Rick Gates, right-hand man to Paul Manafort, is expected to take center stage this week in the continuation of the trial for Trump's former campaign chair and a longtime political operative for pro-Russian interests in Ukraine.
Gates, who also served as Trump's deputy campaign manager and a member of his transition team, will likely be the government's star witness given his proximity to Manafort and his knowledge of the finances for Manafort's political consultancy. But he's also the defense's chief fall guy—Manafort's lawyers have been trying to lay the groundwork for the idea that Manafort put the firm's day-to-day operations in Gates's hands and Gates ultimately perpetrated the financial crimes and embezzled money without Manafort's knowledge. For that reason, Gates's testimony, assuming it happens, will be among the most important of the entire trial, writes the Washington Post.
“Rick Gates is a double-edged sword,” said [former federal prosecutor Robert] Mintz. “He had access to much if not all of the business dealings that form the substance of the charges, but that also gives the defense the opportunity to try to convince jurors that he manipulated the evidence to protect his own skin and to paint Manafort as the fall guy. The defense will go after him with a vengeance.”
Gates started his career working for Manafort in the 1990s as a research assistant. Now 46, he will likely spend some time in prison, depending on how valuable his proves to be as a witness and informant for the special counsel. Gates faces five years under his plea agreement with the government but a judge could decide to lighten his sentence.
Prosecutors also introduced a little intrigue in the witness list with plans to add the testimony of at least one and maybe two FBI forensic accountants, Morgan Magionos and Renee Michael. They will be tasked with reading certain emails deemed admissible into the record. According to a new filing from the government:
Both accountants have extensive experience with the investigation of Manafort, and have reviewed and analyzed thousands of documents, financial records, and emails in this case.
The government expects to ask one or both of the accountants to read emails sent by Manafort.
But the action will start on Monday with the defense cross examining former Manafort accountant Cindy Laporta, who testified last week that she falsified financial documents in order to help Manafort both evade taxes and get better loan rates.