thanks...just trying to figure out who you were directing all that animus at....

Ooh Animus. Good for you, Scott.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

this is not going as they hoped....


Judge Ellis Loses Patience with Mueller Prosecutors and Ends Court Early Over Screw-Up


August 2nd, 2018

Does this mean mistrial??? Oh wait, it doesn't mean much of anything.

I understand your disappointment......maybe a time out in a safe space with a compassion pet....


"Yesterday saw the judge in the case, T.S. Ellis, rebuke the prosecution for seeking to incite class envy and jealousy among jurors. But for its part, the prosecution let slip a shocking revelation: that it may not even call to the stand its star witness against Manafort, his former business partner Rick Gates.

The stunning disclosure came as prosecutor Uzo Asonye was questioning an FBI agent about a financial document apparently authored by Mr. Gates. Judge T.S. Ellis III interrupted the testimony to ask why the agent was discussing the memo and not its supposed author.

"He may testify in this case, your honor, he may not," Mr. Asonye said.

Journalists and others immediately scrambled out of the courtroom to the report the revelation, amusing Judge Ellis.

"That's news to me and about 25 others who scurried out of here like rats on a sinking ship," Judge Ellis shot back."

You're talking about two different events.

I'm aware........neither good for the prosecution...maybe they'll get on track

When did you make a post that meant much of anything?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

The Mueller team was later rebuffed again by Ellis when they [sic] tried to introduce photos that eventually would become public of Manafort's closets filled with suits and high-end clothing.

"Enough is enough. We don't convict people because they have a lot of money and throw it around," he said.

The judge said the photos would seem "unnecessary, irrelevant" and potentially "prejudicial." Further, he reminded the lawyers that Manafort "is not on trial for having a lavish lifestyle, but for not reporting income on his taxes."


Special Counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors were lectured by a federal judge on Wednesday for the language they've used in the courtroom and more, as the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort entered its second day.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III specifically told prosecutors to stop using the word "oligarch" to describe wealthy Ukrainians, whose dealings with Manafort are at the heart of the fraud charges he faces in northern Virginia federal court.

The judge said the term has a "pejorative" meaning and is not relevant in this case. Further, he cautioned that using it could suggest Manafort is associated with bad people – and guilty by association.


"It's not the American way," the judge said. He noted that wealthy donors like George Soros or the Koch brothers also could be considered oligarchs.

Post spoke volumes.

How did he pay for those clothes? Where did the funds come from?
Some of the media chooses to only report some of the story and wants you to believe that he is being pilloried for being rich, not for tax evasion

Or that a Judge who's got a reputation for being a PITA would dare keep everyone on a tight leash.