Prosecution closing argument has wrapped:

[Leghorn21]

Greg Andres wrapped his closing argument to the
jury at 11:42 a.m., about an hour and 40 minutes after he began.
10:49 AM · Aug 15, 2018

Link to tweet

[Leghorn21]

1. From Andres' closing argument:

Mr. Manafort is a mentor to Mr. Gates, particularly to his
own criminal activity." Andres said.

And what about Gates' admitted affair? "Was it to distract you?
Does it matter?" Andres asked

“I'm not asking you to like him," Andres said.
10:26 AM - Aug 15, 2018

Link to tweet

[janx]

2. What on earth could the defense possibly say?

Guess we'll find out this afternoon. I hope they give it to the jury before the day is over.

[Leghorn21]

3. Yeah, defense can't possibly deliver any statement lasting longer than, oh, twelve minutes

(“Rick Gates is no good!! He’s a thief and liar and stepped out on his wife OOPS just like our client OOPS never mind defense rests”)

So I would imagine the jury gets going sometime today, barring sealed sidebars or the like...


Standing by...

[janx]

5. Twelve minutes... !!

[marylandblue]

8. They will say that Manafort is an idiot who trusted the wrong people

And idiocy is not a crime. Burden of proof for intent not met.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Prosecution gets a sur rebuttal. They have the last word since they have the burden of proof.

[janx]

6. For 17 minutes.

This thing is going to the jury today. Wonder how long it will take them to reach a verdict?

[blaze]

7. Judge also said about an hour and a half for jury instructions. nt

[Leghorn21]

9. The latest from Ms. Tillman, janx, from about half an hour ago:

At the rate we're going, there may not be much
time, if any, for the jury to deliberate today. We'll
pick up again at 1:30pm. The defense will get up to
2 hrs to present. Govt will get ~20 minutes for rebuttal.
And then the judge estimated needing up to 1.5
hours to instructions
11:32 AM - Aug 15, 2018

Link to tweet

?s=20

[janx]

10. Thank you!

[janx]

11. Think they'll buy it? :

Link to tweet

[Leghorn21]

13. HA, just came here to post this, janx - thanks!...and from earlier:

Paul Manafort's attorneys are now presenting their closing argument to the jury.

"Sitting here today, Mr. Manafort is innocent," defense attorney Richard Westling said.

He also told jurors, "if you are thinking this evidence adds up to something -- you shouldn't."

Link to tweet

ALSO, didn’t Judge Ellis SPECIFICALLY mandate there would be NO mention of the trump campaign
during this trial?? And this is the second time defense has mentioned it (prosecution objected when defense asked Gates about it last week)

Anyway,
“My client is an honorable, fabulous, innocent man, I tells ya!! These 5,342 pieces of HARD EVIDENCE against don’t mean NUTHIN!!”

[janx]

14. Not very convincing...

BUT the defense might know of a Trumpster on the jury...?

[Leghorn21]

15. I dunno, j, but here is the latest from our guy Shimon:

[lame54]

12. Was he wearing the Ostrich Jacket?