Accountant testifies about problems with Trump ex-aide Manafort's taxes

"Raise your hand if you think Trump's tax returns have a lot of the same "features" (failures to report income, unreported foreign accounts, unreported loans, shell companies up the wazoo, ties to Russian banks and Ukranian banks that are tied to Putin's kleptocrats) as Manafort's tax returns?"

Go take a look at Trump's 2005 tax returns which Rachel Maddow got a hold of, and see if you can find any of that stuff, Crazy. Rachel couldn't. They did show, however, that he paid $38 million in taxes on income of more than $150 million for 2005, a bigger percentage than Obama or Bernie Sanders. Hehe.

Realistically, Manafort is going to be found guilty in this trial.

The question is how the Mueller team leverages this in their other trials against the rest of Trump's swamp.

DRAIN THE SWAMP! DRAIN THE SWAMP!

No, he won’t spend that much time behind bars if it comes to that . . .

You have no way of knowing that. Once again, your statement is nothing more than pure speculation on your part.

Of course given the circumstances surrounding how Mueller has been abusing his federal authority . . .

Again, you gave zero evidence of Mueller abusing his federal authority. However, let's say that this is true. If it is, why isn't Manafort's defense using this as a strategy? I asked this before, but you didn't answer.

 Trump would pardon him just to send a message and the best part is No One can stop him.

No, that is not going to happen. We've been over this before. Repeating a falsehood isn't going to make it true not matter how many times you post it.

Check the Podesta files, check the Strzok/Page messages. By the way, he won’t be President, I won’t let that happen? Sounds like a direct threat to me. Comey perjuring himself, McCabe, Rosenstein, all corrupt, so personally, I want them to keep dragging the departments name through the mud, this is like 1998 all over again. Lol.

I checked them. The Inspector General's report (the one that you claimed would end Mueller's investigation--remember that?) clearly stated that none of what you wrote above had any actual impact on the FBI's investigation. Strzok also explained to Congress what he said, and it's not what you claim. As far as your Time Magazine link goes, it was posted before the IG's report, which refuted much of what was written in that article.

Bass, the only "mountain-sized" evidence of the supposed corruption amongst the people you previously mentioned is only in your Mt. Rushmore-sized imagination.

I would guess about a year if that.

And again, you would be wrong. You obviously did not pay attention to the Federal Guidelines for sentencing on crimes of this nature.

After 6 years, you might be right, once he’s a private citizen, it’s all green light from there.

I take it that you actually believe Trump is going to get a second term or even manage to finish his first term. Six years? How about two? We can talk after he actually gets through his first term. I'm patient. I can wait. How about you?

Not everyone one will get off, but since his pardoning power is unlimited, he might do it to say to Mueller, “blank you” I’m pardoning these people and there isn’t a darn thing anyone can do to stop it. Even former Governor Rob Blogovitch I think really got shafted and his sentence was overkill, he should have served at the very most 2 years, but 14 is way of a stretch, hope the President pardons him as well.

And finally, once again, you have shown your utter disdain for the law when it comes to Trump and his team. The law be damned as long as Trump can pardon people who have been convicted of crimes in a court of law without giving any good reason. What's worse, you see this as his getting out of jail free card for anything, and that is a bunch of bull. No one is above the law, especially the President, who is supposed to be helping to uphold the laws of the land after he took the Oath of Office. No Bass, his pardoning power is not unlimited, and I've already explained why, so if you are going to just reply with the same old ridiculous counter-arguments, then don't bother wasting any more of our time on this.

However, you are delusional if you think that he is only going to spend a few months behind bars if he is convicted of some of these crimes (and there are 32 felony counts in this trial alone-

No, he won’t spend that much time behind bars if it comes to that. Of course given the circumstances surrounding how Mueller has been abusing his federal authority, Trump would pardon him just to send a message and the best part is No One can stop him.

No, not kidding. Let's see the appropriate "Mount Fuji" of evidence that you claim. After all, if it is true, then why isn't Manafort's team using it as part of their defense? The only "Lol" here applies to your silly claims.

Check the Podesta files, check the Strzok/Page messages. By the way, he won’t be President, I won’t let that happen? Sounds like a direct threat to me. Comey perjuring himself, McCabe, Rosenstein, all corrupt, so personally, I want them to keep dragging the departments name through the mud, this is like 1998 all over again. Lol.

http://time.com/5264153/the-fbi-is-in-crisis-and-america-is-paying-the-price/

Well, all-knowing one, just how long will he have to wait then? Please, enlighten us with your omniscience.

