U.S. judge sends ex-Trump campaign head Manafort to jail pre-trial

By Sarah N. Lynch and Warren Strobel

 

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort arrives for arraignment on a third superseding indictment against him by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on charges of witness tampering, at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S. June 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A judge on Friday sent longtime Republican political operator and businessman Paul Manafort to jail pending trial after a charge of witness tampering, the latest episode in a slow fall from grace of a man who was President Donald Trump's campaign chairman in 2016.

 

Manafort, a target of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election, has been indicted on mostly financial-related charges, including conspiring to launder money and defraud the United States. He has pleaded not guilty.

 

Manafort had been on home confinement in Virginia, and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device. Last week, Mueller charged him in a new indictment with witness tampering, which Manafort pleaded not guilty to on Friday.

 

But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington revoked his bail, sending him to jail.

 

"I have no appetite for this," she said. "But in the end, I cannot turn a blind eye."

 

"You’ve abused the trust placed in you," she said.

 

Manafort turned around briefly to wave to his wife before heading out a door at the back of the crowded courtroom, court witnesses said.

 

Manafort's spokesman did not respond for comment on the decision.

 

Manafort's legal defence fund asked in a Twitter post, "Why is he the target of a partisan investigation?" echoing a theme of Trump and his supporters that the Mueller inquiry is a political witch hunt.

 

Trump said it was unfair to send Manafort to jail.

 

"Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort," Trump wrote on Twitter even though Manafort has not been sentenced - he has not been convicted on any of the charges. "Didn’t know Manafort was the head of the Mob," Trump wrote. "Very unfair!"

 

Mueller, whose investigation has overshadowed Trump's presidency, is looking into whether any Trump campaign associates coordinated with Russia and if Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe.

 

Moscow denies U.S. intelligence agency allegations that it interfered in the election and Trump denies collusion.

 

Manafort is due to go on trial in Washington in September and faces another trial on related charges in Virginia in July.

 

None of Manafort's charges refer to the allegations of Russian meddling and largely pre-date the two months he worked as Trump campaign head.

 

Manafort chaired the Republican's presidential campaign during the period when Trump, a former reality TV star, won his party's nomination.

 

Trump has the power to pardon his former aide of any federal crimes preemptively, as then-President Gerald Ford did for his predecessor Richard Nixon in 1974.

 

"When the whole thing is over, things might get cleaned up with some presidential pardons," Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani told the New York Daily News on Friday.

 

Manafort has ties to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine and a Russian oligarch close to the Kremlin.

 

The charges against him in Washington include failing to register as a foreign agent for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government under former President Viktor Yanukovych.

 

Manafort resigned in August 2016 following a news report he had received possibly illegal payments from Yanukovych's political party.

 

Legal experts say Mueller wants to keep applying pressure on Manafort to plead guilty and assist prosecutors with the probe.

 

“Either he can double down in his resolve to fight it or it’s the last straw and it breaks his will and he decides to work out a plea bargain,” Michael Zeldin, a former federal prosecutor, told Reuters.

 

A June 8 indictment accused Manafort and an aide with tampering with witnesses about their past lobbying for Ukraine's former pro-Russian government.

 

The indictment accused them of attempting to call, text and send encrypted messages starting in February to two people from a political discussion group - the so-called Hapsburg Group - that worked with Manafort to promote Ukraine's interests in a bid to sway their testimony.

 

Manafort’s lawyers have argued that the evidence suggesting he tampered with witnesses is thin.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-16

Rudy Giuliani says Mueller probe 'might get cleaned up' with 'presidential pardons' in light of Paul Manafort going to jail

In one of his most forceful attacks on the special counsel yet, Giuliani on Friday said the Russia investigation could get “cleaned up” with pardons from President Trump in light of Paul Manafort being sent to jail.

 

 

“When the whole thing is over, things might get cleaned up with some presidential pardons,” the former New York mayor told the Daily News.

Giuliani’s stunning remark came hours after a Washington, D.C., judge revoked Manafort’s bail and ordered him to remain behind bars while awaiting his September trial on charges relating to his shady pro-Russian business dealings in Ukraine.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-news-rudy-muller-pardons-trump-manafort-20180615-story.html

We should open a book on who’s next.

