Judge slaps at Mueller motive

A SKEPTICAL federal judge hammered prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday, asking them if they are out to “get” President Trump.

Mueller’s team has charged President Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, with bank fraud and a host of other indiscretions dating back years.

“You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort’s bank fraud,” said District Judge T.S. Ellis, sitting in Alexandria, Va. He added that prosecutors are only interested in the longtime GOP strategist because of his potential to provide material that would lead to Trump’s “prosecution or impeachment.”

Prosecutor Michael Dreeben argued that the special counsel’s mandate is broad, and that Manafort’s alleged crimes fit within that jurisdiction because of his connections to both the Trump campaign and to Ukrainian and Russian officials.