Report: Paul Manafort reached an agreement in principle with Mueller

Sign up for the latest news from the survey in Russia here »

Paul Manafort has tentatively reached an agreement with Special Adviser Robert Mueller, reports ABC News on Thursday.

Manafort, former president of President Donald Trump's campaign, was convicted last month on eight of 18 charges related to tax and banking fraud and is expected to be tried next week in Washington, DC.

The second indictment charges him with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering and non-registration as a foreign agent.

ABC News reported that the plea agreement is expected to be announced in court on Friday, and it is unclear whether this involves a cooperation agreement.

Manafort's lawyers are in talks with Mueller's team about an advocacy agreement for at least the last few weeks. The selection of the jury for his second trial is currently scheduled for Monday and opening speeches are scheduled for September 24.

According to the legal experts, given the trial schedule, it is unlikely that prosecutors will accept a plea agreement without a cooperation agreement with the government.

"If the government accepts a plea agreement without cooperation now, they are saving nothing in terms of time, money or resources," said Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor on the team who sentenced the chief the Gambino family, John Gotti.

"The only way they would accept an agreement involving the rejection of some charges and asking for less punishment is that it involves a cooperation agreement," he said.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump's lead counsel, told Politico Thursday that the president's legal team is not worried about the possibility of an agreement on the Manafort case because they are convinced that he will not say anything prejudicial to Trump.

Giuliani added that the fact that Manafort entered into a guilt agreement would not close the door, and that the Manafort and Trump teams were in regular contact as part of a joint defense agreement. If Manafort agrees to cooperate against Trump, this agreement would be terminated.