Manafort judge says he's received threats

[George II]

Source: The Hill

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The judge in the tax and bank fraud trial against one-time Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said Friday he’s been threatened over the case, denying a request from media outlets to release the names and addresses of the jurors.

Judge T.S. Ellis III said he's not going to reveal the specifics of the threats he received.

"I have the marshals' protection," he said.

In denying the request from CNN, the Associated Press, Politico, NBC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post and BuzzFeed News, Ellis said he has no reason to believe the jurors wouldn’t also be exposed to threats if their names were revealed.

Read more: Linkhttp://thehill.com/homenews/administration/402369-manafort-judge-says-hes-received-threats to source

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Update - The Hill has the story, CNN doesn't yet other than this on television:

CNN Headline: Manafort Judge: "I'm getting threats, so won't reveal jurors", just reported by Jessica Schneider outside the courthouse, should be up on CNN soon.

[bearsfootball516]

1. I doubt he or his team would be that obvious.

Probably some crazy wahoo Trump supporters or something.

[Iliyah]

2. The real fake news (Murdoch) will if the

verdict(s) are against . . .

[deminks]

3. Why not? He's already been accused of witness tampering. Why not jury tampering?

Nothing is off the table for these folks. They have no moral compass.

[dem4decades]

4. I wonder if they got to a juror already?

[niyad]

5. I would only be surprised if he weren't.

[AJT]

6. Don't jump to conclusions. It may be some crazy left wing person.

The judge seemed to be biased for the defense.

[Fred Sanders]

11. What? Jumping to conclusions is the lifeblood of social media! Trump calls trial sad...threat to

judge soon after...this is me jumping.

[H2O Man]

23. Use common sense.

[lagomorph777]

31. My thought too. Ellis is pissing off a lot of people with his bias.

Even our side probably has a few nutjobs, sorry to say.

[azureblue]

33. Weak attempt

at creating doubt. Think before you post -why would a "liberal" Threaten the the judge, when this is not a partisan issue but an issue of corruption, which has been the hallmark of Trump since the 80's? Jeez...

[lagomorph777]

34. Look at my posts history - you are very mistaken if you think I want to sow doubt.

However, based on how much Ellis has pissed me off, I could imagine somebody slightly more pissed losing their cool. I certainly hope the stupidity is on the Trumpie side though!

[.99center]

7. Added that he didn't anticipate the level of attention this trial would receive

Link to tweet

Natasha Bertrand
@NatashaBertrand
No verdict yet, but Judge Ellis revealed that he has been threatened, said he doesn’t go anywhere without protection of Marshals, and declined to unseal the names of jurors for their own safety. Added that he didn’t anticipate the level of attention this trial would receive

https://apnews.com/3a99a9045dfd4576a014eba553853d4b/Manafort-judge-says-he's-received-threats,-won't-name-jurors

Eliis said during a hearing Friday afternoon he is concerned for the “peace and safety of the jurors.”

“I’ve received criticism and threats,” Ellis said. “I imagine they would, too.”

The judge said he is currently under the protection of U.S. marshals. He declined to delve into specifics, but said he’s been taken aback by the level of interest in the trial.

Also Friday, President Donald Trump issued a fresh defense of Manafort, calling him a “very good person.”

[nature-lover]

10. Didn't anticipate level of attention??? Lordy

[MontanaMama]

15. The Judge did not anticipate the

level of attention the trial would receive? Sheesh. I'm really hoping Ellis isn't more wackadoo than I already think he is. If Manafort walks, we are in for a shit storm of epic proportions from the "fire Mueller" contingent.

[Ponietz]

20. Judge Ellis is senile if he believed this

[B2G]

8. Why in the hell would he reveal their names now?

They're in the middle of deliberations. What purpose would it serve? Is there any precedent for doing so?

There are numerous high profile cases where juror names are NEVER revealed.

I don't even understand why the request was made in the first place...or that they thought they had a shot at it even happening.

[Fred Sanders]

12. Media made the request...no news while jury deliberates always drives them insane.

[Mr.Bill]

25. I wonder what media.

Info Wars?

