DEVELOPING: Govt ‘Star Witness’ Rick Gates to Take the Stand in Manafort Trial

Rick Gates, Paul Manafort’s former business associate is set to take the witness stand Monday afternoon in the bank fraud and tax evasion case against Manafort.

Far left Politico reported:

Rick Gates, the longtime deputy of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is set to take the stand Monday afternoon in Manafort’s trial on charges of bank and tax fraud related to overseas earnings, a lawyer for Gates told POLITICO.

Gates is considered the star witness for the prosecution against Manafort — and his testimony in an Alexandria, Virginia courtroom is the first time he’s known to have faced Manafort since he agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team in February.

Gates’ central roles in the campaign and transition of President Donald Trump have made him a pivotal witness in Mueller’s ongoing probe. But he was also at Manafort’s side while the pair conducted a lobbying effort on behalf of a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine years before they joined Trump.

Last week, Mueller’s prosecutors sent shockwaves through the Alexandria, VA courtroom when they admitted Manafort’s former business associate Rick Gates may not testify.

Rick Gates previously pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller; he was even referred to as the Special Counsel’s ‘star witness.’

Judge T.S. Ellis blasted Uso Asonye, Mueller’s prosecutor who told him Rick Gates may not testify.

On Friday, Judge Ellis lost his patience with Mueller’s prosecutors and ended court early, it will be interesting to see how the trial progresses Monday with this development.

This story is developing…

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Cristina began writing for The Gateway Pundit in 2016 and she is now the Associate Editor.

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