Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort Of Breaching Plea Deal, Lying To FBI
Special Counsel Robert Mueller accused Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman to President Trump of lying after agreeing to a plea deal. Manafort agreed to cooperate with the investigation into Vladimir Putin led election interference in 2016.
In August of this year, Manafort was convicted on eight counts of bank and tax fraud in Virginia. The following month he plead guilty to two charges of conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice. His agreement was to “cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly.” In exchange for Manafort’s cooperation, the government would request he receives no longer than 10 years in prison for the 20 counts attached to him.
While Mueller did not specify what lies Manafort told, he did state the new lies amount to new crimes. From the joint status report:
“After signing the plea agreement, Manafort committed federal crimes by lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Counsel’s Office on a variety of subject matters, which constitute breaches of the agreement. The government will file a detailed sentencing submission to the Probation Department and the Court in advance of sentencing that sets forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies, including those after signing the plea agreement herein.”
Within the document, Manafort’s legal team responded to the allegations:
“After signing the plea agreement, Manafort met with the government on numerous occasion and answered the government’s questions. Manafort has provided information to the government in an effort to live up to his cooperation obligations. He believes he has provided truthful information and does not agree with government’s characterization or that he has breached the agreement. Given the conflict in the parties’ positions, there is no reason to delay the sentencing herein, and he asks the Court to set a sentencing date in this matter.”
Surprisingly, Manafort’s team agreed that with the plea deal falling apart the federal court in Washington, DC should proceed to sentence him — despite the likelihood of him receiving a sentence of over ten years.
The document in its entirety can be seen here.
Surprised?