Manafort Trial -- No Defense Witnesses?

[togor]

I can see the defendant staying silent. That makes sense. A little surprised that they rested straight away. To a blue collar jury that might look like they can't be bothered.

[Roadkingtrax]

Beg your..."pardon"?

[togor]

Or one guy with a MAGA cap at home who digs in. But I would think you would want to give that guy something to work with beyond #WITCHHUNT. Maybe not.

[dogtag]

He was accused of making lots of money and becoming rich.

[Sandpebble]

Oh .....

He was accused of making lots of money and becoming rich.

Oh.... is that all he did?.....then why no mass trial ??

[Dan Shapiro]

It's the government's job to PROVE their case. This is one way to insinuate to the jury that the government had failed to do so. At the same time, you get to cross-examine the government's witnesses. They don't have that same opportunity when you don't present any witnesses.

If you look at the 18 charges leveled against Manafort, several were not even addressed in the governments presentation.

It will be interesting to see the lawyers summation before the case goes to the jury.

Mueller loses this case (only brought because he wanted to lean on Manafort to get dirt on a Trump/Russian collusion), he's going to end up with a lot of egg on his face.

[togor]

I agree, Dan. A lot riding on what those jurors decide to do.

[p246]

Well summed up Dan, and in my experience the defense has to have a lot of confidence to play this role. Summations will be more important with this strategy.

[Vern Humphrey]

I was at Fort Benning during William Calley's trial (remember the Mi Lai massacre.) If his defense attorney had used that strategy, he'd have been acquitted. I know personally three of the members of the court.

[togor]

Red if you can keep that up all of the way through the midterms then I'll be impressed. While it is your nature to tell others how to think & what to do, it's also your nature to shove them out of the way when they're doing it wrong.

Probably we could keep book on the over/under until your next eruption. But having persuaded Marty T to throw in the towel, you're no doubt sated for awhile.