12/7/2018

PAUL MANAFORT/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Special counsel Robert Mueller said Friday [12-7-18] that Paul Manafort breached the terms of his guilty plea by repeatedly lying to prosecutors about his contacts with the Trump administration, bringing the longtime GOP operative’s problems directly into the Trump White House. Mueller’s charges against Manafort had until now largely focused on events before the longtime lobbyist linked up with Trump’s presidential campaign as its chairman. But while the crimes he’s charged with still stick to that period, Friday’s filing indicated Manafort has been questioned at length since his plea agreement about his communications with the current administration. The revelation raises questions about who exactly Manafort communicated with in Trump’s government. Mueller’s prosecutors in the 10-page filing claimed Manafort lied about his contacts — directly or indirectly — with Trump administration officials after pleading guilty to several charges in September and agreeing to cooperate with the Russia probe. Citing Manafort’s electronic communications, Mueller’s team said Manafort was indeed in touch with Trump aides, including a May 26, 2018, text exchange authorizing ‘a person to speak with an administration official on Manafort’s behalf.’”

Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein, “Mueller: Manafort lied about contacts with Trump administration,” Politico, December 7, 2018 8:05 pm