All political eyes and ears are on the start of Paul Manafort’s criminal trial for tax evasion, money laundering and an assortment of other money crimes. Paul Manafort is the former chairman for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Jury selection is underway today. If this were a card game, special prosecutor Robert Mueller has held his playing cards closely to his chest to prevent tipping his hand. Until the start of the trial, we do not know what the evidence will show. The indictment spells out what the prosecution intends to prove. Once witnesses take the stand and documents are presented, we will know the hand that Manafort and Mueller have been dealt. As for timing, the actual start of the trial with opening statements may not take place on the first day. There is never a magical formula to predict the time that it will take to pick a jury. Having tried many complex trials lasting weeks and months, it is never an easy guess. And this case is further complicated by the … [Read more...] about No Slam Dunk for Mueller in Manafort Trial
Archives for July 2018
A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick
Just in time for the start of the NFL football season with preseason in August, 2018, the issue of the players’ kneeling during the national anthem begins a new again. Recently, the Miami Dolphins owners stated that the team intends to punish players who kneel or otherwise protest during the national anthem with up to a four game suspension and fines, according to documents obtained by USA Today. However, the team owner later retracted the statement and proposed plans for suspension or penalties. The local media covered the Dolphins intentions before there was the retraction. Meanwhile the New York jets took the opposite approach by emphatically stating the opposite of no intention to fine players for their right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment. Previously, the NFL intended to institute a policy of sanctions and requiring that players stand for the anthem—before the NFL Players Association (“NFLPA”) filed a grievance. The filing of the grievance resulted in … [Read more...] about A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick