Manafort trial poses first courtroom test for Mueller

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's criminal trial on bank and tax fraud charges begins Tuesday, marking an initial courtroom test for special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of lawyers and investigators.

The trial promises to be an explosive affair, with Manafort facing allegations he laundered $30 million from work on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians and then stashed money overseas to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

It’s the first trial stemming from Mueller’s probe into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign, but it will also be strangely separate from the Russia controversies that have shadowed President Trump since the day he took office.

Judge T.S. Ellis, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, rejected Manafort’s argument that the charges against him are outside the scope of Mueller’s mandated Russia investigation, but he also warned lawyers against referencing collusion or other related matters that could prejudice the jurors, according to The New York Times.

Ellis said in May that he thought Mueller was pursuing charges against Manafort just to build a prosecution or impeachment case against the president, CNN reported.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/399293-manafort-trial-poses-first-courtroom-test-for-mueller?userid=229233

[chillfactor]

1. I think that the Mueller team...

is more than ready.

[lame54]

4. Manafort is beyond guilty...

He'll cave before the verdict

[beachbum bob]

2. Really?..,,mueller has passed all courtroom test..ask the mafia

[Stallion]

3. Who Is Serving as Chief Trial Counsel for the Prosecution?

Mueller himself or someone else

[3Hotdogs]

5. Yeah, but according to the article, the judge has made up his mind.

[OnDoutside]

6. It's The Hill.

[bpj62]

7. Mueller is Ready

BTW it is now $60 million that Manafort is accused of hiding. As for Mueller being ready, this is a guy who led troops in combat, who took down John Gotti when no one else could and who oversaw the Enron prosecutions. The judge is a hardass but that just ensures that Mueller is on his game. This is a jury trial so other than some unusual request from the defense you are not going to see a lot of fireworks from either side.

[TheRealNorth]

8. How good is Manafort's lawyers?

Are they the equivalent of OJ's "Dream Team" or the hacks that Trump has had representing him thus far?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. I'll just say this

Mueller convicted John Gotti. Something Giuliani was unable to do.