In closing arguments Wednesday in the financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman’s defense attorney sought to undo the prosecution’s entire case with just two words: Rick Gates.

The lawyer, Kevin Downing, cast Manafort’s longtime business partner and right-hand man as someone who repeatedly lied, and whose testimony could not be trusted. “He lied to you,” Downing told jurors, reminding them that Gates embezzled money from Manafort.