Judge finds Manafort lied to investigators in Russia probe
2019-02-14
WASHINGTON — A federal judge has found that Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, has breached his plea agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office by intentionally lying to prosecutors.
Then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as his campaign manager Paul Manafort looks on during Trump's walk through at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, US, July 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson says in an order that there's sufficient evidence that Manafort lied in breach of his plea agreement.
The decision hurts Manafort's chance of receiving a reduced sentence next month.
Manafort was accused of lying about several matters including his discussions with a longtime associate the FBI says has ties to Russian intelligence. Mueller's prosecutors have said the discussions between Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik about a Ukrainian peace plan go to the "heart" of the Mueller probe.
Manafort was also accused of lying about sharing polling data with Kilimnik during the 2016 presidential campaign.
