Whatever becomes clear after Rick Gates finishes his direct and cross examination is that Gates and Paul Manafort truly deserved each other. On the stand on his first day of testimony, Gates admitted to embezzling hundreds of millions from Manafort as he helped Manafort hide millions and lie to the government and banks. It was highly damaging testimony, but the most damaging in my view came earlier from Manafort’s accountants that he was in financial collapse — struggling to maintain an opulent lifestyle after his Ukrainian money machine was cut off with the flight of his main client.
Gates admitted that he filed false expense reports to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. He is now testifying under a plea agreement with the Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Gates described dozens of accounts where they moved around money without declaring income. It is the type of evidence that is difficult to square with a jury. Most jurors have one or two accounts and view the necessity of having dozens as more criminal and practical in character.
The defense is clearly going to pursue a strategy to portraying the financial irregularities and violations as part of Gates’ embezzlement. That is a very difficult defense to make work. It leaves Manafort as some type of helpless dupe who unwittingly allowed Gates to carry out a long-standing criminal scheme right under his nose. That contradicts the image Manafort cultivates of a sophisticated international mover and shaker. It also does not fit with the level of income that he accrued through complicated deals and contracts.
The most damaging testimony dealt with Manafort’s accountants and the description of a lifestyle collapsing under its own weight. As discussed earlier, his own accountant received immunity because she believed that she committed crimes in filing documents that she believed were untrue.
The testimony suggests that Manafort may have viewed the Trump campaign position as a type of “Hail Mary” play to get out of impending financial disaster. As shown by Michael Cohen, millions were to be made by selling access to Trump. What was not known was that Manafort was in a free fall financially.
I have previously stated that I would be highly surprised if Manafort could run the tables in two prosecutions in two jurisdictions and knock down every count. Mueller only have to convict him on one to put him away for as much as ten years. However, if he is playing for a pardon, knocking down most of the counts would help make such a presidential act more palpable politically.
Speaking Of Embezzlers..
FORBES LABELS WILBUR ROSS A ‘GRIFTER’
ROSS IS TRUMP’S COMMERCE SECRETARY
A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been quietly making its way through the New York State court system over the last three years, pitting a private equity manager named David Storper against his former boss: Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. The pair worked side by side for more than a decade, eventually at the firm, WL Ross & Co.—where, Storper later alleged, Ross stole his interests in a private equity fund, transferred them to himself, then tried to cover it up with bogus paperwork. Two weeks ago, just before the start of a trial with $4 million on the line, Ross and Storper agreed to a confidential settlement, whose existence has never been reported and whose terms remain secret.
It is difficult to imagine the possibility that a man like Ross, who Forbes estimates is worth some $700 million, might steal a few million from one of his business partners. Unless you have heard enough stories about Ross. Two former WL Ross colleagues remember the commerce secretary taking handfuls of Sweet’N Low packets from a nearby restaurant, so he didn’t have to go out and buy some for himself. One says workers at his house in the Hamptons used to call the office, claiming Ross had not paid them for their work. Another two people said Ross once pledged $1 million to a charity, then never paid. A commerce official called the tales “petty nonsense,” and added that Ross does not put sweetener in his coffee.
There are bigger allegations. Over several months, in speaking with 21 people who know Ross, Forbes uncovered a pattern: Many of those who worked directly with him claim that Ross wrongly siphoned or outright stole a few million here and a few million there, huge amounts for most but not necessarily for the commerce secretary. At least if you consider them individually. But all told, these allegations—which sparked lawsuits, reimbursements and an SEC fine—come to more than $120 million. If even half of the accusations are legitimate, the current United States secretary of commerce could rank among the biggest grifters in American history.
Edited from: “New Details About Wilbur Ross’ Business Point To Pattern Of Grifting”
FORBES MAGAZINE, Aug 7, 2018
This is rather extraordinary. Forbes, a leading financial journal, is using the term “grifter” to describe the current Secretary of Commerce! The allegations presented by Forbes are numerous, to say the least. I’m surprised this story isn’t all over the mainstream media.
