Some curious little developments in the Manafort / Gates case.
The judge complained that too many things are being filed under seal; she will be unsealing some of them.
The attorneys who’ve been trying to resign from representing Rick Gates are still on the hook (for now). But only 2 out of 3 turned up in court today.
Gates filed his own motion, pro se, (without the help of an attorney), asking the judge to delay her decision on the attorneys’ withdrawal till February 21. (Is something special happening on the 21st?)
The 4th attorney, Tom Green, (who is thought by some to be working on a plea deal) was present again with Rick Gates – but is still not officially his attorney. When the meeting was over, Tom Green got into a cab with Rick Gates. The other attorneys didn’t.
Mueller’s lawyer, Greg Andres, indicated that Mueller has other ongoing investigations (so anyone who was hoping that prosecutions might be limited to the four we know about is probably concerned).
The trial date hasn’t been set yet, but could be September or October.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/rick-gates-legal-team-drags-on
The judge, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, did reveal publicly that Gates had filed under seal a motion pro se — meaning on his own, and not through an attorney — asking that she wait a week before considering his attorneys’ request to withdraw. One of his attorneys, Shanlon Wu, said that they had not seen that pleading. Jackson said she would be unsealing it shortly.
After spending more than an hour in a private conference with the judge, Gates and his team — including Green — emerged from the courtroom. They declined to comment, as there is a gag order in the case, but Wu confirmed that he was still Gates’ lawyer.
SNIP
Andres noted that there other investigations under Mueller’s probe besides Manafort and Gates’ case. Andres said that they were reviewing those files, making discovery an ongoing process.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/manafort-judge-criticizes-legal-teams-over-secret-filings
Before Jackson sealed the courtroom, prominent Washington defense lawyer Tom Green sat in the back of the room. CNN has reported that he was preparing to represent Gates. While Manafort was in the closed courtroom, the lawyer huddled in the hall with Gates, and then with his current counsel, Shanlon Wu and Walter Mack.
When Manafort and his lawyers left the courtroom, Green went in with Wu, Mack and Gates. After the closed-door session ended, Gates walked out with Green, while Wu and Mack left separately. Outside the courthouse, Green and Gates were seen hailing a cab.
"We’re still in the case," Wu told reporters, adding there was no change in status. Asked if Green was entering the case on behalf of Gates, Wu said only if he notifies the court.
SNIP
Jackson hasn’t set a trial date, but she has said it may begin in September or October. Prosecutors have handed over at least hundreds of thousands of pages of evidence to defense lawyers, who will soon file motions to challenge the government’s case.
= new reply since forum marked as read
