Kirsters Baish| As the Paul Manafort tax evasion and bank fraud trial heats up this week, the defense successfully portrayed former Manafort business associate and the prosecution’s “star witness” Rick Gates as the liar and embezzler that he is. Manafort’s legal team exposed Gates’ secret life during Tuesday’s cross-examination in which he spent millions on a lavish secret lifestyle for himself.
The Gateway Pundit reports that Gates originally plead guilty and agreed to comply with the prosecution. He was labeled as Mueller’s “star witness.”
Things all fell apart for Gates on Tuesday during his cross-examination. Gates actually perjured himself on the stand. Things are not looking good for Mueller’s team now.
The Guardian reports that on Tuesday, the witness seemed nervous as the defense questioned him. He continually used non-specific phrases such as “it’s possible” and “I don’t recall.”
The defense continually took swipes at the witness’ credibility. Kevin Downing, an attorney to Manafort, actually asked Gates at one point, “After all the lies you’ve told and fraud you’ve committed, you expect this jury to believe you?”
“Yes.” Gates answered.
The court transcripts for Tuesday have been released, and they prove that Gates lost it on the stand. He lied multiple times and perjured himself in open court. Judge T.S. Ellis was not happy to say the least.
The transcripts were obtained by a lawyer who got to the bottom of the case’s drama. The lawyer pointed out where Gates was lying and where he committed perjury.
Take a look at the thread from 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
That was when Gates 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.”
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 slammed the witness 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
The witness blamed his “bad recollection” as to why he claimed that he had lied 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
The judge slammed him 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
Then, crooked Andrew Weissmann questioned Gates about his lying.
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 attorneys pushed Gates and actually got him to admit that 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 lied again!
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 shifted his language.
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 here.
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 were out for a kill.
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 slammed Rick Gates once more after he stated, “Mr. Manafort was very good about knowing where the money is and knowing where to spend it.”
Judge Ellis answered, “Well, he missed the amounts of money you stole from him, though, didn’t he?”