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Paul Manafort's Trial Begins Today
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/u...ort-trial.html
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Paul Manafort’s Trial: Everything You Need to Know
It’s been exactly two years since the FBI began looking into Trump campaign associates’ potential involvement in Russia’s 2016 election meddling, and on Tuesday the first trial stemming from that investigation will kick off in Virginia.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is facing 18 charges of bank and tax fraud, mostly related to his work as a political consultant in Ukraine prior to joining the campaign.
The most explosive charges – money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent – will be addressed in a second trial set to start in September in Washington, D.C.
While “collusion” won’t be the focus in court this week, the first Manafort trial could have major implications for Trump and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s broader investigation.
What Is Manafort Accused Of ?
Prosecutors allege that from 2008 to 2014, Manafort hid the millions he earned from from the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian oligarchs to promote the country’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych.
An indictment filed in Virginia in February described a “scheme” in which Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates funneled $30 million through offshore accounts, and failed to pay U.S. taxes for almost a decade.
While Manafort claimed he had no foreign bank accounts, prosecutors say he actually had 16, mostly in Cyprus, which he used to finance a lavish lifestyle in the U.S. Per the Washington Post:
He spent $6.4 million on real estate in New York and Virginia, another $7.3 million on home renovations and $820,000 on landscaping, prosecutors said in court documents.
They said he paid $2 million for rugs in Virginia and antiques in New York.
Nearly $1.4 million went to clothes at New York custom suitmaker Alan Couture and Beverly Hills designer House of Bijan, including a $21,000 Bijan “Royal Way” watch.
(Bijan’s slogan: “The most expensive in the world.”) For three Range Rovers and a Mercedes-Benz, $300,000.
When Yanukovych fled Ukraine following a popular uprising in 2014, Manafort allegedly resorted to bank fraud to keep himself afloat, using his real estate holdings to fraudulently secure $26 million in loans.
Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What Does This Have to Do With Russia ?
Manafort is a key figure in the Russia probe for numerous reasons.
His work involved promoting pro-Russian political forces in Ukraine, he had business dealings with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and he attended the June 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-connected lawyer at Trump Tower.
During his time on the Trump campaign, Manafort was in contact with Konstantin Kilimnik, who prosecutors say had active ties to Russian intelligence.
However, we won’t be getting into any of that in the coming weeks. Federal prosecutors have promised the judge in the Virginia case that they’ll keep the focus on financial crimes, and won’t even discuss allegations of Russia collusion.
Mueller’s team may be saving that for Manafort’s next trial.
How Long Could Manafort Go to Prison ?
Manafort could spend the rest of his life in prison, based only on the charges in Virginia.
If found guilty of the bank fraud charges he could be sentenced to a maximum of 270 years in prison.
Charges of filing a false tax return could add another 15 years, and failing to report foreign bank accounts could add on 20 years.
If he’s then convicted of the charges he’s facing in D.C., that could add 15 to 20 years in prison.
How Paul Manafort Took Over the Trump Campaign
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer...-campaign.html
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Originally Posted by exotix
