According to a report in Politico from a reporter who is usually not friendly to the President, the judge in the Manafort bank fraud case brought by special prosecutor Mueller smashed the lawyers from the special counsel's office in court today. The judge is considering a motion by Manafort asking for dismissal of the case as one beyond the jurisdiction of the special counsel. After all, bank fraud by Manafort years before the campaign has nothing to do with whether or not there was collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. The judge told the Mueller lawyers in court today that it seems as if they don't really care about the bank fraud and are just trying to use this criminal case to force Manafort to give up something on the President. Trial in the case is scheduled at of now for about eight weeks from now. Before that happens, however, the judge will issue his decision. If he throws out the indictment as beyond the authority of the special prosecutor, it will be a major blow to Mueller.
It's important to remember also that Mueller is facing a hearing regarding the testimony of his other main target to date: General Mike Flynn. The judge in that case ordered the prosecutor to turn over to the Flynn team the internal FBI documents in which the agents who spoke to Flynn reported that they believed Flynn told the truth in the interview which led to an indictment of Flynn for supposedly lying to the FBI. Flynn later pled guilty to the charge just in order to get the FBI off his back and to stop paying for endless lawyers. If the judge reopens the plea for Flynn and dismisses that charge on the basis of the FBI's own documents which Mueller failed previously to turn over as required, it would be a major blow to Mueller. At that point, there could easily be a move in Congress to remove Mueller. Trump could then fire him.
It's important to remember also that Mueller is facing a hearing regarding the testimony of his other main target to date: General Mike Flynn. The judge in that case ordered the prosecutor to turn over to the Flynn team the internal FBI documents in which the agents who spoke to Flynn reported that they believed Flynn told the truth in the interview which led to an indictment of Flynn for supposedly lying to the FBI. Flynn later pled guilty to the charge just in order to get the FBI off his back and to stop paying for endless lawyers. If the judge reopens the plea for Flynn and dismisses that charge on the basis of the FBI's own documents which Mueller failed previously to turn over as required, it would be a major blow to Mueller. At that point, there could easily be a move in Congress to remove Mueller. Trump could then fire him.
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