NEW: At closing arguments, Mueller’s team tells Manafort jurors that they don’t have to like Rick Gates because the documents are their “star witness." huffingtonpost.com/entry/manafort…
Manafort, prosectors said, “didn’t choose a Boy Scout” to commit crimes with. Defense attorneys said Rick Gates had his hand in the cookie jar, but Mueller’s team says it was a “huge dumpster” full of hidden money. huffingtonpost.com/entry/manafort…
One random thing we learned at closing arguments: Mueller team prosecutor Greg Andres is allergic to mango.
Closing arguments from Manafort’s team start at 1:30 sharp. 🐰⚖️🐢 
In closing argument, Manafort’s team once again returned to the tactic of attacking Rick Gates. Their other tactic was saying that taxes and laws are really complicated, who knows how they work. Also emphasized that reasonable doubt is a really high burden.
Also disputed the notion that Manafort was going broke when he joined Trump campaign, claimed he had substantial holding and a “robust” net worth but no income as a “volunteer on a political campaign.”
Also said that no banks complained about being defrauded by Manafort, and that this didn’t come up “until the special counsel showed up and started asking questions.”
Manafort’s team vaguely suggested there were some ulterior motives to the prosecution, saying that some of the charges were rare and that “there are plenty of things that have not come out in this courtroom.”
Manafort lawyer said trusting Gates was a “big mistake” and that Gates had “showed himself to be the liar that he is.” Said government made a deal because they were “desperate to make a case” against a Manafort, and that Gates “fell apart” on cross examination.
Government gets 17 minutes of rebuttal, per judge. Court starts back up in 5 minutes, then jury instructions before they begin deliberations. 🏛📵
A strong (and short) rebuttal from the special counsel team just wrapped up.
“The defense is asking you to ignore your own common sense,” Greg Andres said.
Judge is now going through jury instructions, which will take up the rest of the day.
“The defense is asking you to ignore your own common sense,” Greg Andres said.
Judge is now going through jury instructions, which will take up the rest of the day.
Andres, addressing defense argument about missing witnesses: “Does anyone really think we need more witnesses, more documents?”
There was a lot of coverage about Judge Ellis saying (before trial) that Mueller’s team was only going after Manafort to get to Trump.
But he’ll instruct jurors that they should ignore any argument about DOJ’s motive or lack of motive in bringing this particular prosecution.
But he’ll instruct jurors that they should ignore any argument about DOJ’s motive or lack of motive in bringing this particular prosecution.
Judge Ellis also complained that “if you read the newspapers” it makes it seem like he’s always taking the defense team’s side.
