Judge Ellis' tell that he is a Trumpster

[edhopper]

his repeated emphasis that Manafort's conviction had nothing to do with the Russian collusion investigation. Manafort has many other crimes for which he is indicted, convicted or investigated. He didn't talk about those

But the Judge wanted to make sure there was "NO COLLUSION". Where have we heard that before?

[Dustlawyer]

1. Old white guy who watches only Fox News! What did we expect?

[PatSeg]

7. I think it has more to do with watching Fox News

I think someone got to him or offered him something. It is all too obvious. Even Manafort's lawyer brought up the "no collusion" line, even though collusion had nothing to do with this trial. Very suspicious.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Given that he wasn't charged with conspiracy (collusion) in Ellis' court...

...it was a strange thing for him to blurt out.

[empedocles]

8. Definitely

Repeated soon after by Manafort lawyer on courthouse steps.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Trumpster or not, the most disturbing thing he said was...

how Manafort led such an exemplary and crime-free life other than those silly little convictions in his court.

Sounds more like brain dead than corrupt. Can't even make up a believable excuse.

[Firestorm49]

4. Whether it matters or not, he's a GOP appointed judge.

[bigbrother05]

5. Ellis specifically forbid mention of Trump/Russia/Collusion in the Courtroom

Funny how he and the defense lawyers felt compelled to remind folks that after the prosecutors followed his orders.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Manafort wasn't charged in Ellis' court with "collusion"

(the crime is conspiracy; there's no such statutory federal crime as collusion). There are plenty of things that are wrong about how Ellis handled the Manafort matter but this isn't one of them.

[edhopper]

10. You miss the point

there was no reason for the Judge to reference crimes Manafort WASN'T charged with.

As i said there are numerous other crimes he is charged and convicted of which the Judge did not mention.

This is definitely wrong.

[SunSeeker]

21. Exactly.

It really was outrageous. Ellis made so many statements that were beyond the pale.

[whopis01]

13. So why was the judge talking about it?

Manafort was not charged with it. It was not part of the trial. It was not part of the sentencing. But it was important to the judge for some reason.

[Hortensis]

29. And NYT: "What Judge Ellis actually said Thursday was that

Mr. Manafort was “not before this court for any anything having to do with collusion with the Russian government to influence this election.”

There may be some confusion in this thread. I think all of us agree that Ellis's motive in inserting that statement referencing collusion is very questionable, given his other behaviors.

But as usual, The Donald was lying in this tweet.

Link to tweet

[genxlib]

36. I think that deserves an original OP

I was not aware of that until you said it.

Thanks

[Hortensis]

37. Trump "spoke" and then all the MSM

set the record straight. Of course now routinely budgeting daily text space and blocs of time for the task.

Every once in a while I still get one of those "this can't be real" feelings, just flashes and gone though.

[duforsure]

9. Was this really just another judge tampering case?

By trump like he possibly did with the Epstein case using Acosta to get what he wanted, and now with Ellis?

[edhopper]

11. Don't know

but it is suspicious.

[EveHammond13]

12. Jackie Speier tweeted that he seems to be angling for a high judicial appointment

add that to his list of dick moves

[moondust]

17. Except he's 78 years old.

So not a great candidate for another appointment. He and the defense attorney are probably just toadies using their moment in the spotlight to parrot the Dump lies and help convince the public that it's all a big witch hunt. Of course the somewhat younger defense attorney may be auditioning on TV like Whitaker.

[EveHammond13]

20. it's Judge Ito all over again

[EveHammond13]

26. when is this unfit senile fool going to retire

[theboss]

25. He's almost 80

He's had this job for 32 years?

He apparently has very optimistic views of his life expectancy if he's trying to get on an Appeals Court.

[Fla Dem]

39. Well Joe Biden will be 77 in November and he's contemplating being President.

That's at least a 4 year job and potentially 8 years, and I would think the job of President is a bit more demanding than an Appeals court judge.

Who's to say what too old is anymore? Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be 86 next week.

Although Judge Ellis will be 79 in May, so that is pushing it. But still a nice way to end a career even if he only serves 1-2 years.

[zentrum]

14. Agree. He really

...really really wanted to help Trump.

[backscatter712]

15. If I were Mueller, I'd be appealing this sentence.

My understanding IIRC, is while a prosecutor can't appeal a not-guilty verdict due to double-jeopardy, he can appeal the sentence, and I suspect he can make a very good case that the judge was showing bias, and failed to justify why he strayed from federal sentencing guidelines.

[edhopper]

16. Perhaps h is waiting

for next week's sentencing?

[backscatter712]

18. Probably. He does know how to keep his cards close to his chest.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. In the SAME case, Mueller can still try about TEN charges that were hung by one juror.

And that does not include the sentencing in a different case next week. Nor the cases states might bring. Nor any possible sealed indictments.

[backscatter712]

23. And now we know why Mueller's so meticulous.

Belt-and-suspenders. He knows that there are so many political hacks that are in places of power, such as judges, so he wants to make sure he has SEVERAL ways to hang his targets out to dry, no just one, and make sure they all have enough damning evidence to ensure that when anyone pulls the shit this judge just did, they'll get so much blowback that they won't be able to get away with it twice.

[Fla Dem]

22. He was an easy target for someone to pay him off. Was already a RW Trumpster. nt

[theboss]

24. Oh for fuck's sake.....

Is this what politics is now? If someone displeases you, they are being bribed?

[secondwind]

27. Why not? We are in the Twilight Zone now, anything goes.

[edhopper]

28. He was either bribed

or a political hack who is an embarrassment to the Court. Your choice

[TryLogic]

30. Who appointed, and what senate approved, this fool?

[edhopper]

31. Reagan

explains a lot.

[C Moon]

32. I believe it was Reagan who appointed the knot head.

[BamaRefugee]

33. Ronnie Raygun

[theboss]

35. It would have taken you less time to type his name into Google and clock on Wikipedia

Then it would have taken to type that sentence.

I will never understand these types of posts.

[H2O Man]

34. Recommended.

Right. Anyone familiar with his history knows that he is anti-government. He's been a shithead for decades.

[oldlibdem]

38. What did you expect?

Rich white republicans protecting their own. I'm shocked, shocked I tells ya!

[jimlup]

40. This is more than a tell...

it is a smoking gun

[edhopper]

41. You mean

smocking gun.