The full transcript of the controversial Judge comments condemning Mueller’s investigation and it’s abuse of power. The Judge finds that the Manafort charges are clearly a method to pressure Trump, and truly has nothing to do with Russian interference in the 2016 election (the Special Counsel’s original mandate).
Key statement to take away:
Apparently, if I look at the indictment, none of that information has anything to do with links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of Donald Trump. That seems to me to be obvious because they all long predate any contact or any affiliation of this defendant with the campaign. So I don’t see what relation this indictment has with anything the special prosecutor is authorized to investigate.
and
THE COURT: …There’s no mention in the indictment that I know of that refers to any Russian individual or any Russian bank or any Russian money or any payments by Russians to Mr. Manafort. Correct?
MR. DREEBEN: I think that is correct…
h/t ver0egiusto