Trump said he only hires the best, the best.
GATES STAYED ON WITH TRUMP AFTER MANAFORT’S EXIT
In June 2016, when Donald Trump promoted Manafort to the post of campaign manager, Gates went to work for and became the campaign’s number two, handling the day-to-day activities of the campaign including taking responsibility for apparent plagiarism in Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Gates stayed on as number two in the campaign under Steve Bannon after Manafort was forced out, and then went to work as deputy chairman of the Donald Trump Inaugural Committee. He helped to form a pro-Trump nonprofit group called America First Policies but was removed from the organization after his involvement with Manafort’s overseas ventures was exposed.
Edited from Rick Gates bio, WIKIPEDIA
And you are jut learning something everyone has known since 2016 ?
Clear out the crap between your ears, Oky, you demented follower of the even more demented Alex Jones.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer psychopath.
Private Companies (Apple, Youtube, et al) have no obligation to provide a platform for nuts and Nazis or Communists.
Could you picture Meuller and his team of lawyer/ prosecutors if they were doctors. You go to their office with a broken arm and they tell you to see a dermatologist. This is supposed to be about Trump and Russian collusion, but instead they’re going after some guy about his lavishly stupid spending habits. Again if you give us dirt on Trump we’ll take it easy on you.
Whatever would we find if we simply turned the “investigation” back on the members of the Mueller team.
Have them boys ever committed any form of offense?
“Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime”
– Lavrentiy Beria, Director of Stalin’s Secret Police
__________________________________________________
“Mueller is now the Beria of America” – Michael Savage
“Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime”
– Lavrentiy Beria, Director of Stalin’s Secret Police
________________________________________
“Mueller is now the Beria of America”
– Michael Savage
“This is supposed to be about Trump and Russian collusion…”. No this is supposed to be about Russian interference in 2016 election but Muler has made it all about Trump, ostrich coats et al and turned blind eye on HRC/DNC regarding 2016 Ukrainian meeting(s) and “dollars for dirt” which actually changed hands with UK/Russian nationals.
As I recall Muellers original SC scope was specific to the intersection of the Trump campaign and Russian
Russian Interference in the election would be a counter intelligence investigation NOT a criminal investigation.
An SC is only to be appointed when there is a conflict that precludes the DOJ/FBI from investigating.
There is nothing that Mueller has done thus far that is remotely near a conflict for DOJ/FBI.
If Mueller does not have credible evidence of a connection between the Trump Campaign and Russia – he should by law be done.
OT:
https://twitter.com/Will_Bunch/status/1027168504619978752
“OT”
Maybe…, maybe not.
I kinda wonder what would have happened back then if Nixon would have kept loading day n night 50% or more of the heads of the Doj/FBI/IRS & the rest of the bureaucracy into C4 transport planes & thrown them out of the plane at the correct height into/onto sic, Cambodia.
And then went back & asked the rest if they had any questions & are they now ready to stop Phkin around & honestly take care of the people’s best interests?
I know, that’s a little bit less formal then those traitorous rat b@stard bureaucrats at the top are used to & we’re mostly all still to damned patience today. sic
Anyway the good news is that we hear there are likely 3 or 4 more Commie/Fascist US Senators will also soon to be exposed as Chinese Spies, along with some Congressmen.
You know, like that Sen Feinstein Cali Com/Fascist. Why isn’t she already kicked out of the Senate, had her security clearances revoked & thrown behind bars for National Security reasons?
btw
;
infowars is now, for days now, are surging in viewers/listeners/sales & is today now Number 1 worldwide people using their APPS for News. LOL
But the sick Commie/Fascist even attempt to hide that. But if one looks they can find it.
Dear Anonyass: I hope your little reference to Nixon resignation gets you through the day today. But what about tomorrow when Trump is still here? Are you going to count the days until 45th anniversary of Nixon resignation and have another good day one year from today?