Manafort trial update:

[Leghorn21]

#ManafortTrial update - FSB VP James Brennan just
wrapped up testimony on direct examination. Most
memorable moment? Easy. When prosec. Greg Andres
asked him why the bank approved $16M in loans despite
knowing Manafort didn't have the income/assets to back it up:
(1/2)

Link to tweet

“It was closed because Mr. Calk wanted it to close,"
Brennan said.

Calk, if you recall from today's story and testimony on Friday,
was angling for a position inside the Trump administration
and allegedly pushed the loan through for Manafort for this reason.
(2/2)

Link to tweet

...Brennan was granted immunity for his testimony here....

[sheshe2]

1. Lock Him Up!

[janx]

2. When oh when

will this go to the jury?

[Leghorn21]

3. From Ms. Tillman, 2 hours ago:

Up next: The government is expected to finish its case in chief. We'll hear from another Federal Savings Bank witness, James Brennan (who received immunity to testify), and possibly another witness to talk about foreign bank account reporting to the feds

@ZoeTillman
Once the government finishes, the judge will ask Manafort's lawyers if they plan to put on evidence, and if so, an estimate for how long that'll take. Then we'll go to closing arguments and jury instructions, and then the jury will deliberate. Stay tuned.

....looks as if it depends on what Manafort’s lawyers are going to do here -
Shouldn’t be long, though, janx -

[janx]

4. Thanks.

[emulatorloo]

7. Prosecutors recalling a witness, will be their last one. Then Ellis will hear motions to acquit

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2018/08/13/paul-manafort-trial-day-10-live-coverage/

501 p.m.: Special counsel’s final witness is return of Treasury agent

Judge T.S. Ellis III allowed prosecutors to call back Paula Liss, a special agent with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The special counsel confirmed that she would be their last witness.


Prosecutors intend to ask Liss if Paul Manafort’s consulting firm ever reported foreign bank accounts. Ellis said he would instruct the jury that they cannot find Manafort guilty for his company’s failures, but that they can use the evidence to decide his “willfulness” in not reporting 32 overseas accounts on his personal tax returns.

After Liss answers three questions from prosecutors and any cross-examination from the defense, Ellis said he will hear motions to acquit.

[SayItLoud]

9. Can't find ManaFART guilty for his company's crimes...welcome to

how white collar crooks get away with it. Gov Rick Scott of Flori-huh (2x gov) not guilty of HIS company's bilking medical insurance to the tune of several hundred millions of $. But, get caught with a joint busted! Joint + African American=The SLAM....if you make it that far. Just sayin....it taint fair across the legal spectrum.

[dchill]

10. "Then Ellis will hear motions to acquit..."

To me, that is comedy.

[Kensan]

11. I find that to be an interesting position by Ellis...

Was Manafort not the CEO/President of his own consulting firm? How does he not have fiduciary responsibility for making sure the company is in compliance with tax laws? If the company had ownership or signature authority over those foreign accounts, it must file the FBAR form.

At least he is allowing the company's failure to report the foreign accounts as evidence of a pattern by Manafort to be deceitful in his personal tax reporting. It would certainly demonstrate a consistent intent to commit tax evasion.

Here's to hoping Manafort gets to see the full enforcement of the FBAR penalties in addition to a long jail sentence.

[Johnny2X2X]

5. Crimes were occurring during the campaign

The RW talking point on Manafort for a while was that this was nothing because it was for tqax stuff from a decade ago. Not true, he was still committing crimes while he was running the Trump campaign.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Is every single member of his cabinet, his staff and the

GOP corrupt? It surely seems like it to me. But Hillary's e-mails are the real crime, aren't they.

[DesertRat]

8. the prosecution has rested it's case

Link to tweet