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Paul Manafort: Trump's ex-chair hit with new obstruction of justice charges Paul Manafort: Trump's ex-chair hit with new obstruction of justice charges
(35 minutes later)
A federal grand jury handed down new charges Friday against former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who already faces five felony charges and was accused in court documents Monday of attempted witness tampering in his case.A federal grand jury handed down new charges Friday against former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who already faces five felony charges and was accused in court documents Monday of attempted witness tampering in his case.
The latest charges against Manfort came less than four months after his former business associate, Richard Gates III, agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The latest charges against Manafort came less than four months after his former business associate, Richard Gates III, agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Manafort has doggedly asserted his innocence as prosecutors have released waves of evidence of an alleged scheme by him, Gates and others to launder money they were paid for political consulting work in Ukraine, Europe and elsewhere. The government accuses Manafort of dodging taxes, failing to register as a foreign agent while working in Washington on behalf of foreign governments and other charges. The government moved to revoke Manafort’s bail on Monday, alleging that he had sought to influence witnesses in his case with contacts by phone and through an encrypted messaging program.
Manafort did not immediately release a statement. Prosecutors backed up the allegation with Friday’s charges, alleging that Manafort and a Russian-Ukrainian associate, Konstantin Kilimnick, “conspired to corruptly persuade” two unnamed witnesses in the case to alter or cancel planned testimony.
Manafort was charged Friday with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. He was previously charged with conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, and false statements. Manafort has doggedly asserted his innocence as prosecutors have released waves of evidence of an alleged scheme by him, Gates and others to launder money they were paid for political consulting work in Ukraine, Europe and elsewhere. The government accuses Manafort of dodging taxes, failing to register as a foreign agent while working in Washington on behalf of foreign governments, and other charges.
A spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller issued a statement confirming: “A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia has returned a third superseding indictment today against Paul J Manafort Jr, 69, of Alexandria, Virginia, which adds Konstantin Kilimnik, 48, of Moscow, Russia, as a defendant and charges both defendants with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. Manafort did not immediately release a statement. The White House did not immediately comment on the new charges.
“The five previously charged counts against Manafort remain unchanged: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading FARA statements, and false statements.” Trump routinely calls the Mueller investigation a “witch-hunt” and recently issued high-profile pardons to federal convicts that some have taken as a potential message to former associates targeted by the Mueller investigation. If convicted on the charges, Manafort, 69, could spend the rest of his life in prison. Alternatively, he may be able to strike a deal with prosecutors in which he would testify in the larger investigation of the Trump campaign in exchange for a reduction in the charges he faces.
Kilimnik is a longtime associate of Manafort. Federal prosecutors are under pressure as well, faced with the possibility that Trump could try to extinguish the case by firing Mueller or justice department officials overseeing the investigation.
The five previously charged counts against Manafort remain unchanged: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, making false and misleading FARA statements, and false statements.
Kilimnick oversaw an office for one of Manafort’s companies in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, and has been tied to Russian intelligence.
Paul ManafortPaul Manafort
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Trump-Russia investigationTrump-Russia investigation
Trump administrationTrump administration
RussiaRussia
EuropeEurope
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