I would guess about a year if that.

Wrong again. "That" (meaning Trump could eventually face criminal charges later on regarding other matters of the investigation) is quite possible.

After 6 years, you might be right, once he’s a private citizen, it’s all green light from there.

What is not possible is that everyone in this mess gets off free and clean. Laugh all you want. You're just going to look sillier in the end. 

Not everyone one will get off, but since his pardoning power is unlimited, he might do it to say to Mueller, “blank you” I’m pardoning these people and there isn’t a darn thing anyone can do to stop it. Even former Governor Rob Blogovitch I think really got shafted and his sentence was overkill, he should have served at the very most 2 years, but 14 is way of a stretch, hope the President pardons him as well.

I’m just saying in spite of these crimes, the man could face possibly life in prison is a joke, some prison time, fine.

I never said "life in prison" either, so where are you getting that from? However, you are delusional if you think that he is only going to spend a few months behind bars if he is convicted of some of these crimes (and there are 32 felony counts in this trial alone--I won't even mention the other charges he is facing in the upcoming DC trial--which again, you fail to factor into your assessment of how much time he could face in prison if convicted).

You have got to be kidding me? There is a mount Fuji amount of evidence not to mention a dirty cop that has only Democrats, most Hillary donors and some that worked with the lady herself. Lol

No, not kidding. Let's see the appropriate "Mount Fuji" of evidence that you claim. After all, if it is true, then why isn't Manafort's team using it as part of their defense? The only "Lol" here applies to your silly claims.

If Manafort is convicted, he won’t have to wait long at all.

Well, all-knowing one, just how long will he have to wait then? Please, enlighten us with your omniscience.

That has the chance of happening as much as it would have turning Nancy Pelosi into a conservative.

Wrong again. "That" (meaning Trump could eventually face criminal charges later on regarding other matters of the investigation) is quite possible. What is not possible is that everyone in this mess gets off free and clean. Laugh all you want. You're just going to look sillier in the end.

As much as I'd like to continue commenting on this, I'm off to the beer garden . . .

Conjecture on your part. It's interesting how you completely ignored the fact that Manafort has another trial in September. However, I highly doubt that Manafort is going to be cleared of all 32 charges in this trial.

I never said he “wasn’t guilty” of tax fraud or some of the other financial alleged crimes. I’m just saying in spite of these crimes, the man could face possibly life in prison is a joke, some prison time, fine.

It’s just not going to happen.

Zero evidence of this, but it is a waste of time trying to get you and others to stop repeating this far right-wing baseless nonsense.

You have got to be kidding me? There is a mount Fuji amount of evidence not to mention a dirty cop that has only Democrats, most Hillary donors and some that worked with the lady herself. Lol

Bias is an understatement, but it’s funny how the left take every tweet from this President seriously, but when a bunch of rogue cops right text messages or tweets, we should take it seriously, not at all, they’re just expressing a point of view. ROFL

The President has the right to grant pardons to those that he feels were unjustly convicted of a crime,

Thank you very much. If Manafort is convicted, he won’t have to wait long at all.

More like Trump could be right there beside Manafort in the Gray Bar Hotel eating baloney sandwiches--and you're right, that would be funny as heck.

That has the chance of happening as much as it would have turning Nancy Pelosi into a conservative.

If he can’t get Manafort convicted he will be. Burnt to a cinder crisp.

Conjecture on your part. It's interesting how you completely ignored the fact that Manafort has another trial in September. However, I highly doubt that Manafort is going to be cleared of all 32 charges in this trial. Manafort's guilt or innocence is not up to the judge, either. Guilt or innocence is something that a jury decides--not the judge. The judge can allow or not allow evidence to be presented. Lastly, the judge has admonished both sides at various points in the trial so far, yet you make no mention of that, either, and instead you try to paint this as nothing but a failing effort on the Prosecution's behalf. This is not true. Judge Ellis (who I think is doing a great job of moving the trial along--his court is not known as "The Rocket Docket" for nothing) simply wants both sides to present their case to the jury so that a decision can be made without a long and drawn out process.

No, but corrupt as the day is long.

Zero evidence of this, but it is a waste of time trying to get you and others to stop repeating this far right-wing baseless nonsense.

