Manafort deserves a "substantially lower" sentence of up to 10 years, according to his lawyers

The lawyers of Paul Manafort, former president of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, have asked a federal judge to sentence the long-time political consultant to a prison term "substantially below the statutory maximum" of 10 years.

In documents filed in federal court in Washington, lawyers Kevin Downing, Thomas Zehnle and Richard Westling said prosecutors had presented Manafort "as a hardened criminal who" violently "violated the law and deserves no mercy." In fact, Manafort allegedly committed "gardening" and "esoteric" crimes by illegally lobbying for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine ", did not inform the government of the source and the total amount of the crimes. the income he had derived from these activities and he tried to conceal his actions from the authorities. "

The documents also allege that special advocate Robert Mueller sued Manafort for "the impossibility of establishing that Mr. Manafort had participated in any collusion with Russia" and asserted that Manafort had been "widely vilified". 39 a way that country has not known for decades. "

RULE JUDGE INTENTIONALLY & # 39; MANAFORT AT THE MUELLER TEAM, ANNULING THE PLEA AGREEMENT

Manafort pleaded guilty last September to a charge of "conspiracy against the United States" and a conspiracy charge to obstruct justice. He faces up to five years in prison for each count.

The argument took place ten days before he was to appear in federal court in Washington for seven counts of violation of foreign lobbying and tampering with witnesses.

"Mr. Manafort has been severely punished, including the confiscation of most of his assets," added the lawyers. "Given his age and his health problems, a significant additional incarceration period will likely equate to a life sentence for a primary offender."

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Earlier this month, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that Manafort had violated his plea agreement with prosecutors by lying to federal officials on several topics, including his relationship with Konstantin Kilimnik, a partner which would have links to Russian intelligence. Manafort was not charged with any crimes related to Russian interference in the elections, but court documents revealed that he had provided Kilimnik with poll data relating to the Trump campaign in the 2016 elections. A Mueller prosecutor also said that a meeting held in August 2016 between the two men had touched the "heart" of the investigation conducted in Russia. The meeting included a discussion on a Ukrainian peace plan, but many other details on this subject were summarized in the court documents.

In addition to the Washington case, Manafort could face more than 19 years in prison in another case of tax evasion and bank fraud in federal court in Virginia. A jury in this case found him guilty of eight counts last August.

Judge Jackson will sentence Manafort on March 13.

Associated Press contributed to this report.