Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

Manafort trial day 2:

"Paul Manafort’s Defense Team Opens Trial by Blaming Associates "

* Prosecutors sought to illustrate Paul Manafort's expensive taste in suits, cars and real estate — paid for by wire transfers from offshore accounts.

* What's next: The trial will resume at 9:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

* The charges: Manafort has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and tax crimes. (He also faces federal charges, including money-laundering conspiracy, in a case due for trial in September.)

* What to expect: Prosecutors plan to call as many as 25 witnesses.

10 hr 32 min ago



The second day of testimony in the Manafort trial just ended. Here's how it went down.

From CNN's Marshall Cohen

[...]

* Rick Gates: Prosecutors raised the prospect that Gates, Manafort's longtime deputy, would not be called as
a witness, potentially complicating the defense's attempts to deflect blame from Manafort to Gates.

[...]

12 hr 14 min ago
General contractor details "hundreds and hundreds" of Manafort bills paid by wire transfers
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

[...]

What prosecutors are trying to show: They are trying demonstrate how Manafort used money he earned
in Ukraine for his personal benefit, and hid it from federal authorities and others in shell companies.

[...]

11 hr 19 min ago
Prosecutors expect to rest case against Manafort next week
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

[...]

13 hr 22 min ago
Manafort was only client to pay with international wire transfers, former clothing store manager says
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

[...]

14 hr 12 min ago
Judge says jury may bring a birthday cake to court
From CNN's Marshall Cohen and Katelyn Polantz

[...]

17 hr 39 min ago
Manafort's name was on loan documents, FBI agent testifies
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

Matthew Mikuska, an FBI agent who searched Manafort's Alexandria, Virginia, apartment for business documents and other evidence last
July, told the jury that Manafort's name was on several documents showing millions of dollars in loan agreements and wire transfer invoices.

Why this matters: This is the first moment in the trial when prosecutors have gotten to the meat
of their argument — that Manafort knowingly signed several kinds of false financial documents.

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/manafort-trial/index.html

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Trump Urges Sessions To End Mueller Investigation, As Manafort Trial Day 2 Continues
August 1, 20185:00 AM ET
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/01/634439965/on-manafort-trial-day-two-a-central-question-how-much-power-did-rick-gates-wield

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This courtroom sketch depicts Paul Manafort, fourth from right, standing with his lawyers in front of U.S. district Judge T.S. Ellis III, center rear, and the selected
jury, seated left. | Dana Verkouteren via AP Photo

Manafort Trial Day 2: Fake bills, a banned word and a Rick Gates surprise

A parade of luxury vendors testify for the prosecution.

By JOSH GERSTEIN and DARREN SAMUELSOHN

08/01/2018 11:58 AM EDT

Updated 08/02/2018 12:28 AM EDT

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team is hurtling through its tax- and bank-fraud case against former Trump
campaign chairman Paul Manafort, with prosecutors predicting their case could wrap up as soon as next week.

[...]

Ellis called a mid-morning recess, interrupting Mikuska’s testimony after about 30 minutes. But the questioning resumed
after a brief intermission. Headed into the lunch break, Ellis again joked to the jurors about the delights of the court’s menu.

“I hope your pheasant under glass will be delivered,” the judge said.

Lots more interesting details - https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/paul-manafort-trial-testimony-day-2-756749

LOL. Ellis has a good sense of humor. Handy in a case so rich.