Actually, he can, that’s one of the biggest powers the President has and no one can stop him,

The President has the right to grant pardons to those that he feels were unjustly convicted of a crime, and he has to give reasons for it, which this President has not done with any of the pardons that he has granted. The President also does not have the right to abuse the power of the pardon, which he clearly has. He can be stopped if he causes a Constitutional crisis to occur, so factor that into your next defensive salvo of this point.

And Trump will be right there. so Mueller, go ahead. It would be funny as heck.

More like Trump could be right there beside Manafort in the Gray Bar Hotel eating baloney sandwiches--and you're right, that would be funny as heck.

Plus mueller team fighting so hard to prevent the jury from finding out that (a) Rosenstein dropped these same charges years ago and (b) manafort never had his taxes audited as he should have.

Actually, no, Mueller is far from "done."

If he can’t get Manafort convicted he will be. Burnt to a cinder crisp.

Comey, Strzok, Weismann, and McCabe are not on Mueller's so-called "team:"

No, but corrupt as the day is long.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, especially after the DC trial in September. Again, you go back to this absurd idea that Trump can simply pardon his way out of any messes related to his administration or former colleagues. He cannot,

Actually, he can, that’s one of the biggest powers the President has and no one can stop him, now that’s funny. Mueller can send a message and Trump will send one back. He’s the President, not Mueller, he’s a cop who works under the President.

It's going to be a lot more than "a little while."

And Trump will be right there. so Mueller, go ahead. It would be funny as heck.

So Gates tells an accountant to file a document that she knew was wrong but she filed it anyway. This shows Manaforts guilt how?

I haven’t seen anything that would make me think it wouldn’t be Manafort testifying against Gates if Gates had the stronger Trump connection.

Actually, that’s not entirely true, but it doesn’t matter, because if the judge thinks this is a kangaroo trial and the prosecution can’t make case, Mueller is done.

Actually, no, Mueller is far from "done." You seem to forget that this is only one of Manafort's trials. He is scheduled to go on trial again in DC on September 17th on other charges.

After viewing Mueller’s team and Comey, Strzok, McCabe, Rosenstein, Weismann, no one with a clear thinking mental process would believe anything other than the man being politically vindictive.

Comey, Strzok, Weismann, and McCabe are not on Mueller's so-called "team:" that only exists in your imagination. I don't know where you get this garbage from. Rosenstein is Mueller's boss. As for the rest of your statement regarding vindictiveness, you failed to show any evidence for it.

 But even if Manafort gets prison time, Trump will pardon him and that’ll be that. 

I wouldn't be so sure about that, especially after the DC trial in September. Again, you go back to this absurd idea that Trump can simply pardon his way out of any messes related to his administration or former colleagues. He cannot, and if he tries, it could touch off a Constitutional crisis, which would not bode well if the Midterm elections don't go the Republicans' way.

Manafort will just have to be patient and eat bologna sandwiches and drink black nasty coffee for a little while,

It's going to be a lot more than "a little while."

A sentence of around a year? Really?

Pretty much.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ts-ellis-paul-manafort-judge-trial-russia-collusion-donald-trump-campaign-chairman-a8473411.html

That's not what the law says regarding the penalties associated with tax fraud and tax evasion.

Actually, that’s not entirely true, but it doesn’t matter, because if the judge thinks this is a kangaroo trial and the prosecution can’t make case, Mueller is done.

As far as Mueller goes, there is no vindictiveness on uncovering crimes, which are clearly spelled out in the indictment with examples of the bank transactions and other violations.

After viewing Mueller’s team and Comey, Strzok, McCabe, Rosenstein, Weismann, no one with a clear thinking mental process would believe anything other than the man being politically vindictive. But even if Manafort gets prison time, Trump will pardon him and that’ll be that. So Mueller can do his worst. Manafort will just have to be patient and eat bologna sandwiches and drink black nasty coffee for a little while,

You could probably add money laundering and possibly racketeering.

I wonder how many more year that would jack up his sentence?

Again, for what (supposedly) the Mueller team is trying to charge Manafort with, it should carry a sentence of around a year and heavy fines, should be more than enough, anything such as life is just nothing more than pure vindictiveness on Mueller’s part. . .

A sentence of around a year? Really? That's not what the law says regarding the penalties associated with tax fraud and tax evasion. If you tally up all of the things that Manafort failed to report in the indictment, it comes up to about $18 million dollars. Now, generally, the IRS would slap a 25 percent tax on that income, so that comes up to roughly $4.5 million dollars in financial penalties The Federal guideline sentence for evasion of $4.5 million dollars in tax is 51-63 months of imprisonment. As far as Mueller goes, there is no vindictiveness on uncovering crimes, which are clearly spelled out in the indictment with examples of the bank transactions and other violations.

