New York preps state charges for Manafort in case of a Trump pardon: report
The New York County district attorney’s office has prepared charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in case he receives a presidential pardon, Bloomberg News reported Friday.
Two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News that District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has prepared tax and other charges against him.
{mosads}Manafort, 69, was convicted of eight bank and tax fraud charges over the summer in a criminal case that sprang from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Separately, he pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges in September for lobbying for politicians supportive of Russia in Ukraine.
Manafort agreed to fully cooperate with prosecutors as part of a deal regarding his foreign lobbying charges, but Mueller said in November that Manafort violated his plea agreement by lying to investigators.
Manafort filed a response that is under seal to Mueller’s allegation in January.
Manafort will be sentenced in Virginia for the bank and tax fraud charges on March 8. Prosecutors recommended he spend at least 19 years in prison and pay a fine of between $50,000 and $24.4 million.
New York prosecutors reportedly began investigating Manafort in 2017, before he was charged by Mueller.
New York prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
Trump has repeatedly expressed sympathy for Manafort after he was found guilty in August, and has refused to rule out a pardon.
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” – make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
Mueller is investigating whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, including whether the foreign power colluded with the Trump campaign.
Lydia Wheeler contributed reporting.
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