Manafort to confront lying charges in court Friday



A federal judge has ordered Paul Manafort to appear in court Friday morning to address Robert Mueller’s charges that the former Trump campaign chairman lied during grand jury testimony and in cooperation sessions with the special counsel.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a one-paragraph order Wednesday denying the longtime GOP operative’s request that he remain in his Alexandria, Va., jail cell while his attorneys appear on his behalf for the hearing.

“Given the number of court appearances defendant has been permitted to waive, the significance of the issues at stake, and the fact that his being available to consult with counsel may reduce the likelihood that the defense position with respect to the issues discussed will change after the hearing, defendant's motion is denied,” Jackson wrote.
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Manafort is also scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 8 by U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis for his convictions on tax and bank fraud stemming from his Northern Virginia trial. - Politico