Paul Manafort’s longtime deputy Rick Gates on Wednesday returns to the witness stand for a third day as Manafort’s legal team looks to undermine his credibility with the jury.
Gates was already pressed Tuesday to admit to an extramarital affair and that he stole money from Manafort in an exchange cut to the heart of the defense’s case trying to pin the blame on Gates for Manafort’s alleged crimes.
Defense attorney Kevin Downing asked how the jury could believe Gates “after all the lies you told and fraud you committed.”
Gates pushed back that he could be trusted.
“I’m here to tell the truth. … Mr. Manafort had the same path. I’m here,” Gates said. “I have taken responsibility. … I am trying to change.”
The exchange between Gates and Manafort’s team could be a key moment in the first case that special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has taken to trial as part of its broad investigation into Russian election meddling.
Gates served as a deputy for Manafort’s political consulting business, and then as his deputy on the Trump campaign in 2016. While President Donald Trump has not played a significant role in the trial, Gates testified on Tuesday that after the election, Manafort recommended a banker who loaned him money to be Trump’s Army secretary.
Prosecutors expect to call more witnesses after Gates before they wrap up their case, likely this week.
