Jury chosen for the trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort

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Alleged perp walking into court
Still image via Reuters video

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

 

Jury chosen for the trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort.

 

Prosecutors and defense attorneys selected a 12-member jury on Tuesday to weigh the fate of Paul Manafort, United States President Donald Trump’s former 2016 campaign chairman, in the first trial to arise out of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

 

Weight of evidence tipping the scales?
A file photo

The trial judge, United States District Court Judge Thomas S. Ellis III – an old school judge appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 – made several jokes during the jury selection process, including about the quality of the lunches jurors will be provided.  While many in the courtroom laughed, including Manafort’s lawyers, the defendant himself did not.

 

The jury of six men and six women, along with four alternate jurors, will hear testimony in federal court in Virginia in the trial of Manafort.  

 

Next stop?
A file photo

Manafort faces 18 criminal counts, which center on allegations that he hid much of the $60 million he earned in Ukraine in undisclosed overseas bank accounts and failed to pay taxes on it.

 

The tax and bank fraud trial represents the first test of Mueller’s ability to win a conviction of a former Trump aide. 

 

Conversely, three other aides, including Manafort’s longtime business partner Rick Gates, have already pleaded guilty and are cooperating with Mueller’s probe.

 

From Russia with rubles?
A New York Times graphic

Prosecutors are planning to seeking to provide details of Manafort’s work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, raising the possibility that new information about his Russian connections could emerge. 

 

In turn, Manafort has filed a motion to have details of that material excluded from presentation during this trial.

 

Prosecutors also accuse him of lying to U.S. banks to obtain real estate loans in a bid to maintain a lavish lifestyle after his client, former pro-Russia Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, fell from power in 2014 and the money stopped.

 

Lock him up?
Still image of Reuters video

Outside the courthouse, a handful of protesters displayed a life-sized puppet of Trump and held signs saying “Trump won’t do time for you,” “Lock him up.” “It’s Mueller time,” and “I like your new suit” alongside a photo of Manafort’s mug shot.

 

Quincy Quarry disclaimer

Source: Jury chosen in trial of former Trump campaign chief Manafort

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