Paul Manfort to plead guilty to avoid criminal trial in US
Paul Manafort has decided to plead guilty to charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller and avoid a second criminal trial, but it is unclear whether he will co-operate with Mueller’s inquiry into Russian election interference. Manafort agreed to plead to conspiracy against the US and conspiracy to obstruct justice by tampering with witnesses. He also agreed to forfeit some properties. His decision to plead guilty, indicated in a court filing on Friday, came as jury selection was set to begin on Monday in Washington, where Mueller accused him of conspiring to launder money, acting as an unregistered foreign agent of Ukraine and obstructing justice. Manafort was convicted last month of bank and tax fraud after a trial in Virginia. Mueller, who is primarily examining Russian election interference, has secured guilty pleas and co-operation from several people, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump’s former fixer and lawyer, Michael Cohen, admitted financ...
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