Ex-Trump Staffer Rick Gates Fires His Lawyer in Russia Probe

[brooklynite]

Source: The Daily Beast

Former Trump campaign official Rick Gates has fired his lawyer, The Daily Beast has learned. And, contrary to recent media reports, Gates is not about to make a deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller, according to sources familiar with the matter.

CNN and The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month that Gates was on the cusp of signing a plea deal with Special Counsel Bob Mueller’s team, and noted that Gates’ lawyer—Tom Green of Sidley Austin—is known for his work negotiating such pleas. If Gates had started cooperating with Mueller, it would certainly have been a boon to the prosecution.

Instead, Gates—for the time being, at least—isn’t flipping. And Green is out, replaced with Barry Pollack, of Miller Chevalier, according to sources familiar with the matter. Neither Green nor Pollack immediately returned a request for comment.

Over the years, Gates has operated closely with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Together, they worked for Viktor Yanukovich, the Putin-friendly former president of Ukraine. That work—for which the duo allegedly received millions in secret payments—generated controversy during President Donald Trump’s campaign, and ultimately contributed to Manafort’s firing from Team Trump. It also drew the special counsel’s attention.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/ex-trump-staffer-rick-gates-fires-his-lawyer-in-russia-probe

[moosewhisperer]

1. He thinks he'll get a pardon.

[pnwmom]

2. If it is true that Gates did a proffer session (a "Queen for a Day" interview) that means

he gave up information that can now be used against him. And yet he changed his mind about the plea deal.

Of maybe Mueller caught him withholding information, and Mueller called the deal off.

[OnDoutside]

8. Surely it's more likely now that QfD was just an offer?

[pnwmom]

9. I don't know. It's just as possible that he was caught lying in it. n/t

[mercuryblues]

3. That might be why

Mueller slapped Gates and Manafort with more charges today.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, now a 32-count indictment, mostly tax and bank fraud,

don't know how it breaks down between Manafort and Gates, but heavy-duty charges. Turned on MSNBC, and someone said Manafort will die in prison if he doesn't make a deal.

Someone explained that the IRS is very hard-assed about evidence before allowing tax irregularities to be prosecuted, so this means Mueller has a very strong case against both.

And, again, that prosecutors don't keep doing deals unless they're going after a bigger target.

[George II]

13. The beauty of today's charges is that they can be extrapolated to STATE charges....

....that are pardon proof.

Some of Manafort's property and banks are in New York. Schneiderman is just itching to get to trump through Manafort, but most likely will settle for Manafort.

Forget where I saw it, but Schneiderman and Mueller have been comparing notes.

[Hortensis]

14. Oh! I'd hear that Mueller and Schneiderman were

coordinating so not to drop the ball stumbling over each other, but I hadn't read or thought of that in connection with this. But it is, of course, an of course that charges would be carefully chosen.

Just glad these guys aren't after me or mine.

[leftieNanner]

5. Neither Gates nor Manafort will flip, in my opinion

Mueller could throw the book at them. They could even do some time behind bars, but if they turn and implicate the Russian connection with Trump and the $$ laundering, then there could be some polonium in their next chicken salad sandwich. Or a set of cement shoes already fitted to their size 11 wing tips. Their misdeeds go way beyond the 2016 election fraud.

[bearsfootball516]

7. That's my fear

They'd rather spend the rest of their lives in prison than spill everything they know and be dead by the end of this year.

[mr_lebowski]

15. They'd be fools to think that the Russian mob couldn't get to them in prison ...

Course they'll be in a white-collar country-club prison most likely and probably receive special treatment and some degree of isolation for their safety, but it's absolutely NOT a guarantee that they'll be safe anywhere, as there's PLENTY of Russian mob ini the jails of the USA.

Well, maybe a Supermax they'd have a good chance of making it, but man you do NOT wanna be in one of those hell-holes.

[Mr. Ected]

6. So was the original reporting wrong

Or has there been a change of heart with the defendant...or the prosecutor?

Shifting attorneys (again) after hiring Green just a few days ago is telling. But what is it telling us?

[pnwmom]

11. Right -- there are 3 possibilities. Either side may have had a change of heart

or the reporting was wrong.

[Honeycombe8]

10. Looked up Barry Pollack, the new lawyer.

He's a specialist in complex financial matters. So that's probably why. This is complicated stuff.

Gates not doing a deal may just mean that Gates couldn't get the deal he wanted...no charges or whatever. It doesn't necessarily mean he wouldn't dance at all, no matter what.

[pnwmom]

12. So a question is whether this new lawyer has signed on officially to represent Gates

in the trial -- which Tom Green never did.

[mr_lebowski]

16. I hate to be paranoid but ... lets just say I hope this didn't just happen because Gates got word

from Trump's people about either a guaranteed pardon, or about his firing Rosenstein ... or worse.