A federal judge in Virginia challenged the authority of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to go after President Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort.
Reuters reports:
A federal judge on Friday sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s criminal case in Virginia against President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and openly questioned whether Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial powers by bringing it. “I don’t see what relationship this indictment has with anything the special counsel is authorized to investigate,” U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in the Eastern District of Virginia said.
Fox News also reported on the hearing:
A federal judge on Friday harshly rebuked Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team during a hearing for ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort – suggesting they lied about the scope of the investigation, are seeking “unfettered power” and are more interested in bringing down the president.
“You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort,” U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III told Mueller’s team. “You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever.”
Judge Ellis is concerned the case against Manafort is not connected to Russia collusion which is the goal of Mueller’s investigation.
The judge also suggested Manafort was charged as part of an effort to make the former campaign manager turn against President Trump.
Manafort is facing cases in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Judge Ellis did not rule on Manafort’s goal to get the case dismissed during the hearing.
The judge also challenged the credibility of the case being pursued by Mueller’s team.
Judge Ellis is correct in pointing out the case against Manafort has nothing to do with Russia collusion and as a consequence, it should be dismissed.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported Mueller is contemplating issuing a subpoena against President Trump.
