Tag: Manafort trial

Manafort verdict strengthens Mueller’s hand for round two

The following article by Lydia Wheeler was posted on the Hill website August 26, 2018:

It could be deja vu when Paul Manafort suits up for his second court battle next month.

Legal experts say that federal prosecutors, fresh off a victory this past week in Virginia, stand a good chance of securing a second conviction in Washington, D.C., with more evidence and more damning charges against Trump’s former campaign chairman brought by special counsel Robert Mueller‘s legal team.

Manafort is facing seven criminal charges, including conspiracy to launder money and failing to register as a foreign lobbyist in the trial slated to start Sept. 17.

View the complete article here.

DNC on Trump Campaign Chairman Found Guilty of Multiple Crimes

DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement in response to Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, being found guilty of multiple crimes:  

“Donald Trump brought a culture of corruption from his campaign to the White House. The special counsel’s investigation has never been a ‘witch hunt,’ and today’s verdict proves it. Paul Manafort wasn’t just Trump’s campaign chair, he was one of his most trusted advisors; the two have known each other for nearly four decades and reportedly spoke to each other nearly 20 times a day.

“As Trump escalates his attacks on the special counsel’s investigation, Republicans in Congress must join Democrats in standing up for the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served.”

3 Takeaways From Day 8 of the Paul Manafort Trial

The following article by Griffin Connolly was posted on the Roll Call website August 9, 2018:

Who lied on a bank loan application? Was it Manafort, Gates or both?

A protester on July 31 outside the United States District Court in Alexandria, Va., where Paul Manafort is standing trial. Credit: Sarah Silbiger, CQ Roll Call)

Day Eight of the Paul Manafort trial brought special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s prosecution team closer to the finish line of its case against the former Trump campaign chairman.

Prosecutors zeroed in on the loan fraud charges against Manafort, who faces 18 total counts of tax evasion and bank fraud and a maximum 305-year prison sentence if the Eastern Virginia jury finds him guilty.

Citizens Bank mortgage loan assistant Melinda James testified about her communications with Manafort and Rick Gates, the political consulting titan’s longtime deputy, regarding a loan application that contained falsified information to increase Manafort’s chances of getting the request approved.

View the complete article here.

Rick Gates says he lied for years at Manafort’s request and stole from him in the process

The following article by Rachel Weiner, Matt Zapotosky, Ann E. Marimow and Devlin Barrett was posted on the Washington Post website August 6, 2018:

Rick Gates testified Aug. 6 that he stole money from former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and committed an array of crimes with his former boss. (Reuters)

ick Gates — the star witness against President Trump’s former campaign chairman — admitted in federal court Monday that he committed a host of crimes with his former boss, and confessed to stealing from him and others.

In his first hour on the witness stand, Gates catalogued years of illegal activity, saying most of his wrongdoing was committed on behalf of his former boss, Paul Manafort, while other crimes were for his own benefit, including the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gates also made clear that he was testifying against Manafort with the hope of receiving a lesser prison sentence, having pleaded guilty in February as part of a deal with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

Manafort’s trial in Alexandria, Va., is the first to arise out of the Mueller probe and marks a major public test of that investigation’s credibility. Mueller’s team is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether any Trump associates conspired with those efforts.

View the complete article here.

3 Takeaways After First Week of Manafort Trial

The following article by Griffin Connolly was posted on the Roll Call website August 3, 2018:

Explosive testimony from accountants caps tough Day 4 for ex-Trump campaign chairman

President Donald Trump pauses during a rally, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes Barre, Pa.. Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The first week of the tax evasion and bank fraud trial of Paul Manafort is in the books after a tough Friday for the former Trump campaign chairman.

Day Four featured explosive testimony from two witnesses: Manafort’s former accountants, Cindy Laporta and Philip Ayliff. Laporta was the first witness to testify under immunity from the prosecution, an indication she would otherwise have been opening herself up to legal trouble.

Manafort is facing 18 counts and a maximum 305-year prison sentence if the Eastern Virginia jury finds him guilty.

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Here are six things you need to know about Paul Manafort’s trial

The following article by Rachel Weiner was posted on the Washington Post website July 30, 2018:

Before he joined the Trump campaign, Paul Manafort made a name for himself in the D.C. lobbying world, but his past caught up with him. (Dalton Bennett , Jon Gerberg, Jesse Mesner-Hage/The Washington Post)

Paul Manafort, who served as President Trump’s campaign chairman from March to August of 2016, faces criminal charges in federal courts in Virginia and D.C. Here’s what to expect from his Virginia trial, which begins July 31.

What is Paul Manafort accused of doing?

In Virginia, Manafort is accused of failing to pay taxes on millions of dollars he made doing work for a pro-Russian political party in the Ukraine between 2006 and 2015 by having the money wired to foreign shell corporations and then sent to him as “loans.”

He lied about having offshore bank accounts, according to prosecutors, while using those bank accounts to buy expensive properties, fancy clothing and antique rugs.

View the complete article here.

Mueller Is Seeking Immunity for 5 Mystery Witnesses Against Trump’s Ex-Campaign Chair

The following article by Cody Fenwick was posted on the AlterNet.org website July 17, 2018:

Paul Manafort’s former business associate Rick Gates has already agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Credit: FBI

Special counsel Robert Mueller filed court documents Tuesday requesting immunity for five potential witnesses in the case against President Donald Trump’s former campaign chair Paul Manafort.

The immunity would allow witnesses to testify with the assurance that they cannot be prosecuted for self-incriminating admissions they may make.

“The motions indicate that the named individuals will not testify or provide other information on the basis of their privilege against self-incrimination, and that the government is requesting that the Court compel them to testify at the upcoming trial,” the request says.

View the complete article on the AlterNet.org website here.