REVEALED: The unsealed transcripts from the Manafort case.
Did certain jurors have it out for Paul Manafort?
Was the media looking at confidential documents on the counsel's tables?
Thread.
Did certain jurors have it out for Paul Manafort?
Was the media looking at confidential documents on the counsel's tables?
Thread.
8/10/18. The media/public was trying to break court rules and look at the lawyers' documents.
Judge: Don't try to come forward and look at what's on counsel's tables. That's happened. I've had that reported to me. Don't do that or "you'll be expelled from the courtroom."
Judge: Don't try to come forward and look at what's on counsel's tables. That's happened. I've had that reported to me. Don't do that or "you'll be expelled from the courtroom."
8/10: Before the Gov't case had rested, one juror was claiming Manafort "couldn't have much to present."
Before Manafort had made the decision whether to present evidence.
Before Manafort had made the decision whether to present evidence.
This juror made it clear that she didn't feel that the defense really had anything to offer for the rest of the trial.
This was 9 days into the trial. The Govt was still presenting its case.
This was 9 days into the trial. The Govt was still presenting its case.
Judge: Have other jurors made similar remarks?
Juror: Similar, but not as -- not as clear as that was made to me.
Juror: Similar, but not as -- not as clear as that was made to me.
Judge Ellis confronts the juror who made the comment. The juror evades.
Judge: Have you made any comments that would suggest you've made up your mind in this case?
Juror: "No, I don't think so."
Judge: Have you made any comments that would suggest you've made up your mind in this case?
Juror: "No, I don't think so."
Judge: I heard you made a comment that Manafort hasn't presented any evidence and that you're unimpressed by the defense.
Juror: No. I think I said "it would be a tough job." ...
Judge: "And anything other than that?"
Juror: "No."
Juror: No. I think I said "it would be a tough job." ...
Judge: "And anything other than that?"
Juror: "No."
Judge: Did you say "The defendant has not present any evidence and I am unimpressed?"
Juror: "I don't recall, but I mean -- what I meant was that it would be really hard to have to defend against that."
(Editorial: She sounds like she's lying to the court.)
Juror: "I don't recall, but I mean -- what I meant was that it would be really hard to have to defend against that."
(Editorial: She sounds like she's lying to the court.)
Judge Ellis then has the juror understand that Manafort has the presumption of evidence, etc.
How did the Court respond to this situation?
8/14: Judge proposed bringing in the jurors one by one and making sure they can do their job fairly and impartially.
8/14: Judge proposed bringing in the jurors one by one and making sure they can do their job fairly and impartially.
First juror gets questioned.
Judge: "Have you heard any other jurors discuss the weight or effect of the evidence?"
Juror: "Not really."
Judge: "Have you heard any other jurors discuss the weight or effect of the evidence?"
Juror: "Not really."
The judge goes through and asks each juror if anyone has discussed the weight or effect of the evidence.
Each remaining juror says no.
Each remaining juror says no.
At the same sealed hearing the Judge denies Manafort's motion for a mistrial.
8/15: Counsel for Manafort raises his motion that the juror be "excluded from the jury based on her lack of candor with the court"
The judge later denies that motion, noting the juror denials left him in a position "where I don't know who is dishonest"
But someone was dishonest
The judge later denies that motion, noting the juror denials left him in a position "where I don't know who is dishonest"
But someone was dishonest
Funny little sidebar on 8/17. Judge is given a document by the Govt.
Govt: We know how your Honor feels about highlighting.
Judge: When you give a highlighted document to the jury, "then you're arguing it."
Govt: We know how your Honor feels about highlighting.
Judge: When you give a highlighted document to the jury, "then you're arguing it."
3 days after the hearing where CNN/etc wanted the jurors names, the Judge says something very important:
The jurors were reluctant to present their questions in open court. Why?
"They can feel intimidated by the attention this case has received."
The jurors were reluctant to present their questions in open court. Why?
"They can feel intimidated by the attention this case has received."
Manafort's lawyer: "I've done this for 21 years and I've never had this happen." (About jurors being reluctant.)
He uses that to ask for a retrial. Denied.
He uses that to ask for a retrial. Denied.
And that's it.
Still redacted: juror names/IDs and the discussion of Rick Gates' time on the Trump inaugural committee (from which he supposedly embezzled).
Still redacted: juror names/IDs and the discussion of Rick Gates' time on the Trump inaugural committee (from which he supposedly embezzled).
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