Judge challenges Mueller's actions in Manafort case

[Miles Archer]

Judge challenges Mueller's actions in Manafort case



https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/04/mueller-challenged-manafort-case-568935

U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis said Mueller's team seemed to be pursuing the case — which involves bank and tax fraud — in order to "tighten the screws" on Manafort, in the hope that he will testify against others including President Donald Trump.

"I don't see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate," Ellis said during an hourlong hearing in Alexandria, Virginia. "You don't really care about Mr. Manafort's bank fraud. ... What you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment."

The 77-year-old Reagan appointee went on to colorfully describe what he thinks Mueller's team is up to.

“The vernacular is to 'sing,' is what prosecutors use. What you got to be careful of is they may not only sing, they may compose,” Ellis said.

[DUgosh]

1. The Judge amonished - but did he dismiss

The charges

[emulatorloo]

3. Nope, judge issued no immediate ruling

“Despite the prickly reception Ellis gave prosecutors Friday, he issued no immediate ruling on the defense motion. At times, he indicated he may conclude that Mueller's initial jurisdiction when he was appointed last May was effectively expanded to cover the case he brought against Manafort in Virginia in February.”

[Takket]

2. So what, Judge?

It isn’t Mueller’s fault Manafort is a filthy criminal. If mueller can use that as leverage, who cares? There is no law against it.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Crotchety old Reaganite

who's bitter that his GOP is such a freakin disaster.
Go yell at a cloud.

[triron]

6. Manafort attorneys found a trumper judge it looks like.

[Eliot Rosewater]

7. REAGAN reaches out from the grave to harm us more ...

[herding cats]

8. This could easily be a tactic by the judge to help avoid a successful appeal.

I wouldn't read too much into it just yet.

[janx]

10. That's my guess.

And the legal beagles here seem to agree. The judge is just being careful. It sounds routine to me, despite the sensational media headlines.

[shanny]

9. A Reagan judge

and a reversible error if he tries to shut it down over SC's "motives."

[Adrahil]

11. Didn't Mueller already win the civil version of this case?

As I recall, he submitted a memo from Rosenstein that explicitly authorized him to investigate Manafort's misbehavior.

Also, Prosecuters but the screws on targets all the time. I think Mueller's come back should be, "we'll be perfectly happy to put Mr. Manafort in jail for bank fraud, Your Honor."

I can't see how the judge can dismiss, given Rosenstein's authorization.