Mueller wins more than a conviction in Manafort case

[babylonsister]

Mueller wins more than a conviction in Manafort case
By convincing a jury that he has uncovered criminal behavior, the special counsel has likely insulated his larger probe from political threats.
By DARREN SAMUELSOHN and JOSH GERSTEIN
08/21/2018 08:34 PM EDT
Updated 08/22/2018 10:19 AM EDT


Special counsel Robert Mueller may have won only a partial courtroom victory against Paul Manafort, but Tuesday’s guilty verdicts against the former Trump campaign chief strengthen Mueller's hand in his wider probe of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.

Blasted by Trump and his allies as a biased and out-of-control prosecutor, Mueller —through his deputies who argued the case in court — has convinced an Alexandria, Virginia, jury that Manafort is guilty of eight out of 18 federal charges of bank and tax fraud. Manafort faces a maximum of 80 years in jail.

While some pro-Trump conservatives suggested Tuesday that Mueller had won a Pyrrhic victory because jurors deadlocked on a majority of the counts against Manafort, many legal experts called the outcome a clear success that will reassure Mueller’s defenders.

“This is unquestionably a win for the special counsel,” said Timothy Belevetz, a former assistant U.S. attorney from the Eastern District of Virginia. “It strengthens the special counsel’s mandate by demonstrating the office is productive and is achieving results.”

Even a former spokesman for Trump’s legal team conceded that the eight guilty verdicts were a victory for Mueller.

“I don’t think it’s ever a black eye to a prosecutor when they get eight guilty verdicts,” said Mark Corallo, who also served as a Justice Department spokesman under President George W. Bush. “That’s a very serious conviction. There’s no defeat to a prosecutor when they get eight out of 10, 15 or 20 charges.”

more...

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/21/manafort-mueller-guilty-trump-791208

[Squinch]

1. He has had previous convictions, and it hasn't changed their minds. It won't change their

minds this time either.

We keep acting like these clowns follow any of the rules we are used to. They don't.

[D23MIURG23]

6. dump's response was "find some collusion"

And I'm sure Rudy will be doing the usual circuit tomorrow telling everyone that "felonies aren't felonies" and insisting that the Manafort convictions mean the Mueller investigation has run its course and should pack up shop.

Traitors gonna trait.

(until we frog march them off to the pen and take away the TV cameras)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. It's a helluva good start...but it's the Asshole-in-Chief's conviction I'm REALLY lookin' forward to

[duforsure]

3. I think

Trump's going to have more multiple adult pampers filled up completely days ahead as more people that hate him turn on him and talk to Mueller. I also think he'll be exposed as being nearly broke and in way over his head in debt, and nothing what he's told the American people. All lies.

[ScratchCat]

4. The conviction of Manafort shows one important thing

Those who may potentially be facing criminal charges now see that they can't count on a jury of Trump Fan Club member to acquit them. Think about it.

[uponit7771]

5. Not only that but the judge might have done Mueller a favor by being so defense tilted. I haven't

... seen on Red Hatter say the trial wasn't fair.

It wasn't, the judge was tilted towards the defense

[Fred Sanders]

7. The judge being so "tilted"...a conclusion which I disagree with...also puts a lid on an appeal.