Robert Mueller, Judge T.S. Ellis
On Thursday evening, Judge T.S. Ellis rejected Mueller’s “excessive” recommendation that Paul Manafort serve 19.5 to 24.5 years in prison after a Virginia jury convicted Manafort on 8 counts of bank and tax fraud.
The Reagan-appointed judge sentenced Manafort to 47 months in prison.
In another blow to Mueller, Judge T.S. Ellis also wants Paul Manafort to be given credit for the 9 months he has already served in jail.
If this happens, Manafort will only have to serve 38 months (just over 3 years) in jail.
“Judge wants Paul Manafort to be given credit for the nine months he’s spent in jail, after a different judge revoked his bond last June. If that happens, Manafort’s time in prison from now on would total a little more than three years,” crime reporter Shimon Prokupecz tweeted on Thursday evening.
Judge wants Paul Manafort to be given credit for the nine months he's spent in jail, after a different judge revoked his bond last June. If that happens, Manafort's time in prison from now on would total a little more than three years.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 8, 2019
Paul Manafort was seated in a wheelchair and green prison jumpsuit during Thursday’s hearing and pleaded with the judge to have some compassion, reported CNBC.
“The last two years have been the most difficult for my family and I,” Manafort said in his plea.
“To say I have been humiliated and ashamed would be a gross understatement,” he said.
Judge Ellis rejected Mueller’s “excessive” recommendation and gave Manafort a much lighter sentence.
Manafort faces sentencing in a separate case in a DC court next week.
A couple weeks ago, Mueller released his redacted sentencing memo on Paul Manafort in the Washington D.C. case where Manafort was on trial for his Ukrainian lobbying.
Mueller accused Manafort of “repeatedly and brazenly” breaking the law — recall, Mueller gave Tony Podesta immunity in this case even though just like Manafort, he failed to file a FARA form in a timely manner.
Corrupt Obama-appointed Judge Amy Berman Jackson is assigned to Paul Manafort’s DC case where he was charged with two felony counts and will be sentenced next week by Jackson.
Mueller did not disclose how many years he recommended Manafort serve in the DC case, however, under the law Manafort faces 10 years maximum prison time for two felony counts.
President Trump should take a blowtorch to Mueller and pardon Manafort after his second round of sentencing next week.
Correction: Judge T.S. Ellis was appointed by Ronald Reagan, not Donald Trump.
