Posted on 05/04/2018 9:00:17 AM PDT by Red Badger
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s criminal case in Virginia against President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and openly questioned whether Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial powers by bringing it.
“I don’t see what relationship this indictment has with anything the special counsel is authorized to investigate,” U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia said.
At tense hearing at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, the judge said Mueller should not have “unfettered power” in his Russia probe and that the charges against Manafort did not arise from the investigation into Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
Manafort is facing charges in both Virginia and Washington. The Virginia case charges him with offenses including tax and bank fraud. The other case accuses him of conspiring to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent when he lobbied for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government.
None of the charges relate, however, to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign or possible collusion with Russia. Trump has denied any collusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Doing the job that the GOP-e refuses to do.
Between now and then the Deep State will descend on Judge Ellis like a bat out of hell. I hope he holds.
See post #80
Judge T. S. Ellis. Appointed by R. Reagan. Hold that line, Judge!!
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What a man! This guy is my new hero and “man crush”. The slimy Mueller will likely try a change of venue or attempt to have this HONEST judge replaced.
I thought he looked familiar. This is the guy who put money in his freezer, not the judge. News reports have given us the wrong photo.
There you go...
“....Served in the United States Navy as a Naval aviator from 1961 to 1966.
Ellis was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on July 1, 1987....”
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Damn, Raegan did good with this pick. An honest man who has courage and can see the truth! Contrast him with Juan McCain. As a former “ground pounder”, I take back every bad thing I may have said about Navy aviators!
Really good news, we needed some of that after the last few weeks.
How did he not make it to SCOTUS? He, Scalia, and Thomas could have been a wrecking crew.
If I re-call correctly, he is an Africa-American conservative appointed by Ronald Reagan.
I’m thinking this sane judge who has figured out Rosenstein and Mueller’s evil game is to keep them in his court for awhile to make them jump through countless legal hoops.
Meaning mess with these two dirty clowns at the DOJ.
Exactly! Mueller’s forte is using the power of government to terrorize or bankrupt people into plea deals before they see a judge.
The process is the punishment.
I suppose Mueller’s argument is that he has power to investigate anything he runs across during his investigation of Trump. But that can’t be a proper interpretation of the letter appointing him because if it is then it appears Rosenstein handed the entire DOJ over to Mueller. That would make Mueller the attorney general but only Trump has the power to appoint an attorney general. No. This letter has to be interpreted so that both Mueller and the DOJ proper are able to discern what is within the jurisildiction of each set of prosecutors. Otherwise it’s unconstitutional.
Still I don’t think this is going to bring the case to a screeching halt. Rosenstein can write a new letter or the judge will tell the DOJ that they need to take over the case from Mueller. It won’t be dismissed.
“As soon as the judge sees it, and the prosecution already has it...the DEFENSE must also get a copy as it is now EVIDENCE.”
The judge must turn over all exculpatory evidence.
If the judge sees the information and the information is not related to or would not help Mueller defend himself or impact sentencing if found guilty then the judge can allow to remain sealed.
He could dismiss the case with Prejudice and really screw with Mueller. Also, he could hold DOJ or Mueller in Contempt or charge someone with perjury. So, don’t piss off a competent Federal Judge.
Food tasters and body guards, apply now!
Welcome to the skunk at the picnic.
Dreeben was probably chosen because he’s argued before the Supreme Court.
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