President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will reportedly not be moved to Rikers Island after all.
Earlier this month, a New York state judge granted a request from New York City District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. to transfer the 70-year-old Manafort, who is already serving time for federal crimes, to Rikers Island while he awaits trial on a separate state case. Rikers Island is a New York prison notorious for violence.
But last week, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen sent a letter to prosecutors in Manhattan letting them know that he was monitoring where Manafort would be held.
Federal prison officials then told the district attorney’s office Monday that he would not be held at Rikers while awaiting trial, but rather will be held in federal custody in Manhattan or Pennsylvania, according to the New York Times.
Manafort was caught up in special counsel Robert Mueller’s 22-month investigation, which led to him being found guilty on eight financial crimes in Virginia and accepting a plea deal in Washington, D.C. As part of the agreement, he admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy against the U.S. and one count of obstructing justice.
