"MANAFORT'S BOOKKEEPER TESTIFIES AGAINST HIM, ALLEGING EFFORTS TO INFLATE INCOME Heather Washkuhn’s testimony is vital to the government’s case that President Trump’s ex-campaign chairman hid income and lied to banks. [...] But later, the line of questioning seemed to backfire on the defense. In response to questioning, Washkuhn said Manafort kept a tight grip on financial decisions for the firm and himself."
Hoping that proves to be true. As Manafort is obviously guilty of skullduggery, we can just trust/hope prosecutors are able to prove their case in the courtroom.
5 Things You Should Know From the Paul Manafort Trial, Day 2
President swings at a straw man and prosecutors mull shelving ‘star witness’ Rick Gates
Griffin Connolly Posted Aug 1, 2018 5:45 PM
[...]
2. The defense may have turned the tables on the prosecution with ‘star witness’ Rick Gates
U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye shocked the courtroom Wednesday when he told Judge T.S. Ellis III that the trial’s supposed star witness, Manafort right-hand man Rick Gates, might not be called to the witness stand.
“He may testify, he may not,” Asonye said. “We’re trying to shorten the trial.”
The prosecution could be rethinking whether Gates, who pleaded guilty in February to money laundering charges in exchange for offering information on Manafort, will help them, multiple experts said.
In fact, Gates’ testimony could even hurt their case.
“It wouldn’t be the first time that someone else helped give someone a defense that the prosecution thought was going to actually help them,” said Kevin Thorn, a Washington-based criminal tax lawyer.
“It sounds to me like they’re a little hesitant to have him testify because they don’t know what he’s going to say, and they don’t know whether or not it’s going to give Manafort some sort of defense,” Thorn said.
In his opening statement Tuesday, Manafort attorney Thomas Zehnle made the defense team’s strategy loud and clear: Gates, they will argue, was the “point person” for Manafort’s finances. Gates embezzled money from Manafort. Gates is the one who should be in the defendant’s chair — not Manafort.
Diverting attention from Manafort by questioning Gates’ involvement in the pair’s finances is a smart tactic, one former federal prosecutor with experience in similar tax fraud cases said.
“The defense side is pointing to Gates … as they should,” the former Justice Department prosecutor said. “He was a convicted felon for lying — and now the government wants you to trust him as their witness?”
It might not be compelling enough for Manafort’s team to simply deny he willfully lied when he signed tax documents to circumvent the law and conceal money. Providing the jury with plausible alternatives for why Manafort’s money was illegally hidden — such as Gates going behind Manafort’s back to embezzle money from him — could plant more seeds of doubt.
“The defense’s main purpose is to put a lot of things out there and have someone grab on to it or gravitate towards it as a reason why someone couldn’t have done something or didn’t do something intentionally,” Thorn said.
Aside: As i wanted to check that Washkuhn was in the Day 2 witness list i had read yesterday, and to directly link the ones here, mainly yours this post replies to, i just went to this one of mine
now goes to Day 3 which is a hassle as that link now no longer applies for the stuff i posted for Day 2. Surely there is a permanent link for Day 2 etc, but haven't come up with it yet.
If i have that right the CNN live update link isn't much good to use in posting in this case.
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