Judge skewers Manafort's case challenging Mueller's powers

[pnwmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge tore into all of the legal arguments that a lawyer for President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort made on Wednesday in his long-shot civil case to convince her that Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation has run amok and should be reined in.

I dont really understand what is left of your case, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said to Kevin Downing, Manaforts attorney, after peppering him with a lengthy series of questions.

Manafort filed a civil lawsuit on Jan. 3 against Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the Justice Department official who appointed the special counsel, in a key legal test of how far Muellers mandate extends.

Mueller is investigating potential collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia as well as whether the president has unlawfully tried to obstruct the probe.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/judge-skewers-manaforts-case-challenging-muellers-powers-idUSKCN1HB0E7

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This relates to the CIVIL case filed by Manafort, not the criminal cases. The judge is the same judge who will be overseeing the criminal case in Washington.

More here:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-04/manafort-judge-skeptical-of-suit-disputing-mueller-s-authority

[div class"excerpt"]The comments by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson came Wednesday at the first hearing in a civil case that Manafort filed in January to claim Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, overstepped his authority. Manafort was accused of money laundering and failing to report his lobbying in Ukraine.

Jackson told Manaforts lawyer that his clients case hinges on showing violations of federal regulations overseeing Muellers appointment, even though the law explicitly bars giving individuals the right to sue.

What am I supposed to do about that? Ignore it? the judge asked.

Yes, of course, said Manafort attorney Kevin Downing in federal court in Washington, as his client looked on.

[Gothmog]

1. Manafort's lawsuit was a joke and this was to be expected

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. This was to be expected ONLY IF heard by an adult judge but if it had been heard

by a rump appointment, i.e. childish asshole who knows nothing about the law and hates minorities and Muslims, etc., then we can not only NOT expect justice, but the opposite.

THIS is why BASHING our candidate and HOLDING NOSES is so harmful!

[jberryhill]

4. It was pretty dumb

Manafort is entitled to challenge the authority of the prosecution, but bringing that as a separate action instead of a motion to dismiss in the actual proceeding was objectively dumb.

[Corgigal]

3. Attorney just trying to get paid,

before Manafort loses it all. Kitchen sink Inc.

[TranssexualKaren]

5. Yes, but more importantly

It means that when Trump attempts to use the same argument there will be a precedent that Mueller is right to look at his finances in an investigation that is putatively focused on Russian collusion.
P.S. who cares about Manafort, he would never cooperate in an investigation of Trump considering that it would mean rolling over on Russian mobsters; at least life in prison is still life.

[SunSeeker]

6. Classic case for Rule 11 sanctions. Utterly frivolous filing.

Hope this judge rips Manafort and his attorneys new ones in her ruling.

[marble falls]

7. Manafort will have pah-lenty of time to file frivolous lawsuits when he sitting in stir for...

money laundering Russian bucks for the GOP.

Maybe if he'd spent his bucks on a good lawyer instead of multi-thousand dollar suits he wouldn't have been subjected to a Judges ridicule as well as going to jail anyways.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Kick (nt)

[Rollo]

9. The English language needs a new term to describe litigation that hinges on ignoring existing laws..

Or, maybe "bullshit" will do...


.

[Xolodno]

10. I smell...

...desperation.