Mueller asks for more time to decide whether to retry ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNBC

Special counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday asked a federal judge for more time to decide whether to seek a retrial for former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort on 10 criminal charges that jurors were unable to reach a verdict on last week. Manafort was convicted of eight other tax crimes and bank fraud charges in that case in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virgina.

"Because the defendant's posttrial motions have not been filed or ruled on, the government does not at this time have sufficient information to make an informed decision on whether it will seek retrial of the remaining counts," Mueller's team said in a court ifling.

Manafort's lawyers did not object to Mueller's request to extend the deadline.

"The United States has consulted with counsel for the defendant and they do not object the government's motion," according to the prosecution motion.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/29/mueller-asks-for-more-time-to-decide-whether-to-retry-paul-manafort.html

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Full title: Mueller asks for more time to decide whether to retry ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort on deadlocked criminal counts

I have been waiting to hear what Mueller was going to do here. Most pundits assumed that they wouldn't bother but I held out that they might still consider it given it seems they are trying to force a plea agreement, particularly with the 2nd trial coming up - and moreso now that Manafort's lawyers are whining about the D.C. court bias & publicity and requesting to move the venue of that September trial to Roanoke, VA.

This will be interesting to watch in any case.

[KPN]

1. That can't make Manafort feel good.

[cstanleytech]

3. Actually I suspect whats really happening in Manafort is trying to cut a deal but

Mueller is not going to say that because it could tip off whoever Manafort is going to roll over on.

[KPN]

7. Don't know about the tip off part -- though

even that wouldn’t surprise me about Mueller — he’s amazing strategically/tactically. Agree 100% about a plea deal in the works, but only if Manafort gives up more than he’s probably offered.

[cstanleytech]

10. Well we know they did not come to an agreement before he was convicted

so my money is on it being Trump Jr and he gambled he could protect him and not be convicted and he lost so he wants to avoid jail but the only way to do that is to cut a deal or get a pardon.
Problem is he is looking at varies state charges as well so a federal pardon from Trump would be worthless thus he needs a comprehensive deal to protect him from the state thus he is going to roll over now and that is why its taking so long............Meuller has to get the states on board with the deal.

[duforsure]

13. I agree

I agree , they're working out their differences to cut a deal with him now, and i expect soon it'll get done , then trump again will throw another tantrum because everyone has chosen to turn against him , and tell the truth instead of lying for him and risking prison time because of him. Manafort also knows he'll become a target of these bad people with trump , the russian mafia, and putin no matter what he does, so witness protections may become his only way out.

[ffr]

2. My excitement level leaped when I saw this.

[ffr]

4. MAGA

[Achilleaze]

5. Cute KGOP republican outfit

I understand it's becoming mandatory chic for republican traitors against America.

[LiberalFighter]

6. I was hoping Mueller would hold it over his head.

If he wasn't being tried for something else, not pursuing the deadlocked counts could be more up in the air.

I'm figuring that Manafort's attorneys wanted two trials instead of one with the hope the first resulting in an acquittal or no conviction. Since they got 8 charges and likely would have been all 18 if the one juror hadn't refused to consider the evidence his attorneys likely think Manafort is in trouble. And willing to make a deal.

[BigmanPigman]

9. That makes sense to me.

Who knows what Mueller is up to? He is playing this very well so far.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Probably worth rolling the dice because more convictions are more convincing & shames tRump more. nt

[Yupster]

11. I can't see any reason why Maniford would take a deal

at least until the state trial is over.

If he's found innocent at the state level, then he gets pardoned from the federal offenses and he's home free.

If he's found guilty of the state charges he spends the rest of his life in jail so who cares about the federal charges.

Either way I don't see what he would get out of a deal.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. There are no "state" charges here at this point. All the charges so far are federal. nt

[Yupster]

14. Oh, that's very different. Never mind.

Actually if its federal charges he'd be crazy to take a plea deal and admit guilt on anything.

Just wait till after the midterms and accept a pardon.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Even if he got a pardon, the legal bills won't be suddenly erased

That's why it would actually be foolish NOT to accept an agreement and keep going (and paying lawyers thousands per hour). Any charges would be what is pardoned (whether he pleads or not) and Drumpf could also commute any sentence (or he could do like Shrub did with Scooter Libby and only commute the prison sentence but not give a pardon).

Regardless, he'll still have to pay his lawyers. Of course both he and Cohen have some sort of legal defense funds but that is a drop in the bucket.

[FakeNoose]

16. Mueller can afford to wait and see how this plays out

The heat is really on the other trial right now, and this one is on the back-burner.

If they get convictions in the new trial (and there's no reason they wouldn't) Mueller may decide that these 10 charges won't be needed. How many "lifetime" sentences can one man serve anyway? These charges can be revisited later. I trust that he'll make the right decision.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Thing is - he is still bound by a date set by the court regarding when to decide to retry

So it seems his motion requesting a delay is still pending (as of the last time I checked). The original deadline was yesterday. I did find more from the OP link regarding the actual request -

"The government, accordingly, respectfully requests that the Court extend the deadline for the government to file notice about the ten remaining counts to one week after the Court has ruled on defendant's post-trial motions," the filing said.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/29/mueller-asks-for-more-time-to-decide-whether-to-retry-paul-manafort.html

So they are still waiting for Manafort's lawyers to do their post-trial wrap-up motions (which should have been done by yesterday but weren't) and thus they want to be given a week delay AFTER those wrap-ups come in and are ruled on by the judge. If this request is granted, the ball for the timing for a decision to retry will be in Manafort's lawyers' court.