Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Paul Manafort’s defense team rested their case Tuesday morning without calling a single witness to the stand, marking a sudden turn in what has already been a remarkable tax- and bank-fraud trial. CNN congressional correspondent Phil Mattingly tweeted Tuesday that the defense rested at 11:53 a.m. Mueller’s prosecutors called more than two-dozen witnesses to take the stand while making their two-week case against the former Trump campaign chairman. Earlier in the day, U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III also announced Tuesday that he would dismiss Manafort’s motion to acquit, according to a tweet from Courthouse News reporter Brandi Buchman. The case will now proceed to closing arguments and jury deliberation. Manafort currently faces 18 counts of bank fraud and tax evasion, and could face up to 305 years in prison.