Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Moments ago Reagan appointee federal judge T.S. Ellis sentenced former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to 47 months in prison.
The sentence was handed down after nearly three hours of discussion on his finances, his level of remorse, and whether he fully admits to his crimes.
Manafort is due to be scheduled in a second case in Washington DC next week. Update to follow shortly….
UPDATE: From the Wall Street Journal.
In a surprising brushback to the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, a federal judge sentenced Paul Manafort to 47 months in prison on Thursday for dodging taxes and committing bank fraud.
The sentence, ordered by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, was far lower than prosecutors had suggested was appropriate. Sentencing guidelines, which Mr. Mueller’s team supported, called for Mr. Manafort to spend anywhere from 19 to 24 years behind bars, but his attorneys argued that defendants in what they viewed as similar cases had received probation or less than a year in prison.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson is scheduled to sentence Mr. Manafort next Wednesday. Mr. Manafort, who is 69 years old, faces up to 10 years in prison for those charges, but Judge Jackson can decide whether that sentence should be added to the one handed down Thursday or run concurrently.
“I appreciate the fairness” of this court during the proceedings. “You bent over backwards” to give me a fair trial Manafort told the judge. “Thank you for a fair trial,” Manafort said.
“I know it is my conduct that brought me here.”
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 7, 2019
Manafort spoke briefly about how prayer and faith have helped get him through this time.
“I ask you to be compassionate,” said Manafort.
He spoke from a wheelchair
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 7, 2019
Judge TS Ellis said he believed a sentence of 19-24 years as was recommended would be “excessive” for Manafort.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 7, 2019
Judge TS Ellis before giving Manafort his sentence noted he “lived an otherwise blameless life,” was a good friend and generous person to others. That doesn’t erase his crimes however Ellis said.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) March 7, 2019
Judge Ellis calls #Manafort‘s guidelines range “quite high.“ The guidelines are based on data from other cases, and are high here only because the conduct was so egregious. Why are the guidelines considered too high only when the defendant is wealthy and powerful?
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) March 7, 2019
NEW: Paul Manafort sentenced to 47 months, per @NBCNews team in the courtroom. Less than four years.
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) March 7, 2019