Manafort jailed after alleged witness tampering
Sending the former Trump campaign chairman to jail could boost the pressure on him to cut a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller.
By JOSH GERSTEIN 06/15/2018 11:54 AM EDT Updated 06/15/2018 11:56 AM EDT
A judge has jailed former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort after prosecutors claimed he attempted to tamper with the testimony of two potential witnesses in a criminal case he faces over a Ukraine-related lobbying campaign.
Sending the 69-year-old Manafort to jail could boost the pressure on him to cut a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, who’s main task is to probe alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. However, it’s unclear what information the former Trump campaign chief could provide that would interest prosecutors enough to offer significant concessions.
The possibility of a pardon from President Donald Trump has also altered the typical plea-negotiation dynamic, seemingly leaving Manafort more willing to risk convictions that could result in the equivalent of a life sentence.
Manafort had been under house arrest at his Alexandria, Va., condo since October, when he was first charged by Mueller’s team with money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/15/manafort-jailed-after-alleged-witness-tampering-648988
