Manafort Trial: Prosecution Rests, Defense Calls No One

Earlier this morning, the trial of Paul Manafort ended, other than the closing arguments to be presented by both sides tomorrow.  Paul Manafort's trial has been taking place in Alexandria, Virginia, where he is charged with 18 felony counts of tax evasion and bank fraud, both prior to, and while working (unpaid) as the Campaign Chairman for 45. 
  The prosecution produced 27 witnesses over 10 days, and the defense cross-examined them.  When the prosecution rested their case, the defense said they had no witnesses to call.  The judge asked the defendant, Paul Manafort, if he wished to take the witness stand in his own defense. Manafort declined to do so.  Tomorrow the jury of six men and six women, plus the four alternate jurors, will hear closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense.  Both sides have asked for two hours for their jury presentation.  After that, the judge will give the jury instructions regarding the charges and the laws, what to take into consideration, and what not to be swayed by.  Then the jury will be left to make their decisions on each and every separate one of the 18 charges.
  Besides multiple forensic and government accountants, the main witness against Manafort was his former partner, Rick Gates.  While Manafort has pled "Not Guilty" to each and every charge, Rick Gates admitted his guilt and was a witness for the prosecution in exchange for a sentencing deal.  The defense has tried to further dirty Rick Gates name in their defense of his former boss.
  Next month, Paul Manafort has another trial in which he faces 7 counts of tax evasion and bank fraud in the District of Columbia.  That will be under a different judge and jury, and, probably, using different prosecution and defense attorneys. 
  Also today, while it was not presented as evidence in the current trial, the Department of Justice released a series of e-mails between Paul Manafort and several other people, including Jared Kusher, 45's son-in-law.  In the e-mails, Manafort names the banker who granted him $16 million in loans, for several positions and tells Kushner that the banker can be trusted to be right in line, and in step with, the DT White House.  Kusher replied, a few hours later, "On it!"
   Waiting for the out-comes of both trials rather impatiently....