Blow for Trump as ex-aide set to testify over links to Russia
‘Respect for a brave man!’
DONALD Trump was dealt a blow last night after it emerged his disgraced ex-campaign chief is prepared to help prosecutors investigating claims of collusion with the Russians.
Weeks after the President praised his loyalty, Paul Manafort appeared in court to admit two criminal charges after a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The charges – conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice – relate to his murky Washington lobbying work for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians and not to Mr Trump.
however, as a former member of the President’s inner circle he could provide crucial information to the Mueller probe into Trump campaign ties to Russia in the 2016 election.
Manafort, who will hand over four homes and millions of dollars in the deal, is already awaiting a probable prison sentence after being convicted of money laundering and tax evasion.
A court heard how he hid tens of millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts, spending much of his fortune on luxury goods including Mercedes cars and an ostrich skin jacket.
he will now avoid a second trial that was due to start next week in Washington. Manafort is the sixth person to agree a deal with Mr Mueller and potentially the most significant. he was called in to attend a now notorious meeting at Trump Tower in New York in June 2016 between senior campaign aides and a Russian lawyer thought to be offering dirt on hillary Clinton.
Mr Trump, who insists the Mueller investigation is a ‘witch hunt’, has attempted to distance himself from 69-year-old Manafort. Prosecutors revealed in court yesterday that they had had a successful meeting with the veteran Republican political consultant, in which he offered them information they considered valuable. They did not specify what information or whether it was relevant to the Russia inquiry.
Mr Trump’s aides tried distance the President from Manafort’s plea deal. ‘This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 campaign. It is totally unrelated,’ said spokesman Sarah Sanders.
Mr Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said: ‘Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong.’
Manafort has previously been a staunch Trump loyalist and insisted he would never cooperate with the probe. After his conviction last month, Mr Trump tweeted his praise for a man who – unlike his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen – had refused to help Mr Mueller.
‘I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family,’ said Mr Trump. ‘Such respect for a brave man!’ Manafort is understood to have agreed to hand over documents, testify in court and have interviews with Mr Mueller at which he would waive his right to a lawyer.
Mr Mueller has already secured guilty pleas from ex-Trump national security adviser Mike Flynn, former Manafort business partner Rick Gates, ex-campaign aide George Papadopoulos and Dutch lawyer Alex van der Zwaan.
he has also laid charges against two dozen Russian nationals and organisations for allegedly meddling in the election.