Paul Manafort latest: Former Trump campaign chairman agrees to cooperate with US prosecutors as he pleads guilty in Mueller probe

Paul Manafort is set to admit two criminal charges as part of plea deal
EPA
Ella Wills|Fiona Simpson14 September 2018

US President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian consulting work as part of a "cooperation deal" with prosecutors in the Robert Mueller investigation.

Manafort, 69, pleaded guilty to two criminal counts, becoming the most prominent former Trump campaign official to plead guilty in Mueller's probe.

The deal allows Manafort to avoid a second trial that had been scheduled to start next week in Washington.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. He faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the US District Court in Washington
REUTERS

Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court on Friday that Manafort had struck a "cooperation agreement" and would plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian political consulting work.

Kevin Downing, Manafort's attorney said: "He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life.

"He's accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that."

Manafort told the judge he wants to plead guilty two one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice brought by Mueller's team.

Manafort's second trial would have been related to his Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

Donald Trump branded claims against Manafort a 'witch hunt'
AP

The charges were set to include money laundering, conspiring to defraud the US, witness tampering and failing to register as a foreign agent. Jury selection was due to start on Monday.

According to the court documents cited by US media, Manafort was set to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Following his initial conviction, Donald Trump spoke out in praise of Manafort and branded the charges brought against him a "witch hunt".

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the Manafort case has nothing to do with Mr Trump.

She said: "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated."

The president did nothing wrong," said Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump's attorney, in a statement.

"Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign."

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