Paul Manafort’s legal team painted Rick Gates, a former business associate to Manafort as a liar who embezzled millions of dollars to fund his secret life with his mistress in a blistering cross-examination Tuesday.
Rick Gates previously pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller; he was even referred to as the Special Counsel’s ‘star witness.’
On Tuesday, the Special Counsel’s ‘star witness’ Rick Gates fell apart during the cross-examination and perjured himself which is very damning for the prosecution.
Gates appeared nervous on Tuesday, using the phrases “it’s possible” and “I don’t recall” many times as he was grilled by Manafort’s lawyers, reported The Guardian.
Manafort’s lawyers continued to erode Gates’ credibility. At one point Manafort’s lawyer Kevin Downing asked Gates, “After all the lies you’ve told and fraud you’ve committed, you expect this jury to believe you?”
“Yes.” Gates replied.
Tuesday’s court transcripts are in and it shows Rick Gates completely fell apart, lied many times and perjured himself–which of course infuriated Judge Ellis.
A lawyer who obtained Tuesday’s transcripts breaks down the courtroom drama and shows where Rick Gates was caught lying and committed perjury.
Follow the thread via Techno Fog:
“One thing is clear: Gates is lying and the Special Counsel has suborned perjury with their star witness.
Haven’t seen a witness with this bad a selective memory in a while. Transcript to follow.”
Reading through the cross-examination of Rick Gates in the Manafort case..
One thing is clear: Gates is lying and the Special Counsel has suborned perjury with their star witness.
Haven’t seen a witness with this bad a selective memory in a while. Transcript to follow.
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Defense: “Do you recall when you first started giving false and misleading information to the Office of the Special Counsel?”
Gates avoids directly answering the question – indicating how he was coached by the Special Counsel.
Defense: “Do you recall when you first started giving false and misleading information to the Office of the Special Counsel?”
Gates avoids directly answering the question – indicating how he was coached by the Special Counsel. pic.twitter.com/TQaX7r3Los
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
HERE IS WHERE RICK GATES PERJURES HIMSELF:
Manafort’s lawyer persists, and here we catch Rick Gates in his first lie:
“I didn’t provide false and misleading information to the Special Counsel’s office.”
Their star witness just committed perjury.
Manafort’s lawyer persists, and here we catch Rick Gates in his first lie:
“I didn’t provide false and misleading information to the Special Counsel’s office.”
Their star witness just committed perjury. pic.twitter.com/StPpnVSUC7
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Judge Ellis blasts Rick Gates for lying.
Defense: If you didn’t lie, then why did you plead guilty to providing false information?
Gates backtracks: “Under one instance I did.”
Judge Ellis calls Gates out: “Well, so previously, you said you didn’t provide false information.”
Defense: If you didn’t lie, then why did you plead guilty to providing false information?
Gates backtracks: “Under one instance I did.”
Judge Ellis calls Gates out: “Well, so previously, you said you didn’t provide false information.” pic.twitter.com/TonvdT7Ukg
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Rick Gates blames his “bad recollection” on why he pleaded guilty to lying to the Special Counsel.
Now Gates is blaming his “bad recollection” on why he pleaded guilty to lying to the Special Counsel. pic.twitter.com/53nqDOQ4vD
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Judge Ellis blasts Gates AGAIN for lying!
The patience of Judge Ellis is wearing thin.
Judge: “You just said you just had a bad memory. Did you provide false information or did you have just a bad memory?”
Gates: “Your Honor, I provided false information to the Special Counsel prior to my plea agreement.” pic.twitter.com/TRmnOZ158P
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
The crooked and corrupt Andrew Weissmann confronted Gates about his lies.
Who confronted Gates about his lies?
The equally crooked Andrew Weissmann. The Special Counsel was in a bind and had to charge their witness with lying or they’d lose all credibility with the jury. pic.twitter.com/ANbLMKQj16
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Manafort’s lawyers squeeze Gates and get him to admit he “knowingly and intentionally lied.”
Remember Gates blaming his memory on why he was charged with lying to the Special Counsel?
Manafort’s lawyer now gets him to admit that he “knowingly and intentionally lied.” pic.twitter.com/maj8z9U2LI
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
“THIS GUY HAS ZERO CREDIBILITY”
Defense: Was that the $125K you stole from a SunTrust account?
Gates: “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
Did the Special Counsel question you about closing the SunTrust account?
Gates: “I don’t recall”
This guy has ZERO credibility. pic.twitter.com/d9UMVVAFSO
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Gates caught in another lie!
Manafort’s lawyer has the notes from the Special Counsel’s interviews with Gates. It seems like Weissmann caught Gates in another lie, this time about the SunTrust account.
Conveniently, Gates can’t recall being confronted by Weissmann. pic.twitter.com/yxKyrxBSey
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Gates changes his language again.
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills – Gates keeps contradicting himself.
Here he switches from “I don’t recall” to “it’s possible” when asked about submitting expenses to the inaugural committee. pic.twitter.com/Dqu7bBHxah
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Another lie!
Gates denies embezzling money to pay for his “secret life” that was mentioned in the bench discussion at the start of this thread.
Another lie. pic.twitter.com/Fi4iQPjBc1
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Manafort’s lawyers go for blood.
Now Manafort’s lawyer goes for blood.
Defense: After all the lies you told and fraud you’ve committed, you expect this jury to believe you?
Gates: Yes.
Defense: Uncorroborated?
Gates: Yes. pic.twitter.com/5IOleZAaRl
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) August 8, 2018
Judge Ellis blasted Rick Gates again after he said, “Mr. Manafort was very good about knowing where the money is and knowing where to spend it.”
Judge Ellis responds, “Well, he missed the amounts of money you stole from him, though, didn’t he?”