 

My money’s on Cohen with a side bet on Stone.

Guiliani is clearly off the rails. At some point, someone needs to slap him with a restraining order, and I don't mean all the women he's schtupping now, other than his third wife.

 

Hopefully, tRump can't pardon Manafort until after he is convicted of crimes?

That campaign aid is going to jail over issues non-related to Trump. 

3 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That campaign aid is going to jail over issues non-related to Trump. 

 

Campaign manager.

 

For longer than Steve Bannon or Kellyanne Conway.

 

He was more than a covfefe boy.

 

 

 

 

The noose is getting tighter and tighter around tRump's neck........

 

Manafort - 0 

Our Institutions - 1

26 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

That campaign aid is going to jail over issues non-related to Trump. 

He’s had his bail removed for ‘conspiring with a Russian agent to interfere with witnesses to the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the US election’

 

Absolutely nothing to do with Trump ?!

 

The charges Manafort faces carry a total of over 300 year’s prison time.

 

OR

 

Manafort (Trump Campaign Manager) could cut a plea deal and become a cooperating witness.

 

Absolutely nothing to do with Trump ?!

 

OR 

 

Trump’s attourney is floating the idea Trump might pardon Manafort.

 

Absolutely nothing to do with Trump ?!

 

 

Manafort had aspirations to become Trump's Chief of Staff; a la Jim Baker.

 

Manafort has known Trump for 30+ years, and he owns a condo in Trump Tower/NYC.

 

Now maybe he can help Jared with "Prison Reform"?

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/15/politics/michael-cohen-cooperation-federal-investigators/index.html

 

 

Why is Trump telling the lie

 

“He [Manafort] worked for me, what, for 49 days or something? A very short period of time.”

 

Manafort worked for the campaign for over five months and continued as an advisor to Trump throughout the post election transition.

 

There’s a reason why Trump is telling this blatant lie.

 

 

The truth will (despite Trump’s best efforts) out!

Edited June 16, 20188 yr by Chomper Higgot

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a middle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

6 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a middle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

That’s one of the reasons to refuse/remove bail.

 

Another is the defendant interferes or attempts to interfere with witnesses or evidence.

 

Your man made his own prison bed.

9 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a middle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

If you think conspiring to obstruct justice by witness tampering is a threat to the rule of law, hence to society, then yes. 

Edited June 16, 20188 yr by bristolboy

9 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a middle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

 

Witness tampering is a felony.  Outside of jail, he has better opportunities to continue to do so.

"

If you think conspiring to obstruct justice by witness tampering is a threat to society, then yes. "

 

Therefore, (I am not a lawyer) my opinion is based upon years of law enforcement experience but I have never heard of Denial of Bail for obstruction of justice(this can be broadly defined) and "Witness Tampering" (this can also be broadly defined).  Of course I have also witnessed defendants granted bail for violent crimes.  I guess was wrong for all these years and the legal experts on TV have just educated me.  

 

1 minute ago, sqwakvfr said:

"

If you think conspiring to obstruct justice by witness tampering is a threat to society, then yes. "

 

Therefore, (I am not a lawyer) my opinion is based upon years of law enforcement experience but I have never heard of Denial of Bail for obstruction of justice(this can be broadly defined) and "Witness Tampering" (this can also be broadly defined).  Of course I have also witnessed defendants granted bail for violent crimes.  I guess was wrong for all these years and the legal experts on TV have just educated me.  

 

Do you understand there is probable cause that he tried to get potential witnesses to lie for him? And bail is granted or should be based on the likelihood of someone committing further offenses. And it wasn't just legal experts on TV who came to this conclusion. It was a judge. As she pointed out, she had no way to guarantee that he wouldn't do it again. And given that the did this despite the scrutiny he is under, he left her no rational choice. You can't allow someone to tamper with witnesses. That seems so obvious I wonder it even has to be explained.

And I don't know where you enforced law, but tampering with witnesses is a serious crime.

