A New York state judge blocked prosecutors from pursuing a mortgage fraud case against President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
Manafort, 70, had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction related to crimes uncovered in the investigation by special counsel Robert Muller. Additionally, he was convicted of tax and bank fraud in federal court.
New York prosecutors were hoping to nail Manafort on similar charges in state court to prevent President Trump from pardoning his former campaign chairman. If Manafort were found guilty at the state level, New York could keep him in state custody even if Trump pardoned him for his federal crimes. All pardoning power at the state level is given to the governor.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley tossed out the prosecutors’ case on Wednesday morning. Wiley claimed that Manafort had already been convicted for the crimes the prosecution wished to hold him responsible for and that allowing such a case would abuse his constitutional protection against double jeopardy.
President Trump hasn’t made any decisions related to Manafort’s case and has not granted a pardon, despite the fears of the New York prosecutors. Late last week, Manafort suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. He was sentenced in March to serve nearly seven years behind bars for his crimes.
