A judge has issued a gag order in the case of former President Donald Trump chairman Paul Manafort and his protege Rick Gates. From Politico:
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s directive Wednesday doesn’t ban such statements outright, but prohibits any remarks that “pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case.”At a hearing last week, Jackson urged lawyers to make their arguments in court and “not on the courthouse steps.” She also appeared to criticize a statement one of Manafort’s lawyers made outside court calling the charges against his client “ridiculous.”
Judge Jackson wants to limit comments and statements as a way “to safeguard defendants’ rights to a fair trial, and to ensure that the court has the ability to seat a jury that has not been tainted by pretrial publicity.”
Manafort and Gates became the first ones charged in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into supposed collusion between Trump and Russia during the presidential campaign.
Mueller received permission to expand his investigation if he came across anything. The charges against Manafort and Gates include:
Conspiracy against the United States
Conspiracy to launder money
Unregistered agent of a foreign principal
False and misleading FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Unit) statements
False statements
Seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts
From The New York Times:
Mr. Gates is a longtime protégé and junior partner of Mr. Manafort. His name appears on documents linked to companies that Mr. Manafort’s firm set up in Cyprus to receive payments from politicians and businesspeople in Eastern Europe, records reviewed by The New York Times show.Mr. Manafort had been under investigation for violations of federal tax law, money laundering and whether he appropriately disclosed his foreign lobbying.
Manafort and Gates have remained under house arrest “until their attorneys can reach an agreement with the government.” from Fox News:
In a hearing Monday, a federal judge said she’s inclined to remove from house arrest the former chairman of President Donald Trump’s campaign and his business associate. But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson did not immediately rule at Monday’s court session, saying she needs more financial information from Manafort and Gates.Manafort has offered up his three residences and life insurance policies toward a $10 million bail. Gates has offered up his residence and life insurance policies toward his $5 million bail.
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