#Manfort & Gates facing trial in Russia probe

[boombergnews]

Attorneys for ex-Trump marketing campaign chairman Paul Manafort prompt throughout closing arguments Wednesday that Particular Counsel Robert Mueller’s group had unfairly ensnared their shopper within the ongoing Russia probe, prompting a last-minute recess within the case after prosecutors cried foul.

Manafort legal professional Richard Westling instructed jurors that banks had not reported any issues with Manafort to regulators “till the particular counsel got here and requested questions,” and accused prosecutors of “stacking” costs in opposition to Manafort — with prosecutors mentioned could have violated a pretrial settlement to not carry up the bigger political context of the case.

Westling additionally mentioned a number of occasions the prosecution ought to have been dealt with by an IRS audit, reasonably than a high-profile federal prosecution by the particular counsel’s workplace, which prosecutors mentioned additionally breached the pretrial settlement.

Decide T.S. Ellis III is predicted to handle the matter throughout jury directions later within the day.

Additionally throughout closing arguments, protection attorneys claimed prosecutors not solely failed to satisfy their burden of proof that Manafort dedicated financial institution and tax fraud, however that “not a single bit” of proof supported their allegations.

Manafort’s protection group then tore into Rick Gates, the prosecution’s star witness who pleaded responsible earlier this 12 months in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence.

JUDGE ELLIS TAUNTS AND TORMENTS MUELLER TEAM, CLAIMS PROSECUTOR IS CRYING

Final week, Gates testified that he and Manafort dedicated financial institution and tax fraud collectively, however the protection group repeatedly referred to as his credibility into query, establishing that Gates had been skimming cash from Manafort, defrauding banks, mendacity to federal investigators, and fascinating in extramarital affairs — all by his personal admission.

“The federal government was so determined to convict Mr. Manafort, they made a take care of Rick Gates,” legal professional Kevin Downing instructed jurors, including that Gates “confirmed himself to be the liar he’s” and that “to the very finish, he lied to you.”

Downing added: “How he was capable of get the deal he did I don’t know … on cross examination, he fell aside.”“

And Westling reminded jurors that the federal government – and never the defendant – should “meet that burden” of proof.

“It’s not even sufficient that they’re extremely seemingly responsible,” legal professional Richard Westling mentioned. “It needs to be past an affordable doubt. Maintain the federal government to its burden, girls and gents.”

Westling additionally downplayed prosecutors’ e-mail proof, which appeared to indicate Manafort acknowledging his possession of abroad accounts that he had didn’t report on his taxes. Different emails confirmed Manafort requesting that his accountant’s profit-and-loss statements, which had been later submitted to banks to acquire loans, be transformed into Phrase format in order that he may simply edit them.

Westling requested jurors to contemplate their very own previous emails, and whether or not all the knowledge in them would stand as much as scrutiny years later.

“All of us ship e-mail, besides Decide Ellis,” he mentioned, referring to the 78-year-old presiding choose within the case.

Westling additionally emphasised that a number of monetary paperwork within the case had Manafort’s signature, however appeared to have been signed by another person. That is a crucial argument for the protection, which has tried to argue Gates bore duty for Manafort’s alleged crimes.

After closing arguments and rebuttals conclude Wednesday and Decide Ellis points jury directions, the case goes to the jury. Ellis is predicted to explain the burden of proof to the jurors and to ignore a few of his feedback throughout the trial, in addition to to handle the protection group’s suggesting that Mueller had ensared Manafort in a bigger probe.

Earlier within the day, prosecutors used their closing arguments to color the previous Trump marketing campaign chairman as a persistent liar, telling jurors Manafort is “not above the legislation.”

“Mr. Manafort lied to maintain extra money when he had it, and lied to get extra money when he didn’t … This can be a case about Mr. Manafort’s lies,” prosecutor Greg Andres mentioned.

Manafort, 69, is dealing with tax evasion and financial institution fraud costs after being accused of hiding revenue earned from his Ukrainian political work from the IRS. He’s additionally accused of fraudulently acquiring tens of millions in financial institution loans.

He has pleaded not responsible to the fees. 

