>>>> or work out some sort of plea agreement to get a lesser sentence -- possibly by flipping and offering help to bust other people. This is typical practice.
>>>
>>>Indeed it's typical practice for people with a slam-dunk case against them.
>>>It didn't happen here.
>>>
>>>a. they're stupid.
>>>b. it's not a slam-dunk case.
>>>
>>>Usually, it's a, but let's let it unfold.
>>
>>You honestly thing that Muller put together a case that can't be proven?
>It's not what I think.
>It's what Manafort's lawyers think.

Aside from the fact that you have no idea what Manafort's lawyers think, a defense lawyer would ever say their client was guilty before a trial or plea negotiations, particularly right after an indictment was just issued and they haven't even had time to research it - as matter of fact doing so would get them disbarred.

>They pled innocent rather than trying to make a deal.
>a. they're stupid.
>b. it's not a slam-dunk case.
>I don't know which applies.
>You apparently do.
>Maybe you should contact Manafort's lawyers and share your wisdom.

Why? His lawyers are already doing exactly as I would if I was them.

You're wrong. They pled innocent because that's what everyone does at a first hearing when they're looking at decades in prison. They have not had time to make a plea deal because they haven't head a chance to negotiate one, or they might not even ever be offered one. There are parts of the case that are a slam dunk - you understand that yes? . Money laundering is a relatively easy crime to prove Bill and they got all they need for that easy easy easy.

Unless you think Muller's dream team of lawyers is a bunch sloppy idiots I do not see how you can come to the assertion that they're unable to prove their case. Perhaps you should look into he has working on this - here are a few names
Michael Dreeben
Andrew Weissmann
Jeannie Rhee
James Quarles
Aaron Zebley
Greg Andres
Zainab Ahmad
Aaron Zelinsky
Kyle Freeny
Andrew Goldstein
Elizabeth Prelogar
Brandon Van Grack
Adam Jed

...these are not some lawyers that prosecute drunk driving cases here Bill - these are some of the biggest players in these types of crimes. So you choose to doubt all of that because a defense lawyer entered a standard not guilty plea at an arraignment? That's about as absurd as and detached from reality as you can get.

You seem unaware of the criminal procedures for federal crimes. They are:

1. Complaint and Arrest Warrant
2. Initial Appearance
3. Detention Hearing
4. Preliminary Hearing
5. Grand Jury
6. Indictment Sought
7. Indictment Returned
8. Arraignment
9. Plea Agreement
10. Trial
11. Pre-Sentencing
12. Sentencing
13. Appeal

See where number 9 Plea Agreement is on the list there Bill? -- you know waaay down the list right?? So what step we at now hmmm???? You see that number 8 is BEFORE number 9 right? So this means that when you say 'They pled innocent rather than trying to make a deal' you are simply wrong on that.