Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, found guilty on 8 counts of fraud
KAREN FREIFELD, NATHAN LAYNE
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
REUTERS
August 21 at 10:18 AM ET
Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, found guilty on 8 counts of fraud
Cohen has not reached a plea agreement, but one could be reached as early as Tuesday, NBC News said.
UKRAINE MONEY
During two weeks of testimony, prosecutors presented evidence that Manafort evaded U.S. income taxes on $16 million he earned as a political consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine and then lied to banks to secure $20 million in loans after his Ukraine income dried up.
Manafort worked for five months on Trump’s 2016 campaign. He was campaign chairman for three months, during which Trump was formally anointed as the Republican nominee at the party’s convention.
In a break with convention, Trump weighed in on the trial on Friday, calling the case against Manafort “very sad” and lauding his former associate as a “very good person.”
As president, Trump has the power to pardon Manafort. He has already issued a number of pardons, including for a political ally, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
The Manafort jury started deliberating on Thursday and Aaron Wolfson, a former prosecutor in New York, said it was not uncommon for juries to be out “five, six or seven days” in complicated cases.
“I think the jurors all know how serious this case is and they want to take the time and go through the evidence and the charges,” he said.
Manafort’s former right-hand man, Rick Gates, testified for the prosecution. Gates, also a former Trump campaign aide, was indicted along with Manafort but pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government.
Jurors were given 388 exhibits, including some that showed how Manafort spent money on luxuries including a $15,000 ostrich jacket, a $21,000 watch and $6 million in U.S. real estate.
The defense rested its case without presenting any witnesses, although Manafort attorney Kevin Downing raised credibility issues in his cross-examination of Gates.
KAREN FREIFELD, NATHAN LAYNE
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
REUTERS
August 21 at 10:18 AM ET
Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, found guilty on 8 counts of fraud
Cohen has not reached a plea agreement, but one could be reached as early as Tuesday, NBC News said.
UKRAINE MONEY
During two weeks of testimony, prosecutors presented evidence that Manafort evaded U.S. income taxes on $16 million he earned as a political consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine and then lied to banks to secure $20 million in loans after his Ukraine income dried up.
Manafort worked for five months on Trump’s 2016 campaign. He was campaign chairman for three months, during which Trump was formally anointed as the Republican nominee at the party’s convention.
In a break with convention, Trump weighed in on the trial on Friday, calling the case against Manafort “very sad” and lauding his former associate as a “very good person.”
As president, Trump has the power to pardon Manafort. He has already issued a number of pardons, including for a political ally, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
The Manafort jury started deliberating on Thursday and Aaron Wolfson, a former prosecutor in New York, said it was not uncommon for juries to be out “five, six or seven days” in complicated cases.
“I think the jurors all know how serious this case is and they want to take the time and go through the evidence and the charges,” he said.
Manafort’s former right-hand man, Rick Gates, testified for the prosecution. Gates, also a former Trump campaign aide, was indicted along with Manafort but pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government.
Jurors were given 388 exhibits, including some that showed how Manafort spent money on luxuries including a $15,000 ostrich jacket, a $21,000 watch and $6 million in U.S. real estate.
The defense rested its case without presenting any witnesses, although Manafort attorney Kevin Downing raised credibility issues in his cross-examination of Gates.
