The following article by Griffin Connolly was posted on the Roll Call website August 15, 2018:
Prosecutors bear the burden of proof in the U.S., Manafort’s lawyers remind jury
Paul Manafort’s lawyers presented their final argument Wednesday, defending the former Trump campaign chairman from 18 charges of tax evasion, bank fraud, and bank fraud conspiracy.
Manafort faces up to 305 years in prison if the Eastern Virginia jury finds him guilty on all charges.
Prosecutors bear the burden of proof in the United States, defense attorney Richard Westling reminded jurors. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team, which is prosecuting Manafort, did not reach that evidential threshold, Westling said.