They why do you disrespect a prosecutor for working within the law that you claim to respect?

If Mueller and his merry men of Democrats and Hillary donors would work within the law of course I would.

You claim to respect the law, yet make comments that show you don't.

No, you don't speak for me, I respect the law, have relatives in law enforcement, if anything, I respect the Judge and his decision, but these partisan hacks, I do not.

I guess people have to decide to believe your claim, or what you've said previously.

I could care less what people believe.

I respect the law

They why do you disrespect a prosecutor for working within the law that you claim to respect? You claim to respect the law, yet make comments that show you don't.

I guess people have to decide to believe your claim, or what you've said previously.

It would appear you don’t respect the law if you think a prosecutor shouldn’t ask for an appropriate sentence when prosecuting a crime that has that sentence. 

I respect the law that is why I hope Judge Ellis will put Mueller in his place and shine some light on this out of control injustice that is surrounding Mueller, that is why so muc language that the prosecution wants included in this trial was omitted from the courtroom.

If I were like you, I’d make some comment about Republicans right now, but actually I think even most Republicans respect the law.

As do I as a conservative. Again, for what (supposedly) the Mueller team is trying to charge Manafort with, it should carry a sentence of around a year and heavy fines, should be more than enough, anything such as life is just nothing more than pure vindictiveness on Mueller’s part and seeing that Weismann is in on this sends alarm bells already, never liked the man, he’s got the reputation a backstabbing snake and again, if they send Manafort off and try to hit him with some prison sentence over a year, he just needs to be patient until Trump can pardon him.

It’s just the extremists, and those who want to score points online for team red, that disrespect American law.

Well, that goes both ways, team blue and Adam Spliff are more than happy than to take one for the team.

Still can’t bring himself to investigate Hillary’s payments to Putin’s intelligence team via Fusion and Christopher Steele.

Heh, do we have a 'Hillary' version of Goodwin's Law yet?

"The longer an internet discussion progresses, the probability that a righty will try to come up with another reason for a Hillary investigation, approaches one.

Mueller looking for Russian collusion during the 2016 election by going through Manaforts 2006 tax returns.

Really? Holy crap! When did they release this information? I missed it! Can you post a link? We need to expose the truth.

Mueller looking for Russian collusion during the 2016 election by going through Manaforts 2006 tax returns. Still can’t bring himself to investigate Hillary’s payments to Putin’s intelligence team via Fusion and Christopher Steele. This isn’t just a witch hunt, it’s Banana Republic style corruption.

@bas4 Usually a federal crime evolving tax evasion

One of the reasons Trump's been unwilling to show his tax returns (and the partials he showed Maddox don't count) might well have to do with his and his family's reported 'loans' from foreign 'financiers' and that they might be actually trying to evade taxes, something Trump's claimed proudly he's had his highly paid army of accountants and lawyers do for him. Trump's said he surrounds himself with the 'best people'. Interesting so many are being shown to be criminals.

then Manafort needs to be patient under Trump pardons him.

Interesting that some who claim to be 'conservative' are willing to pardon criminality. But then Putin also claims to be a 'conservative'. And also a 'Christian'. The sheet's coming off the faces of some who claim likewise.

Mueller wants to play God and tries to give him an over the top bogus sentence of 20 to life, 

God has nothing to do with the law, and Mueller cannot ask for something that isn’t part of law. It would appear you don’t respect the law if you think a prosecutor shouldn’t ask for an appropriate sentence when prosecuting a crime that has that sentence.

If I were like you, I’d make some comment about Republicans right now, but actually I think even most Republicans respect the law. It’s just the extremists, and those who want to score points online for team red, that disrespect American law.

Raise your hand if you think Trump's tax returns have a lot of the same "features" (failures to report income, unreported foreign accounts, unreported loans, shell companies up the wazoo, ties to Russian banks and Ukranian banks that are tied to Putin's kleptocrats) as Manafort's tax returns?

Usually a federal crime evolving tax evasion should carry a year or so and a steep fine or if Mueller wants to play God and tries to give him an over the top bogus sentence of 20 to life, then Manafort needs to be patient under Trump pardons him.

Dig your ditch, Manafort.