Former Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort Accepts Guilty Plea; Will Work With Rober Mueller In Investigation

Paul Manafort will cooperate with Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Russian meddling of the 2016 presidential election. Manafort may reveal what was discussed in the Trump Tower meeting back in June 2016.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Manafort is Donald Trump’s former political consultant and lawyer who joined Trump’s campaign team as Campaign Chairman from June to August 2016. 

Under Mueller’s investigation, Manafort was found guilty of eight of financial crimes in connection to Trump’s campaign. Originally, Manafort was upset about not being acquitted, but now he pleads guilty and has agreed to assist Mueller further with his investigation.

On Thursday, ABC News reported Manafort’s legal team and federal prosecutors settled on a deal in midst of the Manafort’s second criminal trial. The logistics of Manafort’s plea deal have not been released but both sides are preparing for jury selection to start on Monday in Washington D.C. So far Manafort is the first person who attended Trump’s Tower meeting who has agreed to participate with Mueller’s probe which may cause problems for Trump’s defense team.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The Trump Tower meeting came to light after a British publicist, Rob Goldstone, emailed Donald Trump Jr. to say the Russian government had dirt on Hillary Clinton and wanted to set up a meeting to discuss the information being given to the Trump campaign. “If it’s what you I say I love it,” Jr. is heard saying in a recording.

On Friday, after Manafort agreed to work with Mueller, Trump’s legal team released a statement attributed to Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s outside counsel in charge of the Russia probe. 

“Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth.” Moments later Trump’s team “corrected” the portion about Manafort telling the truth, which was revised to “Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong.”