Just because he doesn't put up a defense doesn't mean his defense team is giving up. It simply means that they think that they will suffer more damage on cross than they will gain advantage on direct. The prosecution must prove guilt. The defense doesn't need to prove innocence. If their best strategy is to prove reasonable doubt through cross-examining prosecution witnesses only, they won't present a defense at all. If Manafort were my client I wouldn't want him on the stand. Would you?
Rick Gates said under oath that they committed crimes together. The defense lost right there. If Manafort were my client I'd say, "Get the fuck out of here. You're not going to be my client," all the while sticking my fingers in my ears until he left my layering room forever
Yeah but from the defense's POV Rick Gates is an admitted liar who is lying again to try to get less jail time for himself, because the feds had him dead to rights. I think they're taking the only tack they can, because no oligarch is going to get on the stand and say that Manafort is an awesome dude who should get a Medal of Freedom. Edit: Also if you were Manafort's lawyer you'd be making $1500/hr so you'd go to great lengths to make your legal advice sessions as long as possible.
My threshold of, "You can't do this shit!" was a lot higher. Even after ten years of Bush. It's now climbed to (sank to? I'm confused. Roll with me.) remarkable levels. My dream of being a professional smartass artist is dead and I may have to do a damn thing in its place.
Seven world trade center. Yeah I reckon they know better than I do.