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Team Mueller's 'Star Witness' Rick Gates May Not Testify Against Manafort After All
 But wait! It gets better![PJMedia] Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team appeared to struggle in front of federal judge T.S. Ellis on day two of the fraud trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in Alexandria, VA, Wednesday. The 78-year-old Reagan-appointed judge rebuked Mueller's prosecutors repeatedly, casting doubt on the strength of their arguments. It is looking increasingly possible that Manafort, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, making false statements, and working as an unregistered agent of the government of Ukraine, may end up prevailing in court, making the special counsel look foolish(er). Mueller's prosecutors stunned the courtroom when they told the judge they may not put their "star witness" Rick Gates on the stand to testify against Manafort, his former business partner. While prosecutor Uzo Asonye was questioning an FBI agent about a financial document authored by Gates, Judge Ellis interrupted the testimony to ask why the agent was being asked about the document and not its apparent author. "He may testify in this case, your honor, he may not," Mr. Asonye answered. This revelation reportedly set off a stampede of reporters out of the courtroom to report the stunning news. "That's news to me and about 25 others who scurried out of here like rats on a sinking ship," Judge Ellis told Asonye. I like this judge The prosecutor told the judge that the evidence presented would "determine which witnesses testify," prompting a sharp rebuke from the judge. "You know who you are going to call," he said. "If you are going to call Mr. Gates, this is a waste of time." It turns out, the defense was looking forward to cross-examining purported liar/crook/embezzler/snitch Gates, who is suspected of being willing to say whatever Mueller's team wants in exchange for leniency. Why does it seem that they are just throwing everything out there and hoping it sticks? Maybe they don't have shit? Or were hoping for a demoncrat judge and jury. Posted by: DarthVader 2018-08-02 |
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