[lagomorph777]

32. Info Wars is "ex-media."

[B2G]

37. CNN, NYT, WP. nt

[samir.g]

38. CNN, the Associated Press, Politico, NBC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post and BuzzFeed

[Sophia4]

39. In my opinion, the media can probably get photos one way or the other and

identify the jurors through facial recognition.

Very imperfect, but possible.

[B2G]

41. Horrible idea.

And I think there would be a rightful outcry if they tried.

[Sophia4]

42. I don't like it but it is possible.

[B2G]

43. And I would hope there would be severe consequences

You don't out jurors in the middle of deliberations. I would think that alone could cause a mistrial.

And no one would ever want to serve again. WTF.

[BigmanPigman]

9. He probably got threats for being a biased ass

during the trial. He should have excused himself from the start. Probably the only threat to jurors would be from tRump's pals.

[Fred Sanders]

14. No, not biased...maybe an ass. More aged and "crusty" and making the prosecution meet standards of

proof as required by law...judges are humans.

[marble falls]

13. I heard it was John Barron, John Miller and the ghost of Mr Green making the threats ...

http://fortune.com/2016/05/18/donald-trump-fake-names/

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Link - can you add in to the OP, please? - Thanks, I see you just had

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/17/politics/paul-manafort-trial-friday/index.html

Thanks,
muriel - LBN host

---

Thanks, I see you did so after I had looked at the OP, but before I posted.

[George II]

19. I waited a while for the CNN link, it never showed up so I posted the story from The Hill

Same content.

[Mme. Defarge]

17. Russian mob, maybe?

[rainin]

18. The defense could have handed it over to the mob on day one. Or, they could have identified them

by sitting in during the trial. How hard is it? Someone could have watched for a juror to go his car and either followed them or noted the license plate. I have very little confidence that this jury hasn't been threatened as well.

[Cosmocat]

21. Oh yeah ...

agreed ...

[pnwmom]

22. Why hasn't he sequestered the jury for their own protection?

[PoliticAverse]

24. They are much more in danger after they render a verdict, and won't have protection...

once the trial ends anyway.

[turbinetree]

27. Good point......................he should have done this from the beginning.............

amazing.................absolutely amazing.............

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

26. All the more reason to keep folks together and finish this.

Judge knows what he was in for taking this job. Jurors said they could do this in voire dire, or they wouldve been tossed off the jury. The best way to protect jurors is to finish it quickly and everyone disappear and enjoy the rest of their summer.

[Saviolo]

28. No big surprise there.

Manafort is absolute scum. He laundered US taxpayer money through foreign authoritarian regimes for years. He lobbied for fascists and dictators with his buddy (and business partner) Roger Stone through their PR/lobbying firm. He's got lots of friends in high places, and those friends are frequently ruthless dictators.

If you want to know just how much you should hate Paul Manafort, look here:

Part 1: https://www.behindthebastards.com/podcasts/no-matter-how-much-you-hate-paul-manafort-you-should-hate-him-more-and-heres-why.htm

Part 2: https://www.behindthebastards.com/podcasts/part-two-no-matter-how-much-you-hate-paul-manafort-you-should-hate-him-more-and-heres-why.htm

Frankly, getting fired for helping Trump is one of the least heinous things Manafort has done in his life of unreserved grift and corruption.

[DeminPennswoods]

29. NBC's Carol Ainsley said that she's ridden the court house

elevator with jurors. But I can't imagine why jurors names/addresses would be given out during deliberations. That would just be stupid, not to mention irresponsible.

[TexasBushwhacker]

35. I know!

Since when is that PERSONAL INFORMATION ever been given to the press, especially DURING a trial?

[ffr]

30. The level of naivety baffles my mind.

Manafort is on trial for money laundering with Russian organized crime. The same people who execute, hang, mutilate their victims.

Knowing now how this judge is playing this off, I wouldn't want to be on this jury. It's probably why Manafort plead not guilty. He knows he just needs to have his crime buddies get to one juror and he gets out of jail free.

Chilling!

[Chakaconcarne]

36. This?

"The federal judge in Virginia overseeing the trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort signaled Friday that he is amenable to unsealing some of the records in the case that media organizations are seeking."

[Chemisse]

40. Just the idea that there have been threats and jurors' names were sought

Is enough to scare them, imo. Why was this publicly divulged right in the middle of deliberations?