President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty on eight counts of financial crimes today.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Deplaning in West Virginia ahead of tonight’s rally, President Trump praised his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort as a “good man” and attacked special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as “witch hunt” and a “disgrace.”
“Paul Manafort is a good man. He was with Ronald Reagan. He was with a lot of different people over the years. I feel very sad about that. It doesn’t involve me but I still feel…” Trump said.
Trump noted that the charges Manafort was convicted of on Tuesday have “nothing to do with Russian collusion” and criticized the investigation for arriving at this point.
“It’s a witch hunt and it’s disgrace. But this has nothing to do with what they started out,” Trump said. “It was not the original mission believe me. It was something very much different. It had nothing to do with Russian collusion.”
Trump did not answer any questions about his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who plead guilty to eight charges in his trial related to tax, fraud and campaign finance violation charges.
A jury found Paul Manafort guilty on eight of 18 counts against him. Those eight counts carry a maximum sentence of 80 years.
The judge has not set a sentencing date yet.
Here’s the breakdown of the counts:
Note: The count numbers are drawn from indictment, which is why the numbering seems off
A mistrial was declared on the remaining 10 counts: Three hiding foreign bank accounts and seven bank fraud or bank fraud conspiracy.
Paul Manafort’s lawyer Kevin Downing just made a brief statement following the verdict. He said Manafort is “disappointed” the jury did not acquit his client on all charges.
Here’s the full statement:
Defense attorney Richard Westling asked Judge T.S. Ellis for 30 days to file for a judgement of acquittal.
Ellis has not a set a date, and is waiting for the prosecution to weigh in on the 30 days.
As Paul Manafort exited the courtroom, he was did not smile, but he gave a quick nod to his wife, Kathleen, who was sitting in the front row.
Kathleen made no comment as she left the courthouse.
After the trial concluded, prosecutors and defense attorneys were cordial and shook hands.
Judge T.S. Ellis spoke directly to Paul Manafort at the podium to tell him he has been found guilty of several charges.
He did not smile. Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing stood behind him.
Manafort’s wife, Kathleen, expressed no emotion and stared ahead. She had her hands clasped on her lap.
The court has ended for the day.
A sentencing date in the criminal trial of Paul Manafort has yet to be set.
Prosecutors have until Aug. 29 to say what they plan to do about the 10 counts declared a mistrial.
Judge T.S. Ellis has just excused the Manafort jury.
Ellis encouraged the jury not to talk to the press but did not bar them from doing so.
Paul Manafort was found guilty of five tax fraud charges, one charge of hiding foreign bank accounts, and two counts of bank fraud.
The other 10 charges were declared a mistrial.
The charges: Manafort was charged with 18 counts of tax and banking crimes.
Paul Manafort has been found guilty of at least one count in his criminal trial.
Judge T.S. Ellis said he will ask each juror their feelings about reaching a verdict.
If they all say they cannot reach a verdict: Ellis says he would likely declare a mistrial on 10 counts and have the verdict read on the remaining eight counts.
Both sets of attorneys said they agreed with this plan.
The jury in the Paul Manafort trial has reached a verdict on eight counts, but it can’t reach consensus on 10 counts.
Earlier on Tuesday, the jury asked Judge T.S. Ellis what would happen if they couldn’t reach a verdict on a count, and Ellis said to keep working on it.
Paul Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing spoke to reporters on way into courthouse. He would not comment on news that President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen is in court right now, and expected to take a plea deal.
Here’s the full exchange:
Downing: “It’s a note”
Reporter: “What is it about?”
Downing: “We will find out in a minute.”
Reporter: “Do you have any thoughts about Cohen out of New York?”
Downing: “None — thanks guys.”
The jury in the Paul Manafort trial has sent another note to Judge T.S. Ellis — the second note today.
It’s not yet known what the note says.
The jury wrote a note to Judge T.S. Ellis earlier today and asked for guidance on not being able reach consensus on a single criminal charge in the Paul Manafort trial.
Ellis read the jury’s note out loud in court while jurors were present.
According to court transcripts, here’s what the note said:
8/21/18
Your Honor, if we cannot come to a consensus on a
single count, how should we fill in the jury verdict form for
that count?
And what does that mean for the final verdict?
We will need another form, please.
Ellis then added: “Signed the foreman.”
Judge T.S. Ellis today told jurors to keep deliberating and instructed them with a “Sawyers charge” — more commonly known as an “Allen charge.” The term Sawyers comes from a 1970 court case in the 4th Circuit, US v. Sawyers.
So what is an Allen or Sawyers charge? It is a supplemental instruction given by the trial court when a jury has reached an impasse in its deliberations and is unable to reach a consensus.
What must it contain? The judge may instruct the jury to go back and try their deliberations again, but the charge must not coerce a jury, and it must be fair, neutral and balanced. The judge must also incorporate a specific reminder to jurors on both sides (minority and majority jurors) that they must reconsider their positions in light of the other side’s views.
Can a judge give multiple Allen charges? Yes. The judge can instruct the jury multiple times to go back and try again if they are deadlocked.
But sometimes, they’re controversial.
The way a judge delivers Allen charges and how juries react to them can be controversial as defendants have argued they can be coercive to the jury. It is notable, therefore, that Ellis today emphasized to jurors they should stay true to their convictions and take all the time they need. He even told jurors they could ignore this instruction altogether.
“You should not surrender your honest conviction” simply to reach a verdict, Ellis told the jury Tuesday while he spoke for them about five minutes. He encouraged each juror to make their own decisions on each count, but if some were in the minority on a decision, they could think about what the other jurors believe.
“You’re the exclusive judges,” he said, encouraging them to make their own decisions about witness testimony and evidence in the case.
“Take all the time which you feel is necessary,” he said.
The jury is having lunch and will continue to deliberate, Paul Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing told cameras as he exited the courthouse
Speaking for about five minutes, Judge T.S. Ellis told the jury: “You should not surrender your honest conviction” simply to reach a verdict.
He encouraged each juror to make their own decisions on each count, but if some were in the minority on a decision, to think about what the other jurors believe.
Give “deference” to each other and “listen to each other’s arguments,” he said.
“You’re the exclusive judges,” he said, encouraging the jurors to make their own decisions about witness testimony and evidence in the case.
“Take all the time which you feel is necessary.”
Paul Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing asked Judge T.S. Ellis to give the jury a new verdict form, after the jury said “we will need another form please” in their Tuesday note.
Ellis said he would not.
Downing said he wished jurors would be given a third option on the form – a hung jury option for each count. The jury verdict form gives jurors only the options of not guilty or guilty for each of the 18 charges against Manafort.
The judge said he will not ask the jury for a partial verdict at this time. They must continue their work, he told the court.
