Rick Gates, the former business associate for Paul Manafort, will testify next in the trial against him.
Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Manafort, told the court that Gates would be called to the stand next. The jury reconvened Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the fifth day of Manafort’s trial. He is facing charges of bank and tax fraud.
Gates is expected to be the star witness for the prosecution. It is believed he will provide a look at how Manafort allegedly concealed millions of dollars he made while working in Ukraine in off-shore accounts and doctored documents to obtain bank loans worth millions.
[Related: Jury gets peek into Manafort’s lavish lifestyle, discrepancies in financial records]
Prosecutors shocked the courtroom last week when they suggested Gates may not testify. But the government quickly walked that back Thursday, as prosecutor Greg Andres said they had “every intention” of calling Gates to the stand.
Manafort’s lawyers contend that Gates manipulated Manafort to enrich himself and have tried to extract from witnesses in the case the extent of his involvement in Manafort’s business and financial dealings.
The revelation that Gates could be next to take the stand came as Downing cross-examined Cindy Laporta, a tax preparer who helped prepare Manafort’s taxes.
Laporta was one of five witnesses to receive immunity from the government. She told the court during cross-examination that while she contacted Gates with matters related to Manafort’s taxes, “in most instances, it was clear that Mr. Manafort knew what was going on.”
Gates was charged as a co-conspirator in the case but accepted a plea deal.
