Judge Kaplan also showed a hint of testiness about the pace of the government’s case, commenting that if prosecutors could spend a year and a half investigating before bringing one criminal charge, they should not need another three months to add any new charges or new defendants. He also warned prosecutors against lengthy proceedings. Prosecutors said they anticipated a three-month trial.
A complex case would confuse jurors and make it harder for them to convict, Judge Kaplan said. “The idea of a three- or four-month tax trial, well, it’s a daunting prospect” for potential jurors, he added.