trump is serious!!!!!

[Econoline]

[ex-khobar Andy]

I see that Manafort has chosen not to testify. I understand his right to do so. It seems to me that in a typical (say) personal crime type trial it might be in the accused's interest to not testify, and the government has to show that he had the gun in his hand while the other guy lay bleeding on the carpet. The government has to make the case sometimes from less than perfect evidence - no eyewitnesses, implausible alibis, and so on. In this case it seems to be that there is so much evidence - not just Gates' testimony, but his accountant, e mails re fraudulent loans, the accounts in Cyprus and all the rest. Surely that volume of evidence demands a response, and the fact that he has made no attempt to contradict it must weigh heavily with the jury. I think I would find it impossible not to consider his failure to testify as an admission that there is no mitigating factor.

[Guinevere]

They are instructed not to do so.

But the defense put on zero witnesses. Closing arguments tomorrow at 930.

[Econoline]

[ex-khobar Andy]

They are instructed not to do so.

Yes I know. But in the face of pretty compelling evidence, if the defense does not produce a plausible alibi ("I was washing my grandma's car at the time, your honor") or grounds for temporary insanity (the Newt Gingrich defense - "it was only my love of my country which caused me to have that affair/ cheat on my taxes / whatever") or my all time favorite ("Jesus made me do it") I really don't know how I could put it put of my mind.

[Big RR]

I guess what the defense is relying on is for the jury to reason that the evidence must not be worth very much since the defense didn't even put on a single witness. I personally think that is a risky strategy that is liable to blow up in Manafort's face (and I hope it does), but we shall see.

[Burning Petard]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... 88f987bf09

It is a constitutional protected right to travel, but that right is only to travel, not to do it in an airplane. Better to walk. And you better carry several picture ids, issued by a government agency, even while walking or you will still be subject unscheduled delay.

snailgate.

[RayThom]

I feel Manafort wants to get the trial over as quickly as possible so as to position himself for the best plea deal he can make.

Look for him to flip on his mentor prior to sentencing.

Did I mention that Manafort and I were born on the same day and year?

[dales]

Well, what can one say?

One is a bad April Fool's Joke on the entire country, while the other lives a quiet life in Philly.

[Lord Jim]

I guess what the defense is relying on is for the jury to reason that the evidence must not be worth very much since the defense didn't even put on a single witness. I personally think that is a risky strategy that is liable to blow up in Manafort's face (and I hope it does), but we shall see.

Or maybe they're pinning their hopes on at least one unprincipled Trumpanzee getting on to the jury who will vote not guilty and hang the jury no matter what the evidence is...

Afterall, they did the whole jury selection and still had time for the opening statements in one day, (which is virtually unheard of in a case with this kind of publicity) so how thorough could the voir dire have been?

They may also have decided (for good reasons) that as risky as it might be to hope that they can snow at least one juror into having reasonable doubt about a case with overwhelming evidence against their client simply because they claim the prosecution has failed to make its case, any case they did put on would only further highlight the weakness of their position...

They may have decided that the facts are so bad for them that every additional minute the jury spends hearing testimony works against them so best to end that now...

Everything I've seen and read about the evidence suggests that would be a logical conclusion to reach...

[BoSoxGal]

I feel Manafort wants to get the trial over as quickly as possible so as to position himself for the best plea deal he can make.

Look for him to flip on his mentor prior to sentencing.

Did I mention that Manafort and I were born on the same day and year?

Plea deals generally happen in lieu of trial; now that the government has gone to all this trouble - and been put through the wringer by a very bad federal judge in the process - I don't smell any plea deals in the wind for Manafort. If he makes a last minute offer to dish bigly on Trump, et al. perhaps - but more likely the best he can negotiate is a softened sentencing recommendation in exchange for cooperation.

It’s a paper case and was nearly irrefutable - unless some hijinks occur on the jury, he’s going to the pen to dream of peacock pajamas and ostrich jackets.

[Sue U]

My guess is he takes the guilty verdict in both pending cases, then gets pardoned.by Trump in the not so distant future.

[Crackpot]

My line of thinking is aligned with Sues

[Scooter]

He would also be facing the prospect of state charges for tax evasion, would he not? Which would be beyond the reach of a presidential pardon.

[Guinevere]

It depends. If the crimes arise from the same act as those for which he was pardoned, I think there could be double jeopardy issues.

[Scooter]

Which is why I mentioned tax evasion and not some of the other crimes, because (I would imagine) failing to report income on a state income tax return would be a completely separate and distinct act from failing to report the same income on a federal tax return.

[Crackpot]

That may be a little tricky since the state tax returns i’m Familiar with just ask you to report a
Number from the federal return

[Guinevere]

And I said "it depends." The underlying act may still be the same (see CP's point as one example).

[Bicycle Bill]

My guess is he takes the guilty verdict in both pending cases, then gets pardoned.by Trump in the not so distant future.

You remember the uproar when Ford pardoned Nixon almost as soon as he (Nixon) was off White House property?  You ain't seen nuthin' yet, if Trump's accomplices start receiving Presidential pardons from their boss.  In fact, if Trump starts handing out pardons willy-nilly, that could easily be the final straw that breaks the camel's back and brings him and his so-called administration down.

-"BB"-

[Crackpot]

Or not.