August 22, 2018

Paul Manafort is found GUILTY of eight counts of fraud



Paul Manafort is found GUILTY of eight counts of fraud after first trial brought by Robert Mueller's prosecutors - and now faces years in prison for multi-million dollar scam 


Jury of six men and six women return verdict on Paul Manafort at end of the first trial brought by Robert Mueller's special counsel probe 

He is found guilty of eight of the ten counts of fraud on the fourth day of deliberations - the jury is deadlocked on the other ten 

Prosecutors had outlined how he used tax and bank fraud to fund a lavish lifestyle, with his spending including a now notorious $15,000 ostrich jacket 

Guilty verdict on 69-year-old will increase pressure on Trump and comes at start of intense campaigning for mid-term elections 

Jury defied Trump's extraordinary description of Manafort as 'a very good person' and trial as 'sad' to reach their verdict 

Manafort now faces possibility of a lengthy prison sentence from Judge T.S. Ellis III who will ask for background reports and recommendations from both sides 

Manafort remains in custody ahead of a second trial in Washington D.C. next month on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent


  • Manafort could be tried again on those 10 counts if prosecutors choose; In the trial in D.C. he faces charges of money laundering, witness tampering, lying under oath, and not registering as a foreign agent. [AP / Matthew Barakat]
  • Five people in Trump’s orbit during the 2016 campaign — his onetime national security adviser, campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, personal attorney, and foreign policy adviser — have now either pleaded guilty or been found guilty of federal crimes. [Vox / Alex Ward]