newyorkguy
Penultimate Amazing
To touch on Manafort appearing in court in a wheelchair. Back in October of last year it was reported (this is from Bloomberg):
Based on the lawyer's statement that Manafort's medical condition has a lot "to do with his terms of confinement," plus the failure to give any specifics as to exactly what that medical condition is, it does seem possible Manafort is trying to use his appearance to gain sympathy from the public (and Donald Trump?) plus leniency from the court. It reminds me of a New York Mafioso boss who, when he was on trial years ago, came to court strapped to a gurney with an oxygen mask attached. At one point the Mafioso's lawyer interrupted the proceedings to ask for a recess claiming his client was having a sudden medical emergency. That backfired because the court summoned NY City EMS who examined the defendant and pronounced his vital signs normal. But EMS then transported him to an emergency room as a precaution and that also backfired. The emergency room they took him to was in a city hospital and the doctors there reported finding nothing wrong. The court was not too happy.
At the same time, on a human level, I do sympathize with Manafort. He always appeared to me to be someone who was pretty soft, having led a life of privileged affluence. The situation he finds himself in now must be extremely stressful and stress can easily effect someone's health. Manafort is looking into the abyss. Faced with losing most of his money and having to spend years in prison. He must ask himself, "How the hell did I put myself in this position?" At the age of 69 he's pretty much at the end of the road. Very bleak future. Anybody would be profoundly depressed.
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Manafort was wheeled into the courtroom, the same one where he had appeared daily in a business suit during his three-week trial. “There are significant issues about Mr. Manafort’s health right now,” defense attorney Kevin Downing told the judge. “A lot of it has to do with his terms of confinement.” Ellis responded: “I’m not the judge who ordered those terms of confinement.” Manafort, who’s been in custody since June 15, appeared in a jail jumpsuit after Ellis denied his request to appear at the hearing in street clothes. Link
Based on the lawyer's statement that Manafort's medical condition has a lot "to do with his terms of confinement," plus the failure to give any specifics as to exactly what that medical condition is, it does seem possible Manafort is trying to use his appearance to gain sympathy from the public (and Donald Trump?) plus leniency from the court. It reminds me of a New York Mafioso boss who, when he was on trial years ago, came to court strapped to a gurney with an oxygen mask attached. At one point the Mafioso's lawyer interrupted the proceedings to ask for a recess claiming his client was having a sudden medical emergency. That backfired because the court summoned NY City EMS who examined the defendant and pronounced his vital signs normal. But EMS then transported him to an emergency room as a precaution and that also backfired. The emergency room they took him to was in a city hospital and the doctors there reported finding nothing wrong. The court was not too happy.
At the same time, on a human level, I do sympathize with Manafort. He always appeared to me to be someone who was pretty soft, having led a life of privileged affluence. The situation he finds himself in now must be extremely stressful and stress can easily effect someone's health. Manafort is looking into the abyss. Faced with losing most of his money and having to spend years in prison. He must ask himself, "How the hell did I put myself in this position?" At the age of 69 he's pretty much at the end of the road. Very bleak future. Anybody would be profoundly depressed.
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