Judge T.S. Ellis, the man presiding over the criminal trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort, said Friday that he has received threats about the case — and now travels with protection from the U.S. Marshal Service.
Speaking at a hearing outside of jurors' presence, Ellis also said he has no plan to release the names and home addresses of those 12 people now deliberating Manafort's fate because he is worried about their "peace and safety."
"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions, I can tell you that frankly," Ellis said, as jurors continued their second day of deliberations in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. "I don't feel right if I release their names."
"I have no reason to believe that if those names are unsealed there won't be threats against them," Ellis said of the jurors, who do not have protection by U.S. Marshals.
Media outlets including NBC News had requested the names and addresses of the jurors be unsealed.
They also were asking Ellis to unseal discussions Ellis had with prosecutors and defense lawyers outside of the earshot of others in court during Manafort's trial, where he is charged with bank fraud and tax crimes.
TooShiftyForYou on August 17th, 2018 at 19:51 UTC »
"I've received criticism and threats. I'd imagine they would to," he told an attorney representing seven media organizations at a hearing Friday.
"I had no idea myself this case would arouse such public interest. I still am surprised," Ellis said.
He added that the US Marshals Service follows him everywhere, even to his hotel — which he presumably stays in when court is in session because he lives outside of Northern Virginia. The jurors don't have that protection, and Ellis even keeps secret the name of his hotel, he said.
Great decision to keep their names private, maybe should have even sequestered the jury.
StantonMcBride on August 17th, 2018 at 19:45 UTC »
Somebody better be going to jail for threatening a federal judge.
Amperage21 on August 17th, 2018 at 19:31 UTC »
He also refused a motion by the press to make public the identity of the jurors. Seems sensible.