Manafort's closing arguments: "Government didn't meet burden of proof."

[berni_mccoy]

That is an extremely weak closing in the face of the evidence the gov't has presented.

Just on tax evasion alone, the evidence is pretty clear cut.

Either they are going to make a deal before the jury gets back or they are expecting a pardon.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Just wondering...

(and probably overthinking)... what if the jury finds
Manafort guilty but the judge hands out a light sentence...
like suspiciously light?

[spooky3]

3. I don't think that will happen. But if it does, remember

That he still faces charges in DC and NY.

[berni_mccoy]

4. Judge is bound by minimums... if found guilty on all charges

the minimums would have Manafort locked away for decades.

[beachbum bob]

13. Federal charges have minimum sentencing and it will be decades

in all

[bitterross]

2. Boiler-plate. All they had.

They had a very tough job. I don't know there is much more they could have done. I guess they still see a pardon in the future.

[spooky3]

5. I agree with "what else could they do?".

[lame54]

6. Or they have a ringer on the jury...

They seem way to confident on the outcome

[berni_mccoy]

8. Possible but unlikely.

And that doesn't get Manafort off the hook.

[lame54]

9. It buys him time and...

Trump and Guiliani will pull out there bullhorns for their victory laps
Manafort has fought like hell and defied the court at every turn yet his actual courtroom defense was very weak - no fight at all
He knows something

[Calista241]

7. He's hoping for a Trumper being on the jury.

And i'm not sure if i'd make a bet on that happening or not.

[lame54]

10. Or arranged it

[DeminPennswoods]

11. How can he be innocent of the tax charges?

He had 31 foreign bank accounts yet checked the "No" box to the question on his IRS 1040 asking if you have foreign bank accounts. No one "forgets" they have 31 foreign bank accts especially when they're using wire transfers from these very same accounts to pay for a lot of things they bought! To me, that's pretty cut and dried.

[beachbum bob]

12. A pardon where manafort admits guilt so trials in state court will be a

slam dunk...state prisons won't be so accomodating. Trump pardoning a criminal like manafort makes the argument that GOP is soft on crime a nobrainer