Witness Tampering is a serious crime.  Just like this guy who was denied a Bail Reduction:

Robert Fuentes, Jr., was denied a reduction of bail on Wednesday in Great Falls due to the seriousness of the charge against him.

Fuentes is charged with one count of tampering with a witness or informants.

According to court documents, Fuentes is friends with Michael Echeverria, who is in jail on assault and kidnapping charges.

In September, Fuentes contacted a friend of the victim in the Echeverrria case asking to speak with her.

The victim called Fuentes from GFPD detective Katie Cunningham’s phone and he told her that the "family is willing to do whatever you want to alleviate this."

The defense was asking for the bail to be set at $10,000, and the state asked to keep it at $75,000 due to the seriousness of the case.

Judge John Parker kept the bail as is and stated that if they can find a house arrest program in California, he will re-reconsider the request.

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Witness Tampering is a serious crime.  Just like this guy who was denied a Bail Reduction:

Robert Fuentes, Jr., was denied a reduction of bail on Wednesday in Great Falls due to the seriousness of the charge against him.

Fuentes is charged with one count of tampering with a witness or informants.

According to court documents, Fuentes is friends with Michael Echeverria, who is in jail on assault and kidnapping charges.

In September, Fuentes contacted a friend of the victim in the Echeverrria case asking to speak with her.

The victim called Fuentes from GFPD detective Katie Cunningham’s phone and he told her that the "family is willing to do whatever you want to alleviate this."

The defense was asking for the bail to be set at $10,000, and the state asked to keep it at $75,000 due to the seriousness of the case.

Judge John Parker kept the bail as is and stated that if they can find a house arrest program in California, he will re-reconsider the request.

And your point is?

6 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Witness Tampering is a serious crime.  Just like this guy who was denied a Bail Reduction:

Robert Fuentes, Jr., was denied a reduction of bail on Wednesday in Great Falls due to the seriousness of the charge against him.

Fuentes is charged with one count of tampering with a witness or informants.

According to court documents, Fuentes is friends with Michael Echeverria, who is in jail on assault and kidnapping charges.

In September, Fuentes contacted a friend of the victim in the Echeverrria case asking to speak with her.

The victim called Fuentes from GFPD detective Katie Cunningham’s phone and he told her that the "family is willing to do whatever you want to alleviate this."

The defense was asking for the bail to be set at $10,000, and the state asked to keep it at $75,000 due to the seriousness of the case.

Judge John Parker kept the bail as is and stated that if they can find a house arrest program in California, he will re-reconsider the request.

Different set of facts, different kinds of defendants with different groups of contacts, and, more simply, different cases.

 

However, it's an interesting question. Thank you!

Edited June 16, 20188 yr by helpisgood
grammar

6 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

"

If you think conspiring to obstruct justice by witness tampering is a threat to society, then yes. "

 

Therefore, (I am not a lawyer) my opinion is based upon years of law enforcement experience but I have never heard of Denial of Bail for obstruction of justice(this can be broadly defined) and "Witness Tampering" (this can also be broadly defined).  Of course I have also witnessed defendants granted bail for violent crimes.  I guess was wrong for all these years and the legal experts on TV have just educated me.  

 

18 U.S.C. Section 1512(b):

(b)Whoever knowingly uses intimidation, threatens, or corruptly persuades another person, or attempts to do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person, with intent to—

(1) influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person in an officialproceeding;
…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, orboth.

 

Manafort has very deep pockets and has hired the best attorneys his money can buy. The ‘TVF legal experts’ might irk you, but if Manafort’s high priced attorneys can’t keep him out on bail you ought at least to ask yourself why.

 

Manafort is toast.

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

That campaign aid is going to jail over issues non-related to Trump. 

He campaign CHAIRMAN.

Put in jail. Lose key.

 

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a midedle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

Manafort was not denied bail he was already out on bail. He then broke the conditions of his bail. 

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

"

If you think conspiring to obstruct justice by witness tampering is a threat to society, then yes. "

 

Therefore, (I am not a lawyer) my opinion is based upon years of law enforcement experience but I have never heard of Denial of Bail for obstruction of justice(this can be broadly defined) and "Witness Tampering" (this can also be broadly defined).  Of course I have also witnessed defendants granted bail for violent crimes.  I guess was wrong for all these years and the legal experts on TV have just educated me.  

