Guest post by Joe Hoft

Paul Manafort’s lawyers decided to opt out on a defense for their client and instead skip to closing arguments. At first glance this appeared that they were giving in. Now we know they felt they had enough and did not need to risk having their client on the stand.

Mueller’s prosecutors rested their case Monday, day 10 of the bank fraud and tax evasion trial against Paul Manafort playing out in an Alexandria, VA courtroom. The prosecution brought forward 23 witnesses; five of the witnesses testified against Paul Manafort under the protection of immunity. On Tuesday, Paul Manafort’s attorneys opted to skip out on a defense and proceeded to closing arguments instead; the closing arguments began Wednesday morning.

Below is a synopsis on what Manafort’s attorney’s said which shows the law is on Manfort’s side supported by tweets from Techno Fog.

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Transcript: Defense closing arguments in the Paul Manafort trial. Strong closing, putting into question the bank fraud and tax charges, the testimony of Rick Gates.. and the motives of the Special Counsel. [Thread] pic.twitter.com/Uff6F2hnai — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Manafort’s Attorney’s first ask – If Manafort was committing a crime – why did he tell everyone?

First main argument: If Manafort were undertaking this huge fraud conspiracy, why wasn’t he secretive? pic.twitter.com/ept1JN2Kfp — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Next Manafort’s attorneys ask why did Mueller’s team (lie) and say Manafort had no money?

Starting on the bank fraud charges… By the end of 2016, Manafort had a net worth of $21.3 million. “So why does the gov’t come and try to put witnesses on to say he didn’t have any money?” Why is there no evidence the loans supported his lifestyle? pic.twitter.com/YOLUeVdwMt — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Mueller’s team said Manafort filed a faulty P&L statement but this doesn’t agree with bank records –

The gov’t claimed the bank relied upon a false 2016 profit and loss statement. The defense points out the bank officer testified that the bank knew Manafort didn’t have 2016 income because he was a volunteer on Trump’s campaign. A bank memo exhibit showed losses of $638K pic.twitter.com/3me2rv4cIr — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Mueller basically looking for a crime (not their job – Mueller should be ashamed – this is Russia Nazi tactics) –

The defense gets to the point of the Special Counsel: “This is basically a group that has come along and looked at every financial angle, poured through the documents, and tried to find any place that something doesn’t match up.” True. pic.twitter.com/37SnvbPTwb — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

The banks had no problems until Mueller’s team came along –

How concerned were the banks about the “fraud”? “Nobody came forward and said, ‘We’re concerned about what we’re seeing here,’ not until the Special Counsel showed up.” pic.twitter.com/aqOstVmxqJ — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Mueller’s loan was examined by regulators and they noted nothing wrong –

In fact, Manafort’s $9.5 million property loan was examined by regulators, and “the Office of Comptroller of the Currency did not cite the underlying problems with the loan.” pic.twitter.com/DEmiQktzUu — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Why were bank fraud charges filed? To add to the case to make it look worse? Manafort’s loan was legal! –

Why were the bank fraud charges added to suggest “some elaborate fraud scheme”? “To give you (the jury) a sense that everything is so overwhelming that there’s only one conclusion.” pic.twitter.com/gMENnOhXD4 — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

As to conspiracy – why is only Manafort charged and not Gates as well?

As to the conspiracy charges: If Manafort conspired to commit bank fraud with Rick Gates… then why wasn’t Gates required “to plead guilty to any bank fraud charges”? pic.twitter.com/iZULlch7Ct — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Bank officials cleared up questions on Manafort’s loans (but Mueller apparently did not share this) –

There was some issue as to whether Manafort disclosed material facts to the banks. They give two examples of a bank official thanking Manafort for clearing up the status of the properties. pic.twitter.com/LpNCCQdiTC — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Manafort’s team provide support for bank thanking Manafort for clearing up issues on loan –

