Manafort accused of ‘lies and more lies’ in closing statement to jury

Federal prosecutors accused Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump’s former campaign chief, of being driven by greed as his trial on charges of bank fraud and tax offences entered its final phase.

Mr Manafort, 69, is accused of hiding millions of dollars in income he received for advising Ukrainian politicians.

As he began his closing statement to the jury yesterday, Greg Andres, for the prosecution, said: “Mr Manafort lied to keep more money when he had it, and he lied to get more money when he didn’t. This is a case about lies.”

Both sides have been told to limit their closing arguments to two hours, which means a verdict could be reached as soon as tomorrow at the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

The trial is the first to come from Robert Mueller’s federal investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, although the name Trump has been almost entirely absent from proceedings.

Mr Manafort’s defence rested its case a day earlier without calling a witness and without the defendant taking the stand.

During 10 days of evidence – including 27 witnesses and 338 exhibits – prosecutors made a case that Mr Manafort hid income worth at least $16 million (Dh58.7m) from tax authorities by routing it through foreign banks or disguising it as loans.

The money was paid by Ukraine MPs who hired his company for consulting work. But when the cash dried up, the prosecution alleged that he lied about his income to obtain loans to maintain his lifestyle.

Much of the detail was based on testimony provided by Rick Gates, Mr Manafort’s one-time deputy, whom the defence tried to portray as a liar and embezzler.

Although the charges predate Mr Manafort’s time in the Trump team, the courtroom drama has attracted Mr Trump’s attention.

He has dismissed the case as a witch hunt. “These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion – a Hoax,” he wrote on Twitter last week.