 

The man was confined to his home, but he used his phone using coded messages to try to influence witnesses memories. One of the witnesses complained to the FBI. And you still don't see anything wrong with this picture? What part of law enforcement where you in, and in what country? You cannot tamper or threaten witnesses in the USA. Without that law what would be the point of having trials? 

5 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Campaign manager.

 

For longer than Steve Bannon or Kellyanne Conway.

 

He was more than a covfefe boy.

 

 

 

 

 

But the actual charges do not relate to his role of campaign manager do they?

 

It seems they were looking hard for anything and found something.

 

Maybe they should have been so enthusiastic when looking at Hilary and some of her staff. Ah, but good old Bill fixed that with his little side of the runway meeting with the then AG.

 

Notice how that question of the German government donating many millions to the Clinton's charity for use in Africa rather than German support agencies just before she lost the election never got answered or explored? Wonder if Hilary would've been hard on the subject of Germany's NATO contributions if she'd won?

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

But the actual charges do not relate to his role of campaign manager do they?

 

It seems they were looking hard for anything and found something.

 

Maybe they should have been so enthusiastic when looking at Hilary and some of her staff. Ah, but good old Bill fixed that with his little side of the runway meeting with the then AG.

 

Notice how that question of the German government donating many millions to the Clinton's charity for use in Africa rather than German support agencies just before she lost the election never got answered or explored? Wonder if Hilary would've been hard on the subject of Germany's NATO contributions if she'd won?

What about Hillary? What about this? What about that? All you've got are off topic DEFLECTIONS. 

 

Next ... 

3 hours ago, Anak Nakal said:

He campaign CHAIRMAN.

Put in jail. Lose key.

 

Yes and "trump" (as usual and expected) blatantly LIED about how long Manafort was involved in his campaign. Throw him under the bus, didn't even know the guy, just how STUPID are loyal "trump" supporters? What level and volume of lies will get to them? I know. No level. Deplorable and irredeemable fits very well for this hard core white nationalist base.

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

That campaign aid is going to jail over issues non-related to Trump. 

Campaign "AID" ?? You are trolling on a scale that is off the charts. Without Manafort Trump would never have had the strategy to win the nomination. The ONLY reason Trump got the nomination from the Republican party was because of Manafort who was the campaign CHAIRMAN.

 

I find the whole thing completely laughable. Crime is crime no matter how long ago it was and if crimes are discovered as part of another investigation then that is tough crap. People say that Mueller is looking for something! How so? His job is to look at potential crime in the Russian investigation, if as part of that investigation other crimes are discovered then what do you expect law enforcement to do? Say "yes they are crimes but nothing to do with this, you may as well let him off' ?

 

Trump says he 'feels sorry for Manafort because the investigators have gone back 12 years' !!!! Does 12 years ago make the crime less of  crime? Why is Cosby being prosecuted? Isn't it a bit unfair that investigators are going back 30 years?

 

All Trump supporters are screaming as their mantra is "it's nothing to do with Trump". Do you seriously think this investigation by Mueller will fizzle out with a nothing burger? Mueller has not even started yet, he is definitely saving the best till last, and WHEN it is shown that Trump has evaded tax, committed fraud, laundered money, committed mob crimes, obstruction of justice etc etc etc what will you say? But but but it's nothing to do with Russia? Trump should NEVER have entered public life. Crime is crime and you as a republican the "party of law and order" (what a joke that is), should be saying 'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime'. If this were Obama under investigation you would already be screaming for the electric chair.

 

 

4 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Criminal Defendants who are denied bail before trial have to pose a threat to society.  So a middle aged man accused of committing  non-violent crimes is a threat to society?  The power of a Federal Judge is absolute?  

The corruption of the system of justice and law and order IS a threat to society.

 

"The power of a Federal Judge is absolute? " rather a silly thing to say under the circumstances.

Yes.  The experts on TV are all correct.  1) Equal Justice Under the Law 2) Innocent Until Proven Guilty 3) Federal Judges are appointed for Life.