Special counsel Robert Mueller on Monday accused former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of trying to tamper with potential witnesses ahead of his trial before a federal court in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors for the special counsel’s office have asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to “revoke or revise” the conditions of Manafort’s house arrest given the “violation,” per court documents, which could send him to jail as he awaits trial.
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“That violation triggers a statutory presumption that no conditions or combinations of release conditions will assure the safety of the community and of others,” the filing reads.
Prosecutors allege Manafort “repeatedly contacted” two former employees who helped him with his political consultancy work in Ukraine.
He phoned them and sent them encrypted text messages, seeking assistance in securing “materially false testimony” about the Hapsburg group, a group of European leaders Manafort onced used in his lobbying efforts on behalf of Ukraine.
Manafort, 69, was indicted by Mueller — who took over the federal Russia investigation in May 2017 — in both Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
In Washington, Manafort has been charged with money laundering and lying about his lobbying work. In Virginia, Manafort has been charged with bank and tax fraud.
Manafort has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson, the judge presiding over his D.C. case, set bail for $10 million. One of his bail conditions was that he not commit any further crimes, but tampering with witnesses is an offense itself.
His trial in D.C. is expected to start Sept. 7, while his Virginia case will begin July 10.
Friends of Manafort launched a legal defense fund on May 31 to defray the mounting costs incurred as part of his legal fight.
GOVERNMENT’S MOTION TO REVOKE OR REVISE DEFENDANT PAUL J. MANAFORT, JR.’S CURRENT ORDER OF PRETRIAL RELEASE… by Washington Examiner on Scribd
