Smoky Mountain Journal -Former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort Pleads Not Guilty To New Round Of Mueller Charges In Russian Probe

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty Wednesday to five counts from a new round of charges in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe, in his first appearance since a former associate began cooperating with the government.

Last week, a federal grand jury returned new charges against Manafort and ex-associate Rick Gates as part of the probe into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign figures during the 2016 electionThe superseding indictment included conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as an agent of a foreign principal and providing false statements.

Manafort pleaded not guilty Wednesday during an appearance in federal court in Washington, D.C. Manafort’s trial date is now set for Sept. 17, 2018.

Paul Manafort leaves Federal District Court in Washington, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, and Manafort's business associate Rick Gates have pleaded not guilty to felony charges of conspiracy against the United States and other counts. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty to the charges in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's superseding indictment brought against him last week. (AP)

Manafort had previously pleaded not guilty in the case, but the latest indictment, which mirrored the charges filed against him last October, required him to formally enter a second plea.

He also is expected in court Friday afternoon in Alexandria, Va., where he faces additional charges.

On Wednesday, Judge Amy Berman Jackson scolded Manafort for making a public statement last week about Gates' guilty plea.

She reminded him of an order she issued in October restricting all parties in the case from making public statements.

Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing told the court he planned to file a motion opposing the court's interpretation of a Supreme Court case referenced in her order restricting public statements in the case.

Rick Gates departs Federal District Court, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, in Washington. Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman for President Donald Trump, and his business associate Rick Gates were in federal court on Wednesday for a routine status conference. Both were indicted in October on charges stemming from foreign lobbying work in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Former Trump campaign associate Rick Gates pleaded guilty to charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and faces up to 71 months in federal prison. (AP)

In the statement last week, Manafort said: “I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue piled up charges contained in the indictments against me.”

Mueller, meanwhile, moved to dismiss a slew of charges against Gates on Tuesday in the wake of his earlier guilty plea.

The filing indicates Gates’ cooperation with the special counsel team could be yielding good information. Gates has intimate knowledge of Manafort’s years of political work consulting in Ukraine, as well as other events that have sparked the interest of federal investigators.

Gates’ guilty plea pertained to the charges filed against him in October in Washington, D.C., for which he still faces up to 71 months in prison.




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Source: Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:36 PM

Former Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort Pleads Not Guilty To New Round Of Mueller Charges In Russian Probe
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty Wednesday to five counts from a new round of charges in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe, in his first appearance since a former associate began cooperating with the government. Last week, a federal grand jury returned new charges against Manafort and ex-associate Rick Gates as part of the probe into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign figures during the 2016 electionThe superseding indictment included conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as an agent of a foreign principal and providing false statements. Manafort pleaded not guilty Wednesday during an appearance in federal court in Washington, D.C. Manafort’s trial date is now set for Sept. 17, 2018. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty to the charges in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's superseding indictment brought against him last week. (AP) Manafort had previously pleaded not guilty in the case, but the latest indictment, which mirrored the charges filed against him last October, required him to formally enter a second plea. He also is expected in court Friday afternoon in Alexandria, Va., where he faces additional charges. On Wednesday, Judge Amy Berman Jackson scolded Manafort for making a public statement last week about Gates' guilty plea. She reminded him of an order she issued in October restricting all parties in the case from making public statements. "I understand the impulse," Jackson said. Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing told the court he planned to file a motion opposing the court's interpretation of a Supreme Court case referenced in her order restricting public statements in the case. Former Trump campaign associate Rick Gates pleaded guilty to charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and faces up to 71 months in federal prison. (AP) In the statement last week, Manafort said: “I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue piled up charges contained in the indictments against me.” Mueller, meanwhile, moved to dismiss a slew of charges against Gates on Tuesday in the wake of his earlier guilty plea. The filing indicates Gates’ cooperation with the special counsel team could be yielding good information. Gates has intimate knowledge of Manafort’s years of political work consulting in Ukraine, as well as other events that have sparked the interest of federal investigators. Gates’ guilty plea pertained to the charges filed against him in October in Washington, D.C., for which he still faces up to 71 months in prison. The Associated Press contributed to this report.