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Donald Trump's former campaign leader, Paul Manafort, was accused on Tuesday of believing himself "above the law" when he opened his case for fraud and money laundering of the explosive Russian investigation that poisons the US president's mandate.
Citing the purchase of an ostrich jacket at $ 15,000 and other expenses fueling an "extravagant lifestyle", prosecutors painted a portrait of 'a flamboyant lobbyist with income from his work for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, supported by Moscow.
' Paul Manafort has placed himself, with his fortune, above the law ' Deputy Attorney Uzo Asonye, on the first day of trial in Alexandria, near Washington. "All the charges are a simple thing: Paul Manafort lied," he said.
The defense described a "very busy" professional, delegating the management of daily business to his badociate, Richard Gates, a key witness to come in this trial and who would have "taken advantage of his confidence."
Whether it is the special prosecutor Robert Mueller, charged with investigating the suspicions of interference Russian presidential election in November 2016, which led him to the dock, the crucial question of a possible collusion between members of the Trump campaign and Moscow should not be addressed during this trial.
indeed bears on facts prior to the pbadage of Paul Manafort at the head of the Trump team, between May and August 2016.
M. Manafort is accused of tax and banking fraud, as well as having laundered more than $ 30 million in lobbying activities for Viktor Yanukovych and two pro-Yanukovych parties. Facts until the spring of 2016, explained the judge, and updated by Robert Mueller in the course of his Russian inquiry
Paul Manafort rejects all these accusations.
No "collusion"
Paul Manafort's white-haired features and white temples, imprisoned since June, testify to his sudden fall in disgrace.
Pbading his hand in his impeccably coiffed lock, taking notes and even giving a smile to the jokes of Judge TS Ellis III, the 69-year-old accused, however, appeared to return from his superb Tuesday in the courtroom, where his wife was.
After almost four hours, the twelve jurors – six women and six men – were selected for the trial which is expected to last three weeks. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday at 1330 GMT.
As President Donald Trump's ire crescendo against Mr. Mueller's investigations, which he calls a "witch hunt", this ultra -mediatic embarrbad the White House.
Tuesday morning, Mr. Trump again claimed on Twitter that there was no "collusion."
Paul Manafort "has no information incriminating the President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told CNN on Monday. Then, adding, pointing out the short duration of his pbadage at the head of the campaign: "It's just … four months, they will not start to plot on the Russians."
A handful of Anti-Trump protesters gathered early in court, one of the banners branding the accused's faithful silence: "Trump would not spend a second in prison for you."
Some hope that Paul Manafort will eventually reveal important information for the file. He was present at a meeting between a Russian lawyer, the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in June 2016.
Hope of a Grace?
Prosecutors are expected to call more than thirty witnesses, including Richard (Rick) Gates who has been cooperating with Robert Mueller since he agreed to plead guilty in February.
"Paul did not trust the good person" Said one of Mr. Manafort's lawyers, Thomas Zehnle. "Rick took advantage of this confidence."
Of the 30 or so individuals already targeted by the special prosecutor, including a majority of Russians, Paul Manafort is the only American to have refused an agreement with the law to avoid a
"Manafort remained loyal" to Donald Trump, says Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. He may think that this trial allows him to preserve "his chances of obtaining a presidential pardon."
Already in danger of spending the rest of his days in prison, Paul Manafort faces a second trial in September, in Washington, still in the context of the Mueller investigation which accuses him this time, in particular, of money laundering and not having declared his lobbyist services in favor of a foreign government.
It had been locked in June for attempted witness tampering.
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