Mueller seeks immunity for 5 witnesses in the Manafort case



[ad_1]

WASHINGTON – The special advocate of the Russian investigation is seeking immunity for five potential witnesses at the upcoming trial of Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman of US President Donald Trump.

The five individuals indicated that they would not testify. or provide other information "on the basis of their privilege not to testify against oneself," said Tuesday Mueller's office to a federal judge in Virginia in a court filing

prosecutors are asking a judge to compel their condition of immunity, at the next trial of Manafort for bank and tax fraud. They ask what is called "immunity from recourse," which means that prosecutors can not use the testimony of witnesses unless they make false statements.

Prosecutors did not name potential witnesses who were not charged because they were not publicly identified as being involved in the case.

Motions providing more information about them were filed under seal, and prosecutors asked a judge to leave the information so except until witnesses were called to testify. bear witness. 19659002] The Manafort trial, the first arising from Mueller's investigation into the potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, is expected to begin next week.

Also on Tuesday, US District Judge TS Ellis III denied Manafort's request to move the lawsuit from Alexandria, in the Washington DC area, to Roanoke City, in southwestern California. Virginia (1965-19900). right to a fair trial. They also said that the population of northern Virginia, where the Alexandria jury panel would be chosen, voted in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton rather than Trump in the 2016 presidential election. [19659002ButEllisrejectedthisargumentTuesdayhighlightingthemedia'sattentionthecasewouldbethesameinAlexandria"asitwouldbeinRoanokeorKansasCityorDallas"

He said that there was no evidence that potential jurors in the region were politically biased, and that in any case, the political inclinations of jurors "It would not be appropriate for the courts to hold trials throughout the country in cases of this kind until one could find a district where the defendant's political views were shared. by at least as many people in the district as those with opposite opinions, "writes Ellis

[ad_2]
Source link