Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort of Attempted Witness Tampering

The following article by Matt Apuzzo was posted in the New York Times website June 4, 2018:

Paul Manafort, Pres. Trump’s former campaign chairman, tried to contact witnesses in the case against him by phone and through an encrypted messaging program, prosecutors said. Credit: Shawn Thew, EPA, via Shutterstock

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors on Monday accused President Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, of attempting to tamper with witnesses in his federal tax and money laundering case.

In court documents, prosecutors working for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, said that violated the terms of Mr. Manafort’s release while he awaits trial. They asked a federal judge to revise those terms or send him to jail until trial. Continue reading “Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort of Attempted Witness Tampering”

Judge Slaps Down Paul Manafort’s Challenge to Mueller Indictment: ‘Falls Squarely’ Within His Authority

The following article by Cody Fenwick was posted on the AlterNet website May 15, 2018:

The judge made it clear that the scope of special counsel Robert Mueller’s authority is wide.

U.S. District Judge Amy Jackson on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump’s one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort in his request to dismiss the charges brought against him by the special counsel.

Jackson ordered that Robert Mueller’s authority under the special counsel guidelines is wide enough to cover investigation of Manafort, given he was Trump’s campaign chairman. She cites the instructions drafted for Mueller by Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein, which instruct the special counsel to investigate “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign.” Continue reading “Judge Slaps Down Paul Manafort’s Challenge to Mueller Indictment: ‘Falls Squarely’ Within His Authority”

U.S. judge tosses Paul Manafort suit seeking to bar special counsel Mueller from bringing future charges

The following article by Spencer S. Hsu was posted on the Washington Post website April 27, 2018:

© Camille Fine

A federal judge Friday dismissed a challenge brought by Paul Manafort to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s criminal probe of Russian interference in 2016 U.S. elections, ruling that Manafort may not use a lawsuit to thwart his prosecution.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson tossed out the attempt by Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, to bar the special counsel from bringing future charges against him. The judge cited the “sound and well-established principle” that potential defendants cannot “circumvent federal criminal procedure” that already permits individuals to challenge charges within criminal proceedings. Continue reading “U.S. judge tosses Paul Manafort suit seeking to bar special counsel Mueller from bringing future charges”

Paul Manafort Was Under FBI Scrutiny Before He Joined the Trump Campaign, Documents Show

The following article by Cody Fenwick was posted on the AlterNet website April 24, 2018:

The revelation shows that the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s connections with Russia is not a political operation.

President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort was interviewed by the FBI long before the 2016 presidential race, new court documents show. This revelation shows that the FBI’s interests in the ties between Trump and Russia were not manufactured as an attempt to challenge his political legitimacy, but they instead stemmed from long-standing concerns about the very people he chose to surround himself with.

The Washington Post first reported on the new revelations contained in a court filing from the FBI, which came in response to Manafort’s efforts to suppress evidence investigators obtained in searches of his properties. Manafort had been indicted with a host of money laundering crimes and for working as an unregistered foreign agent for a Ukrainian politician who is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Continue reading “Paul Manafort Was Under FBI Scrutiny Before He Joined the Trump Campaign, Documents Show”

Five things to know about Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

The following article by Max Greenwood was posted on the Hill website April 7, 2018:

© Getty Images

The Trump administration’s decision to hit dozens of Russian oligarchs, companies and government officials with sanctions on Friday took direct aim at those close to President Vladimir Putin.

Among those hit by the penalties was Oleg Deripaska, a billionaire aluminum magnate who once had ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Continue reading “Five things to know about Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska”

U.S. judge appears dismissive of Manafort lawsuit challenging Mueller appointment

The following article by Spencer S. Hsu was posted on the Washington Post website April 4, 2018:

Paul Manafort arrived at court on April 4, for a hearing in his civil lawsuit against special counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. (Reuters)

A federal judge expressed doubts Wednesday about a lawsuit brought by Paul Manafort challenging special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s criminal probe of Russian interference in 2016 U.S. elections.

During a 90-minute hearing in Washington, Manafort’s defense team retreated from requests that the court void Mueller’s appointment and dismiss criminal charges already brought in the District and Virginia against President Trump’s former presidential campaign chairman. Continue reading “U.S. judge appears dismissive of Manafort lawsuit challenging Mueller appointment”

Manafort associate had Russian intelligence ties during 2016 campaign, prosecutors say

The following article by Spencer S. Hsu and Rosalind S. Helderman was posted on the Washington Post website March 28, 2018:

The FBI has found that a business associate of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had ongoing ties to Russian intelligence, including during the 2016 presidential campaign when Manafort and his deputy, Rick Gates, were in touch with the associate, according to new court filings.

The documents, filed late Tuesday by prosecutors for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, also allege that Gates has said he knew the associate was a former officer with the Russian military intelligence service. Continue reading “Manafort associate had Russian intelligence ties during 2016 campaign, prosecutors say”

Trump’s lawyer raised possibility of pardons for Manafort, Flynn last summer

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig, Josh Dawsey and Rosalind S. Helderman was posted on the Washington Post website March 28, 2018:

Professor Louis Seidman, an expert in constitutional law, explains how President Trump could use his executive privilege to pardon himself or others. (Video: Ashleigh Joplin/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

President Trump’s lawyer told attorneys representing Paul J. Manafort and Michael Flynn last year that the president might be willing to pardon his former aides if they faced criminal charges stemming from an investigation into Russia’s election interference, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

The president’s lead lawyer at the time, John Dowd, was described as floating the idea of a pardon for Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, and Flynn, the former national security adviser, at a vulnerable moment for the two men. Both Flynn and Manafort had contacts with Russians while advising Trump and were under investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team, but neither had been charged at that point. Continue reading “Trump’s lawyer raised possibility of pardons for Manafort, Flynn last summer”

Mueller subpoenas witness for documents tied to Trump, campaign associates: reports

The following article by Julia Manchester was posted on the Hill website March 4, 2018:

Credit: Getty Images

Special counsel Robert Mueller has requested various documents tied to President Trump and a number of his associates, according to multiple reports.

Mueller has subpoenaed a witness for all communications between that person and a number of people, including Trump, with the requested documents including emails, work documents, text messages, telephone logs and other records spanning back to November of 2015, NBC News reported.

Mueller wants communications between the witness and former White House communications director Hope Hicks, former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, campaign advisers Roger Stone and Carter Page, lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal bodyguard Keith Schiller, deputy campaign manager Richard Gates, campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to Axios, which first reported on the subpoena. Continue reading “Mueller subpoenas witness for documents tied to Trump, campaign associates: reports”

Gates agrees to testify against Manafort in Mueller probe: report

The following article by Jacqueline Thomsen was posted on the Hill website February 18, 2018:

Credit: Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Richard Gates, a former campaign adviser for President Trump, has agreed to testify against his former associate Paul Manafort as part of a plea deal with special counsel Robert Muellerthe Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

The former adviser and Manafort business associate is reportedly nearing a deal with Mueller’s team and will plead guilty to fraud charges in the next few days, according to the Times.

Gates and Manafort were both indicted in Mueller’s probe in October and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Continue reading “Gates agrees to testify against Manafort in Mueller probe: report”