PROSECUTORS BLAST ‘MANFORT’S LIES’ IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS

Andres mentioned the testimony over the past two weeks exhibits Manafort hid cash in overseas financial institution accounts to spend on luxurious objects and actual property.

“The federal government asks you to return the one verdict that’s in line with the proof, which is responsible on all costs,” Andres mentioned.

He additionally instructed the jury Manafort “filed false tax returns” for 5 years, from 2010 to 2014.

“Mr. Manafort lied and lied once more,” Andres mentioned, accusing the defendant of not paying $15 million price of taxes.

“He isn’t above the legislation,” Andres mentioned.

Because the trial obtained underway, Manafort, sporting a blue go well with and blue shirt, rose, together with everybody else on the courtroom as jurors took their seats. Lead protection legal professional Kevin Downing patted Manafort on the again they usually each smiled.

In the course of the prosecution’s closing arguments, Manafort sat stone-faced, obvious at a TV on his desk displaying the displays.

A day earlier, the protection rested its case with out calling Manafort or every other witnesses to the stand. Addressing the court docket for the primary time throughout his trial, Manafort stood up and instructed Decide Ellis that he didn’t need to testify.

Particular Counsel Robert Mueller’s group rested their case Monday afternoon after about two weeks of testimony from prosecution witnesses.

Earlier than closing arguments, Ellis dominated in opposition to the protection’s movement to acquit.

Ellis, who has not shied from making colourful feedback throughout the trial, signaled that he’ll inform the jury to ignore any feedback he made throughout witness testimony which may have proven his opinion.

“Do you suppose I made any feedback?” Ellis requested either side on Tuesday.

After a brief silence, prosecutor Andres stood and mentioned, “Sure.”

There was audible laughter within the courtroom.

Manafort’s authorized troubles received’t finish with this trial. He’s additionally dealing with costs in a separate federal court docket case in Washington, together with conspiring in opposition to the US, conspiring to launder cash, failing to register as an agent of a overseas principal and offering false statements.

Fox Information’ Alex Pappas and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.

Gregg Re is an editor for Fox Information. Comply with him on Twitter @gregg_re.

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The post Fireworks during closing arguments as defense team suggests Manafort prosecution is improper, calls Mueller ‘desperate’ appeared first on BoomBerg News.

[malenipshadows]

  *** Overall, the indictment paints a picture of two men desperate for millions in loans — apparently to prevent Manafort’s financial house of cards from collapsing once the Ukraine money stopped coming in — and unscrupulous about how they’d get them. ***   ((( Follow the money )))

[malenipshadows]

  *** Manafort, who was Trump's campaign manager for almost five months in 2016, and Gates, who was deputy campaign manager, were indicted by Mueller's office in October. They face charges including conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to file as foreign agents for lobbying work they did on behalf of the pro-Russian Ukrainian Party of Regions. Both have pleaded not guilty. ...    Last Friday, Mueller's office revealed in a court filing that it had uncovered "additional criminal conduct" by Manafort in connection with a series of "bank frauds and bank fraud conspiracies" related to a mortgage on his property in Fairfax, Virginia. ***

[malenipshadows]

  *** Rick Gates has appeared to be a relatively minor figure in the Trump/Russia probe. But if he were to plead guilty to criminal charges connected to his earlier work as a lobbyist for a pro-Kremlin party in Ukraine, including allegations of money laundering, it would set off a chain of events that could bring Mueller’s investigation deep into the White House. ***

[malenipshadows]

  ***  The lawyers told the court they couldn't provide more details about their specific reasons because that could breach the privileged attorney-client relationship. They also said revealing more details could prejudice possible future jurors against Gates and are potentially "embarrassing."   The development Wednesday does little to clear up the mystery about Gates' fractured legal representation. Gates and the attorneys appeared in court Wednesday for about an hour.  The hearing was closed to the public, and Gates and his trial team were mum on what happened.   The trial team's proposed departure from the case comes after lawyers who've worked for Gates behind the scenes visited special counsel Robert Mueller's office several times, suggesting an ongoing negotiation between the prosecutors and the criminal defendant. ***

[malenipshadows]

  Special prosecutor R. Muller hires another prosecutor to focus on cybercrime leads in ever widening Russia election meddling probe.