Another issue was whether Manafort disclosed a home (in NY, I believe) would be a residence or rental Here we have evidence of the bank’s knowledge that it is a rental, and that Manafort’s primary residence was in Florida. pic.twitter.com/pN2pb8ftVb — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

People don’t normally get prosecuted for how they describe where they live – ouch –

More on the Special Counsel: “People do not get prosecuted by typical Justice Department prosecutors when what they have done is had some issue about whether their property is being rented or personally owned and it changes.” 100% true pic.twitter.com/cjSOnnp9lx — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Loans supported by millions in excess capital (no crime) –

As to another big loan.. Was there fraud? No fraud because the bank secured itself “by having collateral that was millions of dollars over the debt” pic.twitter.com/Ig6ZR0Kl62 — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

These weren’t “buddy loans” as Mueller claimed, the bank made a killing –

The Special Counsel called these “buddy loans,” but the numbers don’t add up. The numbers were 60% loan to collateral value, and 70% loan to collateral value. The bank made hundreds of thousands of dollars… Manafort was being charged 7.25% interest. pic.twitter.com/49OJzbz9Gz — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Now for Mueller’s star witness – Rich Gates – he’s a joke –

Now they start hitting Rick Gates. “On the first question out of the box, he fell apart and showed himself to be the liar that he is.” pic.twitter.com/gVUjSjrMHo — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Gates is a liar –

I believe this is the moment Manafort’s lawyer is citing to, where Gates showed himself to be a liar. (Thread on transcript of cross-examination)https://t.co/rkmPu0h6PP — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Gates filed false tax returns in the middle of the Mueller investigation (wow) –

Manafort’s lawyer accuses Rick Gates, the Special Counsel’s star witness, of filing false tax returns in the middle of the Special Counsel’s investigation. pic.twitter.com/HaC3uUoPVy — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Gates was coached by corrupt Mueller team –

Discussion on how the Special Counsel prepped Gates over 20 times and how he was “flawless on direct.” “But on cross-examination he fell apart.” The Special Counsel made the deal with Gates “because they were so desperate to try to make the case.” pic.twitter.com/EmCIAueOf5 — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Issue with taxes could have been addressed in an audit (why Mueller bringing it up here?) –

Attacks on Gates are nice, but the tax returns are a huge issue. They concede “there may be falsities on those returns.” (No choice but to concede that fact.) However… “That’s an issue that could have been taken care of in an audit.” pic.twitter.com/T26o8TvNB4 — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

One of Mueller’s star witnesses only looked at some of the evidence – not all –

I won’t get into the weeds of their tax arguments (classification of loans, shareholder distributions, etc.) But this is interesting. An IRS Agent testified he on a chart prepped by the FBI to determine income. Had he looked at the source documents? He “looked at some.” pic.twitter.com/EN0aBr4TcA — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

How can there be a grand concealment when Manafort told Gates to “Tell [the FBI] everything, be open about this” in 2014?

And then there’s the issue of Manafort and Gates’ meeting with the FBI in 2014. How can there be a “grand concealment” when Manafort told Gates to “Tell [the FBI] everything, be open about this” in 2014? pic.twitter.com/JVTA9mKw9D — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Manafort disclosed offshore accounts in 2014 review – (why redo this case now?) –

How is there concealment if Manafort disclosed “the existence of the offshore accounts and their location, the banks that they were at, to the FBI” in 2014? pic.twitter.com/4oZctxmQc7 — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

Gates is the crook (Mueller is too) –

One more jab at Gates.. “He was orchestrating a multimillion dollar embezzlement scheme and he was trying to keep it outside of the purview of the accountants.” and then the closing request for the jury to find Manafort not guilty of all charges. pic.twitter.com/n93eQcj5Lk — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 16, 2018

After this after nearly two hours of instructions by Judge Ellis, the jury began to deliberate Thursday morning in the tax evasion and bank fraud case against Paul Manafort.

Maybe Manafort’s lawyers did enough – no doubt their closing arguments are powerful. The entire case should ultimately be thrown out and Mueller should be the one indicted.