Expected star witness may not testify in Trump ex-aide Manafort's trial

[mystery-ak]

August 1, 2018 / 1:06 AM / Updated 2 hours ago
Expected star witness may not testify in Trump ex-aide Manafort's trial
Sarah N. Lynch, Nathan Layne, Karen Freifeld

6 Min Read

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors raised the possibility on Wednesday that an expected star witness may not testify against President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, while Trump asked for an end to the Russia probe that led to the charges.

On the second day of Manafort’s trial, the first stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 14-month investigation of Russia’s role in the 2016 U.S. election, the judge also tried to rein in prosecutors in their description of Manafort’s lavish lifestyle.

Manafort’s consulting work for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine that earned him $60 million also took the spotlight in testimony in federal court in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia. Prosecutors questioned veteran political consultant Daniel Rabin about the work he did for Manafort. Manafort, 69, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-manafort/ukraine-in-focus-as-manafort-trial-in-u-s-heads-to-second-day-idUSKBN1KM3QE

[Right_in_Virginia]

Rick Gates, Manafort’s former business partner who pleaded guilty to making false statements after being indicted by Mueller, was expected to be a star government witness. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis asked the prosecution whether they planned to have Gates testify.

“He may testify in this case, he may not,” said prosecutor Uzo Asonye, a day after the defense made clear in opening statements to jurors that its strategy centered on discrediting Gates as an untruthful embezzler.

When the judge asked Asonye for a clarification, Asonye said prosecutors are constantly evaluating the need to call a particular witness and his comments were “not to suggest we are not calling him.” 

Does anyone have a clue why the prosecution is interested in protecting Gates?  Or is their whole case dependent upon Gates who may not survive cross examination?