The federal judge overseeing the case against Paul Manafort in Washington said Tuesday that special counsel Robert Mueller must reveal the identities of the unnamed people he’s hoping to use in the case against the former Trump campaign chairman.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Mueller must turn over the names of any individuals or entities alleged to be the “others, including former senior foreign politicians” whom Manafort “caused and aided and abetted” to act as unregistered foreign agents on his behalf. Jackson said those names, which Manafort’s side has been demanding, must be given to Manafort’s defense team by Friday.
“[The] defendant is obliged to prepare for a complex trial with a voluminous record within a relatively short period of time, and he should not have to be surprised at a later point by the addition of a new name or allegation,” Jackson wrote.
Manafort is due in court Friday, when Jackson will hear arguments from Mueller’s team why she should revoke his bail and jail him due to allegations he sought to tamper with potential witnesses in the case against him.
Last week, Mueller unveiled a superseding indictment against Manafort, charging him with obstruction. Russian businessman Konstantin Kilimnik was also charged with obstruction.
The indictment alleges that Manafort and Kilimnik “knowingly and intentionally attempted to corruptly persuade” two people — connected with the Hapsburg Group, a firm Manafort worked with while lobbying for Ukrainian clients — “with intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding.”
Manafort has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in Washington, which include conspiracy against the U.S.
Manafort has also pleaded not guilty to tax and bank fraud charges in Virginia, where he is expected to go on trial in July. The Washington trial begins Sept. 17.
