Judge Ellis rebuked Special Counsel Mueller when sentencing Paul Manafort

American Thinker ^ | 03/08/2019 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

Judge T.S. Ellis, a Reagan appointee to the Federal District Court for Eastern Virginia, is well-known for speaking his mind. Yesterday, in sentencing Paul Manafort, he rebuked Team Mueller’s harsh sentence recommendation of 19-24 years’ imprisonment as “excessive,” and instead set a lot of progressives’ hair on fire by imposing a sentence of 47 months, and recommended counting the nine months of time served (much of it in solitary confinement, imposed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson in a separate case in DC District Court) against that total, meaning just over three years of imprisonment.

Paul Manafort's mug shot - before solitary confinemnet

Judge Ellis, who has read the still-secret memos establishing the mandate for Team Mueller, also noted that Manafort is not being sentenced on anything related to Mueller’s task:

 

Judge tells the courtroom that Manafort is not being sentenced for anything related to the Special Counsel's investigation into Russian interference.

Ellis said "He is not before the court for anything having to do with colluding with the Russian government” — Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 7, 2019

 

Judge Ellis also imposed a fine of $50,000 on Manafort, and $24 million in restitution, which appears to be impossible to collect, given Manafort’s claim that he is financially ruined. Judge Ellis sparked even more progressive outrage by citing Manafort’s ”otherwise blameless life” (meaning no prior convictions), leading Franklin Foer of The Atlantic to imply that lobbying on behalf of tobacco companies and for corporate tax breaks ought to weigh against him in sentencing.

[SeekAndFind]

Judge Ellis also went out of his way today to publicly proclaim that Manafort’s sentencing has nothing to do with “Russian collusion” or any other Democrat fever dream. The judge has been forceful on that aspect for a while, trying to ensure that no false narratives emanate from his court room.

That hasn’t stopped the media from continuing to delve into ridiculous conspiracy theories, such as the idea that Manafort sharing personal polling data with a Russian associate somehow constitutes something illegal or nefarious. In reality, the most likely explanation is that Manafort, having known the associate for decades and needing money, was trying to gin up future lines of income by giving him access to the information. Regardless, nothing was illegal about the contact and it’s simply served as yet another dead end to bat around on CNN and the pages of The New York Times.

[LibFreeUSA]

Here is a summary of the GREAT “crimes” that this despicable Muller Inquisition has achieved:

-CHARGE: - false statements to the FBI…… (George Papadapolous)
-CHARGE: - one false statement to Special Counsel ..(Rick Gates)
-CHARGE: - one conspiracy charge …….(Rick Gates)
-CHARGE: - false statements to the FBI …..(Michael Flynn)
-CHARGE: - false statements to the FBI ….(Alex Vader Zwaan)
-CHARGE: - attempting to obstruct justice by tampering with witnesses … (Paul Manafort)
-CHARGE: - tax & finance charges for taxi business… (Michael Cohen)
-CHARGE: - campaign finance violation …….(Michael Cohen)
-CHARGE: - lying to Congress ……….(Roger Stone)
-CHARGE: - not registering as foreign agent …(Sam Patten)

[wastoute]

It is kind of funny Manafort has a very good chance of getting out before Cohen.

[gibsonguy]

9 moths of solitary confinement. Think of that.

[LibFreeUSA]

NOT ONE of these “crimes” by these individuals CONFIRMS any Trump or Trump campaign COLLUSION with any RUSSIAN or FOREIGN governments or agents.

HOWEVER, there is plenty of evidence by the DNC, and Democrat campaigns of colluding with foreign agents (including Russian connections) to influence the 2016 Election.

[shelterguy]

leading Franklin Foer of The Atlantic to imply that lobbying on behalf of tobacco companies and for corporate tax breaks ought to weigh against him in sentencing.
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Yes, sentence him to 50 years of hard labor for doing LEGAL advocacy.

[Paladin2]

How the Russian firm’s trial going?

[Paladin2]

How is the Russian firm’s trial going?

[thinden]

9 moths of solitary confinement. Think of that.

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imo, that should justify a time served verdict

[thinden]

NOT ONE of these “crimes” by these individuals CONFIRMS any Trump or Trump campaign COLLUSION with any RUSSIAN or FOREIGN governments or agents.

HOWEVER, there is plenty of evidence by the DNC, and Democrat campaigns of colluding with foreign agents (including Russian connections) to influence the 2016 Election.

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imo, as manafort goes, so goes podesta brothers.

precedent has been set.

podestas were deeper in the swamp muck & could prolly be directly tied to much more serious crimes.

[magua]

Mr President pardon Manafort ASAP. The Prussian is a luny. His boyfriend gets fired and he screws his head into the ceiling with rage. 9 months solitary confinement 9 fng months! Zero collusion which ain’t a crime Gestapo !

[Rapscallion]

Ellis’ sentence should have been “for only time served”. That might actually be real justice.

Just considering....

[Georgia Girl 2]

Thank God for a decent judge. With good behavior he should be out in 24 mos. Frankly he should have gotten time served, a fine and probation.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: With good behavior he should be out in 24 mos.

Or Trump could pardon him, which I believe Trump should.

[Rapscallion]

MEMO TO JUDGE ELLIS: Please vacate your sentencing of Manafort and please re-sentence Manafort to time already served in solitary confinement. Thank you.

[tired&retired]

Weisman needs 9 months of solitary to teach him how it feels.

[thinden]

Mr President pardon Manafort ASAP. The Prussian is a luny. His boyfriend gets fired and he screws his head into the ceiling with rage. 9 months solitary confinement 9 fng months! Zero collusion which ain’t a crime Gestapo !

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ellis’ sentence should have been “for only time served”. That might actually be real justice.

Just considering....

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iirc, I’ve read a couple accounts of manafort’s solitary confinement that include the caveat: kept in solitary confinement “for this safety” (or something close to that)

so my questions is: have they kept manafort in solitary confinement to protect him from “committing arkancide”??

[gleeaikin]

Does Manafort faces charges in New York? I believe that Cohen does.

[hardspunned]

How many pages of actual corruption and collusion felonies could you list that are obvious and committed by democrats? None of these people will be charged or have to hire an attorney or ever see the inside of a cell.

[JME_FAN]

I can barely constrain my enthusiasm for CWII to begin, when we will finally have the opportunity to settle the score with every leftist in this country. “Terminate with extreme prejudice” will be given a whole new meaning.