Robert Mueller and his team of special prosecutors had a great week with the convictions of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. As soon as the jury went out to deliberate, Manafort and his lawyers attempted to reach a deal for Manafort. Presently, they were unsucessful. The second trial with Manafort begins September 24, 2018. And while neither man has been sentenced, there are still many legal implications for Trump with his lawyer of over 12 years and his campaign chairman being convicted. While the convictions do not involve the Russian collusion or meddling in our election, they are a tipping point to what lies ahead for Donald Trump. Last week, I discussed the Trump, Cohen and Manafort convictions on CGTN-America TV. Watch here: … [Read more...] about Trump and Implications of Cohen and Manafort Convictions
Archives for August 2018
Federal Judges Show Human Side: A Tale of Two Judges
Court watchers and other interested persons are getting a close look inside a Virginia federal court room on how judges act. Judge T. S. Ellis, III presiding over the Paul Manafort trial has a style all his own. He has been testy with the prosecution lawyers since day one. Real court drama is often stranger than fiction. Judges are human—as Judge Ellis stated on Thursday “this robe doesn’t make me anything other than human.” Although, it appears as if the prosecution team and Judge Ellis are in a constant dog fight. Across the river in Washington, D.C. federal district Judge Emmet Sullivan is trying a different type of case. Judges’ personalities, quirks, demeanors, tempers, court room styles vary from as many ways as there are judges. Judge Ellis appears to currently focus his harsh attention and comments on the prosecution lawyers. He accused the prosecution team of crying or at least having water in their eyes, frowning, looking down (presumably at notes) and taking too long … [Read more...] about Federal Judges Show Human Side: A Tale of Two Judges
Trump Expresses Desperation Over Mueller Investigation
Donald Trump for the umpteenth time lashed out at Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller on Twitter on August 1, 2018 calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the Mueller investigation. Presumably, Trump forgot that Sessions recused himself from the Mueller investigation and has no legal authority to end it. That didn’t stop Trump from tweeting about it. Trumps’ tweet stated that Sessions should stop this “rigged witch hunt right now.” From a legal standpoint, the tweet could be viewed as further possible evidence of obstruction of justice. If Trump is attempting to impede and prevent a lawful investigation from continuing, that could amount to obstruction of justice. Donald Trump appears to be particularly feeling the heat this week with the start of Paul Manafort’s trial, Michael Cohen tape revelations, Facebook’s announcement of new fake Russian accounts and the ongoing attempts by Mueller to interview Trump. While Manafort’s trial is about tax evasion, money … [Read more...] about Trump Expresses Desperation Over Mueller Investigation