As described in the government’s motion, Manafort is captured on the calls saying that he was being treated as a “VIP” at Northern Neck with “unique privileges.” He was given a private, self-contained cell with a private bathroom and shower, a personal telephone and daily access between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to a workspace. That will change at Alexandria.
Indeed, after complaining about Northern Neck, the defense team seemed to switch positions and oppose the transfer — leaving the court incredulous: “It is surprising and confusing when counsel identifies a problem and then opposes the most logical solution to that problem.”
In one call, Manafort defends Washington, D.C. as a forum for his trial despite questions over hostility in the jury pool. He states “Think about how it’ll play elsewhere . . . There is a strategy to it, even in failure, but there’s a hope in it.” It is not clear what he is referring to as the “strategy to it.”
He also says “I’ve gone through all the discovery now” — a statement that undermined the claim of the need for a transfer to review the discovery.
Manafort’s recorded calls are surprising additions to the record given Manafort’s moronic calls to potential witnesses — calls that led to the revocation of his bail and home confinement.