. Witnesses are usually excluded from watching unless allowed by the judge.
But in their filing, prosecutors attached a transcript showing that in fact Ellis had approved the request a week before. They said his outburst prejudiced the jury by suggesting they had acted improperly and could undermine Welch's testimony.
"The Court's sharp reprimand of government counsel in front of the jury on August 8 was therefore erroneous," prosecutors wrote. "And, while mistakes are a natural part of the trial process, the mistake here prejudiced the government by conveying to the jury that the government had acted improperly and had violated court rules or procedures."
Welch had told jurors that Manafort didn't report at least $16 million on his tax returns between 2010 and 2014. He also said Manafort should have reported multiple foreign bank accounts to the IRS in those years.
On Thursday, they also asked Ellis to seal portions of a bench conversation during Gates' testimony because "substantive evidence" in an ongoing investigation was discussed. Prosecutors didn't elaborate, but one bench conference came after Manafort's defense team tried to question Gates about whether he had discussed his work on the Trump campaign with Mueller's team.
The judge agreed Thursday night to seal the portion of the sidebar.
Neither Manafort nor Gates was charged in connection with their Trump campaign work, but the special counsel continues to investigate Russian election interference and any ties to associates of the president.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
and whats worse, he still has another trial in september over the real meat and potatoes of the charges he faces.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
He may very well be convicted on some/many/all accounts. But you post this after his defense hasn't even started?
word on the street is that the defense might have 1-3 days before they rest. they dont have a strong defense.
remember, in the defense opening statement, they told the jury they will prove that manafort wasn't complicit and that gates is to blame for everything.
if you look at the testimony from the people who worked for manafort....thats gonna be a tough sell to the jury, especially since the prosecutors have a very detailed paper trail, complete with manafort's signatures and all.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Now, the big question is what Manafort's defense team will do. Will they present a case and call witnesses? Will Manafort testify in his own defense? Or will his defense team do nothing, effectively rolling the dice on their efforts to cut down the prosecution witnesses' testimony over the past two weeks? It would be surprising if Manafort testified. He'd open himself up to cross-examination by the prosecutors, who've presented reams of evidence against him, and anything he says in court could be used against him in September, when his second criminal trial for foreign lobbying violations is set to begin.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
That could all be dead on right, I don't know. But, can't the guy at least have his side heard before he's convicted?
isnt that whats happening?
da hell?
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
