With the jury still out in the Paul Manafort‘s bank and tax fraud trial, a note that was reportedly handed to presiding Judge T.S. Ellis III may have tipped their hand.
According to Washington Post “justice reporter” Justin Jouvenal, the note asked the judge how they should proceed if they cannot come to a consensus on a single count against Manafort.
“BREAKING: Jury in Paul Manafort sends note to judge asking: “if we cannot come to a consensus on a single count” how should they fill in the verdict form, and “what does that mean for the final verdict,” Jouvenal tweeted.
BREAKING: Jury in Paul Manafort sends note to judge asking: "if we cannot come to a consensus on a single count" how should they fill in the verdict form, and "what does that mean for the final verdict."
— justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) August 21, 2018
He followed that up with a tweet saying Ellis responded with written instruction.
“Judge Ellis responded to the jury question by saying this is ‘not an exceptional or unusual event in a jury trial.’ He then distributed an instruction he proposed giving to jurors,” the reporter tweeted.
BREAKING: Judge Ellis responded to the jury question by saying this is "not an exceptional or unusual event in a jury trial." He then distributed an instruction he proposed giving to jurors.
— justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) August 21, 2018
He then posted a note of clarification: “Don’t have a definitive answer yet, but people interpreted the jury’s note as they were hung up on *one count,* not multiple.”
Note of clarification: Don't have a definitive answer yet, but people interpreted the jury's note as they were hung up on *one count,* not multiple.
— justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) August 21, 2018
What an embarrassing failure it would be for special counsel Robert Mueller if the jury failed to convict Manafort.
Meanwhile, with the media looking to dox the members of the jury and Judge Ellis revealing in open court Friday that he has received death threats, it’s not a stretch to think that jurors may be scared.
Judge Ellis refuses to release jurors’ names to media, says he’s under Fed protection after wave of threats https://t.co/dc1muBRTUd pic.twitter.com/rCTGjfAyrD
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) August 17, 2018
While the judge has retained the protection of the U.S. Marshals Service, the jurors are not as fortunate.
The reaction to the news of the jurors’ note went both ways.
I interpret this as the jury probably has consensus on most counts (most likely guilty), but can’t decide on one or two counts. The jury wants to know if those one or two counts will impact the entire verdict. I take this as bad news for Manafort.
— Michael Abromowitz (@FootballExpert) August 21, 2018
If by “single count” they mean one specific count, then it’s good news for the prosecution.
If by “single count” they mean there’s no consensus on ANY… then it’s looking more like a mistrial and the defense would consider that a victory.
What do they mean by “single count?’
— Todd B Stone (@toddstonelaw) August 21, 2018
As for the possibility that the jurors are afraid, Byron York hit the nail on the head in a series of tweets.
“Thinking about Manafort jury and social media. First trial of Trump era. Resistance feels morally justified doing anything,” he began. “So what if jury returns verdict and Resistance disapproves? Maybe mixed decision viewed as insufficiently punitive?”
Thinking about Manafort jury and social media. First trial of Trump era. Resistance feels morally justified doing anything. So what if jury returns verdict and Resistance disapproves? Maybe mixed decision viewed as insufficiently punitive? 1/4
— Byron York (@ByronYork) August 20, 2018
Either way, the liberals are still desperately holding out for the hope that Manafort is convicted and cuts a deal with Mueller — unless President Trump beats them to the punch.
NOTE: The news about this note from the jury means there's a 99%+ chance Manafort spends most of or all his life in prison *unless* he cuts a deal with Bob Mueller or is pardoned (which would lead to impeachment). I'm serious; the two possible ends of the Manafort saga are clear.
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) August 21, 2018
Manafort has pleaded not guilty on all counts, but that isn’t stopping the left from hoping that the this will somehow stop President Trump in his tracks. Especially in light of the breaking news that Michael Cohen reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors on the same day.
https://twitter.com/AdamBlickstein/status/1031964117211512835
If the Paul Manafort jury reaches a guilty verdict and Michael Cohen reaches a plea deal on the same day this might turn out to be the craziest Infrastructure Week yet.
— Greg Sarafan esq (@GSarafan) August 21, 2018
What a time to be alive. Stay tuned.
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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