Previous Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty in federal court Friday as part of a plea arrangement that involves cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and enables him to prevent a 2nd trial.
" I plead guilty," Manafort, 69, informed U.S. District Judge Amy Berman in Washington.
Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann informed the judge that Manafort's deal consists of a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, who are examining whether any Trump associates contributed in Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. That might include interviews with district attorneys and testifying in court.
A defense attorney for Manafort told Fox News the deal consists of "complete cooperation."
However, the president's group minimized the significance of Manafort's plea.
" Once again an examination has concluded with a plea having absolutely nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump project," Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said in a statement to Fox News. "The reason: the president did nothing wrong."
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday that Manafort's choice is "totally unrelated" to the president.
Manafort, in a trial set to start Sept. 24, had been facing 7 counts of foreign lobbying violations and witness tampering in federal court in Washington.
In August, in a separate trial in Virginia, a federal jury discovered Manafort guilty on 8 counts of federal tax and banking criminal activities.
Manafort confronts 10 years on these charges in Washington. He still deals with sentencing for his guilty verdict in Virginia.
As part of this contract, Manafort has forfeited several savings account and numerous homes in New York. Nevertheless, he will keep his homes in Florida and Virginia, where his family live.
Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing told reporters after the court hearing, it was a "tough day" for his client, "who has actually accepted responsibility." He stated Manafort "wanted to make sure that his family was able to stay safe and live a good life."
The case was brought by Mueller's group, which is probing possible criminal offenses connected to the 2016 election. However Manafort has actually not been accused of anything related to the project.
In August, Manafort's bank and tax scams conviction made him the very first project partner of Trump found guilty by a jury as part of Mueller's probe.
" I feel extremely severely for Paul Manafort," Trump told press reporters after the August verdict, adding that it had "nothing to do with Russian collusion." The president has actually called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt."
Trump likewise stated he had "such respect" for Manafort and called him a "brave guy." In remarks translated to imply he was open to pardoning Manafort, Trump commended Manafort, saying he "refused to break" and "make up stories in order to get a deal."
In the Virginia trial, prosecutors stated Manafort hid earnings made from political work overseas from the IRS while fraudulently getting millions in bank loans. Manafort had actually pleaded innocent to all counts.
The prosecution's star witness, Rick Gates-- Manafort's previous service partner who struck a plea deal to cooperate with the government-- testified throughout the trial that he and Manafort dedicated bank and tax scams together.
Downing, Manafort's lawyer, suggested after the guilty verdict in August that Manafort was open to striking an offer prior to the 2nd trial.
"He is assessing all of his options at this moment," Downing said of Manafort.
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