LEGAL/PAUL MANAFORT/ROBERT MUELLER/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Rick Gates has finished three days’ worth of dramatic testimony in federal court against his former business partner, ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort — but not before defense lawyers caused a stir by pressing him for details on his past infidelity. A day earlier, Gates acknowledged having a single extramarital relationship in London while working for Manafort. But on Wednesday [8-8-18], Manafort attorney Kevin Downing seemed to accuse Gates of having affairs with multiple individuals, asking Gates whether he disclosed four affairs to the special counsel’s office. The question was part of an apparent bid to catch Gates in a lie, after he testified that his plea agreement would be in jeopardy if he didn’t tell the truth on the stand. Prosecutor Greg Andres, though, swiftly objected to the question before Gates could answer. And the witness never did…Testimony returned later Wednesday to allegedly false financial statements filed by Manafort with federal authorities and banks. IRS agent Michael Welch testified Wednesday afternoon that Manafort should have ‘marked the box’ indicating on his tax filings that he had foreign accounts, and said none of Manafort’s payments to vendors from those accounts were reported to the IRS.”
–Alex Pappas, Peter Doocy, “Drama grips final moments of Rick Gates’ testimony in Manafort trial, as lawyer poses surprise question,” Fox News, August 8, 2018 11:45 am