Prosecutors still battling the judge in the Manafort trial

Ellis had interjected Thursday during the questioning of a bank employee by prosecutor Uzo Asonye. The employee was discussing how Manafort attempted but failed to get a $5.5 million construction loan, according to Politico.

“You might want to spend time on a loan that was granted,” the judge said.

“Your honor, this is a charged count in the indictment,” Asonye responded.

“I know that,” Ellis said.

That exchange was addressed Friday in a court filing by prosecutors.

“The Court’s statement that the government ‘might want to spend time on a loan that was granted’ misrepresents the law regarding bank fraud conspiracy, improperly conveys the Court’s opinion of the facts, and is likely to confuse and mislead the jury,” prosecutors wrote.

The filing marked the second time that federal prosecutors have requested Ellis issue a corrective statement during the trial.

[...]

Ellis began the day by holding a bench conference with attorneys from both sides before the jury was called into the courtroom, and held a second conference before leaving the room “to consider an issue," according to Politico.

Multiple news outlets noted that the judge did not exit through the door toward his chambers, but instead through doors in the direction of the jury room.

Ellis returned about 45 minutes later, at which point he summoned the jury for attendance and said they would take an early lunch break

  The Hill

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.