Being white, rich, and male has its privileges, and it seems prosecutors have had quite enough of allowing those privileges for Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. After his lawyers complained about the horrible conditions Manafort suffers as he awaits trial in jail, prosecutors exposed that lie.
There is no expectation of privacy in prison, so emails and other communications from Manafort can be viewed by prosecutors unless they are communications with attorneys. Manafort has gotten sloppy, making many statements that undercut his attorneys' arguments to delay trial. https://t.co/8At34vj6U9
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) July 11, 2018
Suddenly, Fox News and GOP pundits who never cared when the practice of solitary confinement was imposed on any poor, black prisoner were outraged at this treatment.
Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Paul Manafort's solitary confinement: "This is unnecessary." @IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/vsHJj5Ipm2
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 11, 2018
Despite these horrible conditions of being locked in solitary confinement 23 hours every day, Manafort’s lawyers filed a motion for a continuance of his trial. When the judge ordered that Manafort be transferred to a different prison in Alexandria, Virginia, his lawyers surprisingly asked that he be kept in the prison where he currently resides during the wait.
Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the request for a continuance and explained exactly why the surprise request was filed.
NEW: Mueller's office files motion opposing effort to delay Manafort trial saying "extra accommodations" have been made for him to use a personal laptop and cellphone: pic.twitter.com/7LqMKnJu3G
— TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) July 11, 2018
According to NPR:
‘Lawyers working for Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller objected Wednesday to Manafort’s bid to delay the trial scheduled for July 25 in Alexandria, Va. To make their case, they cited recorded jail calls and prison logs suggesting Manafort is getting treated better than most detainees, not worse.
‘”Among the unique privileges Manafort enjoys at the jail are a private, self-contained living unit, which is larger than other inmates’ units, his own bathroom and shower facility, his own personal telephone, and his own workspace to prepare for trial,” the prosecutors wrote.
‘In monitored phone calls at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va., Manafort has told others he is being treated like a “VIP,” the government team added.’
Manafort is being treated as a prison "VIP" with his own bathroom, shower and phone https://t.co/Z6bSl7jLnG pic.twitter.com/a44vaZm7fZ
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) July 11, 2018
Defense and prosecuting attorneys are due back in court to argue over the continuance on July 17. Meanwhile, more than two million people sit in prisons with no special privileges enduring truly cruel and inhumane treatment.
Featured image via Getty/Bloomberg
