It looks like Rick Gates hopes to have a plea deal with Mueller by Feb. 21.

[pnwmom]

This is just me, speculating. But a bunch of lawyers are speculating along the same lines in the comments section of this article .

What we know for sure:

Gates 3 lawyers have been trying to resign, but the judge has prevented them from doing so, thus far.

A new lawyer, Tom Green, seems to be showing up a lot --in Mueller's office and in the courtroom, when Gates is having a hearing -- but hasn't officially made himself counsel of record. His reputation is that he is great for plea deals.

Now Gates has filed a motion pro se -- on his own -- asking that the judge not rule on the 3 lawyers' request to resign for another week. Feb. 21.

So maybe Tom Green doesn't want to be stuck representing Gates at trial if the plea deal isn't agreed to -- so he's not signing up to be official counsel. But he IS agreeable to trying to work out the plea deal. In the meantime, Gates needs SOME counsel of record in case he's stuck going to trial, so he doesn't want to let his 3 other attorneys off the hook yet.

Lawyers in the comments section say a judge would be unlikely to let attorneys resign this close to a trial date without a counsel ready to immediately step into their place. Also, that whatever happened to make these attorneys want to resign is probably not the fact that he's trying to do a plea deal, or that there was a problem with payment. They're speculating that Gates might not have been entirely honest with them, and that another attorney might not want to take on a client like that.

In any case, the fact that Gates just wants the judge to wait for another week suggests to me that he hopes a plea deal might be in place by then. Of course, we might not hear about it right away, even if it happens.

But I can't help hoping . . . .

ON EDIT: And if Gates did do something BAD enough to make his attorneys want to disown them (like feeding them false information that they entered into a public record), then he might not find any decent attorney willing to represent him in a trial. So there is that much more pressure on him to work out a deal with Mueller.

Article here:

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/rick-gates-legal-team-drags-on

The judge, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, did reveal publicly that Gates had filed under seal a motion pro se — meaning on his own, and not through an attorney — asking that she wait a week before considering his attorneys’ request to withdraw. One of his attorneys, Shanlon Wu, said that they had not seen that pleading. Jackson said she would be unsealing it shortly.

After spending more than an hour in a private conference with the judge, Gates and his team — including Green — emerged from the courtroom. They declined to comment, as there is a gag order in the case, but Wu confirmed that he was still Gates’ lawyer.

Comments:

http://forums.talkingpointsmemo.com/t/discussion-rick-gates-effort-to-switch-up-legal-team-drags-on/68565/44

[Angry Dragon]

1. The Ides of March is fast approaching

[BigmanPigman]

4. Oooh, March 15th.

I like that! When ravens and crows fill the air we know the end is near.

[CentralMass]

6. Hopefully Orange Julius will utter et tu Covfefe Boy.

[tblue37]

7. I prefer Orange Foolius. nt

[BigmanPigman]

2. I hope you're correct.

The more people flip, the better. I would love Manafort to go along too.

[Leghorn21]

3. Hammer DOWN, Ricky-baby! Dont be shy now, lets rock this thang!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gabi Hayes]

5. Wonder if his sphincter is as tight as his lips are puckered

As Charles Barkley said, IIRC, you couldn’t get a sewing needle up that brown ring with a jackhammer

Or somesuch

And maybe Hopeyncould steam his suit up a little, like she does
Mr. T’s trousers

[Cha]

8. Like was said..

the more turncoats the Better!